College of Natural Resources

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Dean: Nat B. Frazer
Associate Dean and Extension Program Leader: Nancy O. Mesner
Director of Distance Education: Richard C. Etchberger
Director of Development: Jon Paulding
Location: Natural Resources 108
Phone: (435) 797-2452
FAX: (435) 797-2443
E-mail: nradvise@usu.edu
WWW: http://www.cnr.usu.edu

Undergraduate Advisor:

Brian M. Shirley, Natural Resources 120, (435) 797-2448, brian.shirley@usu.edu

The College of Natural Resources has the following academic degree programs:

College of Natural Resources
Master of Natural Resources (MNR)
Participates in Interdisciplinary Studies (BS, BA)

Environment and Society Department
Bioregional Planning (MS)
Environmental Studies (BS)
Geography (BS and MS)
Human Dimensions of Ecosystem Science and Management (MS and PhD)
Recreation Resource Management (BS, MS, and PhD)

Watershed Sciences Department
Ecology (MS and PhD)
Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (BS)
Fisheries Biology (MS and PhD)
Watershed and Earth Systems (BS)
Watershed Science (MS and PhD)

Wildland Resources Department
Conservation and Restoration Ecology (BS)
Ecology (MS and PhD)
Forestry (BS, MS, and PhD)
Rangeland Resources (BS)
Range Science (MS and PhD)
Wildlife Biology (MS and PhD)
Wildlife Science (BS)

A list of degree requirements, emphases, and specializations can be found in the catalog section for each department. For a description of the Master of Natural Resources (MNR), see MNR  section.

Interdisciplinary Programs

Many of the degree programs listed above are interdisciplinary to some extent. However, the Conservation and Restoration Ecology, Environmental Studies, Geography, and Watershed and Earth Systems programs offer students the opportunity to develop broad interdisciplinary programs to meet their interests. Conservation and Restoration Ecology and Watershed and Earth Systems build on a strong science base; Environmental Studies has a greater emphasis on management and policy; and Geography brings together ideas about culture, human behavior, and the physical environment.

The College of Natural Resources also participates in the Interdisciplinary Studies major, Bachelor of Arts  and Bachelor of Science , which offers flexibility for qualifying students who cannot find an existing degree that meets their needs. In addition to these requirements, the college also requires completion of 23 credits in College of Natural Resources courses, and a 2.5 GPA in all College of Natural Resources courses.

Minors in Natural Resources

The college offers minors in the following areas:

Environmental Studies
Fisheries Science
Geographic Information Science
Geography/Geography Teaching
Recreation Resources
Watershed Science

Requirements for the minors are found in the appropriate departmental sections of this catalog. Students should also consult a faculty advisor for the minor.

Objectives

The College of Natural Resources provides programs of study and professional training in the use and management of natural resources and the environment. These programs deal with renewable land and water resources and the management of these resources and their ecosystems. Forests, rangelands, wildlife, fisheries, watersheds, and recreation resources comprise the natural resources and environmental areas in which the college has developed professional competence. The college’s expertise in geography provides a link between the management of these resources and their value to our society and other cultures.

The College of Natural Resources programs and facilities provide exceptional opportunities for field experience. Forests and rangelands comprise more than 90 percent of the total Utah land area. The Wasatch-Cache National Forest and other areas of natural lands close to the USU campus provide unlimited study projects and opportunities for demonstration. Yellowstone and other national parks are within one day’s driving distance.

Career Opportunities

The curricula of the college prepare men and women for positions with federal or state agencies, private-sector work in natural resources management and administration, and positions in education.

Summer Employment/Work Experience

Students are strongly encouraged to seek summer employment with faculty research projects or natural resource agencies to gain practical work experience and help refine career goals. Students should check with the College of Natural Resources Academic Service Center in early January regarding summer employment opportunities.

Undergraduate Programs

Academic Policies

Admission

Freshmen accepted in good standing by the University are eligible for admission to the College of Natural Resources. Transfer students need a cumulative 2.5 GPA for admission to College of Natural Resources majors. Departments may impose additional requirements; refer to departmental sections for information.

Students will make more satisfactory progress in natural resources majors if they have had two years of high school algebra; have taken coursework in chemistry, physics, and biology; and have obtained basic computer skills. Four years of English are also desirable. Prospective students should realize that natural resources fields are highly technical professions, requiring not just field ability, but also high aptitude for scholarship. Success is also correlated with an ability to
work well with people.

Natural Resources—Undecided

Students who have not yet decided on a specific natural resources major may be admitted to the college as “undecided.” Many of the courses taken during the freshman year are common to all natural resources majors; however, students are encouraged to select a major as soon as possible. Students in the undecided category should meet with the college academic advisor for assistance in planning their educational program and selecting a major.

Changes in Graduation Requirements

Students who complete a baccalaureate degree within seven years of enrollment at USU can qualify for graduation by meeting (1) the General Education/University Studies requirements in effect when they initially enrolled at USU (or any revision of the University Studies requirements that has been in effect within seven years of their graduation) and (2) the major requirements in effect when they officially declared their major (or any revision of the major requirements that has been in effect within seven years of their graduation).

Students who have not completed the baccalaureate requirements within seven years of their initial enrollment at USU must have their General Education/University Studies and major requirements evaluated and approved by their department head and dean.

Academic Responsibility

The departments publish current major requirements in the catalog each year. It is the student’s responsibility to know the current requirements and to consult with a faculty advisor in planning and completing his or her degree program.

Graduation Requirements

Students must satisfy all University, College of Natural Resources, and departmental major requirements for graduation. Students must complete a series of basic lower-division courses, providing the disciplinary foundation for the natural resource and environmental professions, before advancing to professional coursework; foundation course requirements vary among the departments of the college. Equivalents of the foundation courses can be taken at many two and four-year colleges. Students intending to transfer to a College of Natural Resources major should consult with a faculty advisor before registering for foundation courses at another school. Some foundation and core courses can be used to satisfy University Studies requirements. College requirements also include a grade point average of 2.5 or higher for all courses taught by the College of Natural Resources. Refer to the appropriate sections of this catalog for further details on graduation requirements.

Student Leadership

In addition to coursework and research involvement, undergraduate education in the College of Natural Resources also includes leadership education through professional internships and extracurricular involvement. The Natural Resources Student Council and various student clubs offer opportunities for enrichment, professional development, and fun. Most of the student leaders have participated in leadership training activities offered by the College of Natural Resources. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in organizations affiliated with their majors or future career paths. Among these are student chapters affiliated with the following professional societies:

American Fisheries Society
International Association for Society and Natural Resources
Society of American Foresters
Society for Range Management
The Wildlife Society

Financial Aid

The College of Natural Resources awards more than 65 individual scholarships annually to undergraduates having majors within the college. During recent years, more than $160,000 in financial aid has been awarded annually, with emphasis on assistance to upper-division undergraduate students. The S.J. and Jessie E. Quinney Scholars program awards up to 10 new scholarships annually of $3,000 per year to entering freshmen and transfer students in the College of Natural Resources. Interested high school students and prospective transfer students are encouraged to write to the College of Natural Resources Dean’s Office regarding these scholarships.

Undergraduates in Research

The College of Natural Resources maintains an extensive program of research in all aspects of natural resources and the environment. Undergraduate students are an integral part of this program. Their participation in research is encouraged, especially for those students planning to go on to graduate study.

Students are often able to find part-time employment in professors’ laboratories, working side-by-side with graduate students and faculty members on studies involving a wide range of topics from endangered fish biology to wildland soil science, backcountry hiking behavior to sagebrush ecology, and water conservation policy to the genetics of rare plants and animals. Highly motivated students can also design their own research projects with the assistance of College of Natural Resources faculty members. University and college programs can offer undergraduate researchers financial assistance to help cover the costs of research and of presenting research results to audiences of natural resource scientists and managers, as well as to other students.

Graduate Programs

The College of Natural Resources offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Natural Resources (MNR), Master of Science (MS), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees. These degree programs are described in the catalog sections for the respective departments. There are also separate descriptions for the programs leading to the MNR  degree, the National Environmental Policy Act , and the Natural Resources and Environmental Education Graduate Certificate .

Financial Assistance

Assistantships

Financial assistance for graduate programs includes both research and teaching assistantships that are awarded through the departments offering each degree. For further information, students should contact their department and major professor.

Fellowships

Fellowships and tuition waivers are offered to incoming graduate students on a competitive basis. Application is made through the student’s major professor.

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