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Land Resource Sciences

Note: MSU's programs in the biological sciences are distributed across multiple departments.  MSU does not have a single Department of Biology.  For additional options see   Biological Sciences at MSU.

Department of Land Resources & Environmental Sciences (LRES)

http://landresources.montana.edu/

Effective management of agricultural and other managed land resources requires individuals to have sound fundamental understanding of the processes and relationships in land systems, combined with excellent skills in modern land inventory and analysis techniques including geographic information systems (GIS), global positioning systems (GPS), remote sensing, and an appreciation for the intricacies of land resources and land use practices. The Land Resource Sciences curricula are designed to provide classroom, laboratory, and field training. Graduates of this program will: (i) possess a broad knowledge of land processes, (ii) be able to critically analyze and solve land resource problems, and (iii) work in teams to develop and implement effective land management strategies. They will be the premier land resource users and managers in the 21st century.

The Land Resource Sciences degree programs are administered by the Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences.

Agroecology Option

Agroecology explores how crops and pest organisms interact with their environment, and the application of technology to efficiently and sustainably produce crops. Agroecology focuses on application of principles of population and community ecology, as well as environmental science, to cropland ecosystems. The curriculum is based on the philosophy that to be able to successfully predict management outcomes and thus make informed recommendations, one must understand fundamental principles of evolution, ecology, soil science, agronomy, and pest management.

The curriculum originates from a base in biological science which includes a broad knowledge of organisms (including plants, animals and microorganisms) and the physical and chemical characteristics of environments. In the Agroecology curriculum, students will develop a knowledge of the diversity of organisms and how they interact in natural and managed ecosystems. Furthermore, the curriculum will build on this knowledge in courses that demonstrate the application of ecology and environmental science principles. Students will also learn how new technologies like remote sensing and geographic information systems are modernizing agriculture. In later stages of the curriculum, students may select from an array of upper division courses in natural ecosystems, cropping systems, pest management, applied ecology, and policy and planning that enable them to specialize in areas best-suited to their own career vision.

Career Opportunities:Environmental industries and consulting firms that solve problems associated with agroecosystems or agricultural practices. Government jobs in environmental management and policy making. Agricultural industry positions associated with precision agriculture, pest management, general agronomy, and information services. Graduate training that leads to independent research in basic and applied ecology, environmental biology, cropping systems, precision agriculture, ecologically-based pest management, or weed science.

Land Resources Analysis and Management Option

This option is for students interested in land resources and their management at landscape scales. All human activities depend on the world's land and water resource base. The air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat all depend upon activities occurring and interacting across broad extents of the Earth's land surface. This curriculum is based on the philosophy that our well being requires knowledge-based decision making involving land and natural resources across these large areas. Students build on knowledge of the basic natural sciences with course work in geology, biology, geography, soils, and ecology. Then, courses in remote sensing, geographic information systems, global positioning and statistics provide tools for gathering, processing, analyzing, and displaying information about land resources across large areas. Finally, students learn how to integrate land resource information with social and financial realities to support balanced management decisions. Throughout the program, students are encouraged to gain hands-on experience with land, people and information through field trips, internships, and the capstone field course. The knowledge and skills of land resource analysis and management are needed wherever there are land resources. Graduates in the Land Resources Analysis and Management Option can be the environmental scientists and managers most capable of providing information for sound management of the land resource base.

Career Opportunities:Careers in natural resource management, environmental consulting, precision agriculture, watershed management, and land mapping, requiring professionals who can work outdoors on the land and indoors with data and computer applications dealing with geographic information systems and remote sensing. Employment with federal government land management agencies, such as the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Bureau of Reclamation; state agencies, such as departments of natural resources; local and regional planning organizations; private organizations which own and manage land (timber companies, ranches, farms, recreation areas); consulting firms; conservation organizations such as land trusts; and Congressional staffs. Graduate training leading to independent research in remote sensing, ecological processes, and soil and water science.


Curricula in Land Resource Sciences


AGROECOLOGY OPTION

Freshman Year Credits
LRES 110--Land Resources & Env Sci3
Take one of the following:
     MATH 170Q--Survey of Calculus4
     MATH 175Q--Calculus Technology I3
     MATH 181Q--Calculus & Anal Geom I4
BIOL 101IN--Biology of Organisms 4
CHEM 131--General Chemistry I 4
CHEM 132--General Chemistry II 4
ECON 101IS--Econ Way of Think 3
ENGL 121W--College Writing I 3
Take one of the following:
     BIOL 102 --Molec & Cellular Biol4
     PSPP 102CS--Plant Science3
University Core and Electives 3
30
Sophomore Year Credits
CHEM 215--Elements of Organic Chem 5
ENGL 221--College Writing II 3
LRES 201IN--Soil Resource3
MB 301--General Microbiol I 5
PHYS 205--College Physics I 4
Take one of the following:
     PSPP 341 --Field Crop Prod3
     PSPP 342--Forages3
Take one of the following:
     PSPP 318--Biometry3
     STAT 216Q--Elementary Statistics3
University Core and Electives 4
30
Junior Year Credits
BIOL 301--Principles of Genetics 3
Take one of the following:
     ARNR 240--Principles Nat Res Ecology3
     BIOL 303--Principles of Ecology3
BCHM 340--General Biochem5
LRES 310--Professional Preparation 1
LRES 351--Nutrient Cycling 3
LRES 401--Integrated Pest Mgmt 4
LRES 441R--Capstone1 Fld Applics in LRES1
LRES 443--Weed Ecol & Mgmt 3
PSPP 421--Concepts Plant Pathology 3
University Core and Electives 4
30
Senior Year Credits
Take two of the following:
     ECON 332--Econ of Nat Resources3
     LRES 421--Holistic Thought & Mgmt4
     POLS 350--Nat Resource Policy3
Take three of the following:
     BIOL 403--Evolution3
     BIOL 430--Plant Physiology3
     BIOL 436--Plant Systematics3
     LRES 415--Microbial Diversity,Ecol,Evol4
     LRES 452--Soil & Env Microbiol3
Take three of the following:
     LRES 426--Remote Sens & Spat Analy3
     LRES 357--GPS Fund & Applic3
     GEOG 211 --Intro Geog Info Syst (GIS)3
     GEOG 305 --Adv GIS3
LRES 428--Crop Sys/Sustain Agric 3
LRES 442R--Capstone 2 Field Apps in LRES2
University Core and Electives 4
30

Because some of our courses are offered during alternate years, the proposed scheduling of course in junior and senior year may need to be modified. Work with your advisor for your individual schedule.

A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation; at least 42 of these credits must be in courses numbered 300 and above.


LAND RESOURCES ANALYSIS & MANAGEMENT OPTION

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Freshman Year Credits
LRES 110--Land Resources & Env Sci 3
BIOL 101IN--Biology of Organisms 4
BIOL 102--Molec & Cellular Biol4
CHEM 131--General Chemistry I 4
CHEM 132--General Chemistry II 4
ENGL 121W--College Writing I 3
Choose one Math/Stats Sequence: A or B
Option A: MATH 170Q--Survey of Calculus4
                  STAT 216Q--Elem Stats3
                  STAT217Q--Intermed Stats3
                         (Sophomore Year)
Option B: MATH 181Q--Calc & An Geom I4
                 MATH 182Q--Calc & An Geom II4
                 STAT 332--Stat Sci & Engr 3
                         (Sophomore Year)
University Core and Electives 1
30
Sophomore Year Credits
ENGL 221--College Writing II 3
ESCI 111IN--Physical Geology 4
ESCI 112CS--Physical Geography 4
PHYS 205--College Physics I 4
LRES 201IN--Soil Resource 3
LRES 244CS--Intro Water Resources 3
GEOG 211--Intro Geog Info Syst (GIS)3
University Core and Electives 6
30
Junior Year Credits
Take one of the following:
     ARNR 240--Natural Resource Ecology3
     BIOL 303--Principles of Ecology3
GEOG 305--Adv Geog Info Sys (GIS) 3
LRES 310--Professional Preparation 1
LRES 441R--Capstone I Fld Applics in LRES 1
Univ Core and Electives From Junior and
Senior List Below
21
30
Senior Year Credits
LRES 357--GPS Fund & App in Mapping 3
LRES 426IN--Appl Remote Sensing & Digital Image 3
GEOG 411--GIS & Spatial Analysis 3
LRES 444--Watershed Hydrology 3
LRES 445--Watershed Analysis 3
LRES 442R--Capstone 2 Fld Applics in LRES 3
LRES 454--Landscape Pedology3
POLS 350--Nat Resource Policy 3
6
Univ Core and Electives From Junior and
Senior List Below
10

Junior and Senior Electives

Complete a minimum of 20 credits of listed electives below, meeting the following requirements:

  1. No more than four (4) credits from Human System electives count toward the 20 credit requirement.
  2. Up to three (3) elective credits may be received for advisor approved LRES 470 or LRES 490.
  3. At least fourteen (14) credits at the 300-level or above.
Ecology Electives (at least 2 courses):     
LRES 415--Micro Diversity, Ecol & Evol 3
LRES 428--Cropping Systems3
LRES 443--Weed Ecol & Mgmt3
LRES 461--Restoration Ecology3
ARNR 345--Riparian Ecology and Mgmt3
ARNR 453-- Habitat Inventory & Analysis3
BIOL 406--Rocky Mtn Vegetation2
BIOL 407--Alpine Ecology3
BIOL 424--Freshwater Ecology3

Soil and Water Electives (at least 2 courses):     
LRES 344--Water Quality3
LRES 351--Nutrient Cycling3
LRES 355--Soil & Environ Chem3
LRES 452--Soil & Environ Microbiol 3
LRES 453--Soil & Environ Physics3
LRES 454--Landscape Pedology3
LRES 460--Soil Remediation3
ESCI 307--Prin Geomorphology4
ESCI 432--Surface-Water Resources3
ESCI 440--Groundwater Resources3

Technical Electives:      
CE 201--Intro to Surveying3
CE 463--Photogrammetry2
ESCI 310--Aerial Photo Interp 4
STAT 410--Applied Multiple Regression 3
Human Systems Electives (no more than 6 credits):      
LRES 421--Holistic Thought & Mgt 4
ECON 332--Econ Natural Resources 3
GEOG 201D--Human Geog3
SOC 328--Environmental Soc3
Other Electives:      
BIOL 430--Plant Physiology3
BIOL 436--Plant Systematics3

Because some of our courses are offered during alternate years, the proposed scheduling of courses in junior and senior years may be need to be modified. Work with your advisor for your individual schedule.

A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation; at least 42 of these credits must be in courses numbered 300 and above.


SOIL SCIENCE MINOR (NON-TEACHING)

LRES 201IN--Soil Resource3
LRES 351--Nutrient Cycling3
LRES 355--Soil & Env Chem3
LRES 452--Soil & Env Microbiol3
LRES 453--Soil & Env Physics3
LRES 454--Landscape Pedology3

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View Text-only Version Text-only Updated: 6/09/06
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