2025-2026 Academic Catalog

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Bachelor of Science in Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation

Environmental Resources Management Major

Program Curriculum

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Minimum credit hours required for graduation is 120. Prerequisites or enrollment restrictions may apply to some courses. Consult the undergraduate course catalog or the timetable of classes.
Degree Core Requirements (19 credits)
FREC 2214	Introduction to Land and Field Measurements	3
FREC 2314	Forest Biology and Dendrology	2
FREC 2324	Dendrology Laboratory	1
FREC 2614	Human-Environment Systems	3
FREC/NR 4004	Professional Skills in Natural Resources	1
FREC/NR 4014	Natural Resources Economics	3
FREC 4114	Information Technologies for Natural Resource Management	3
FREC 4434	Natural Resource Policy	3
Subtotal		19
Major Requirements (39 credits)
BIOL 1115	Principles of Biology Laboratory	1
BIOL 1116	Principles of Biology Laboratory	1
CHEM 1035	General Chemistry	3
CHEM 1045	General Chemistry Laboratory	1
ENSC 3134	Soils in the Landscape	3
FIW 2114	Principles of Fish and Wildlife Conservation	3
FREC 2004	Forest Ecosystems	3
or FREC 3314	Forest Ecology and Silvics
FREC 2414	Field Experience in Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation	2
FREC/HORT 3354	Trees in the Built Environment	3
or FREC 4334	Principles and Practice of Agroforestry
FREC 3364	Environmental Silviculture (Pathways 6 Design)	3
FREC 4354	Forest Soil and Watershed Management	3
FREC 4374	Forested Wetlands	3
FREC/AAEC/WATR 4464	Water Resources Policy and Economics (Pathways 3 and 7)	3
GEOG/GEOS 4354	Introduction to Remote Sensing	3
or FREC 4214	Forest Photogrammetry and Spatial Data Processing
GEOS 1024	Earth Resources, Society, and Environment	3
or GEOS 1004	Earth Science: Our Past, Present, and Future
GEOS 1124	Earth Resources, Society and Environment Laboratory	1
or GEOS 1104	Introduction to Earth Sciences Laboratory
Subtotal		39
Restricted Electives (15 to 16 credits - see accompanying lists)
Global Environmental Issues Restricted Elective
Select one of the following:		3
AAEC 3204	International Agricultural Development and Trade
FREC 2124	Forests, Society & Climate
FREC 4134	Forest Carbon Management and Policy
FREC/IS/PSCI 4174	Climate Change and the International Policy Framework
GEOG 3104	Environmental Justice, Resources and Development
GEOG 4204	Geography of Resources
GEOG/SOC/UAP 4764	International Development Policy and Planning
SBIO 2504	Circular Economy Analytics for Sustainable Systems
UAP/PSCI 3344	Global Environmental Issues: Interdisciplinary Perspectives
UAP/GEOG/WGS 4214	Gender, Environment, and International Development
Law Restricted Elective
Select one of the following:		3
AAEC 3314	Environmental Law
AAEC 3604	Agricultural Law
FIN 3054	Legal and Ethical Environment of Business
UAP 4344	Law of Critical Environmental Areas
UAP 4754	Legal Foundations of Planning
Public Relations Restricted Elective
Select one of the following:		3
ENGL 4804	Grant Proposals and Reports
FREC 3524	Environmental Interpretation
HUM/RLCL 3204	Multicultural Communication
PR 2044	Principles of Public Relations
SPIA 2554	Collaborative Policy-Making and Planning
Urban Environments Restricted Elective
Select one of the following:		3
FIW/UAP 2334	Urbanization and Biodiversity Conservation
FREC/HORT 2134	Plants and Greenspaces in Urban Communities
FREC 4454	Urban and Community Forestry
GEOG 3244	The U.S. City
UAP 3354	Introduction to Environmental Policy and Planning
UAP 4374	Land Use and Environment: Planning and Policy
Water Restricted Elective
Select one of the following:		3-4
BIOL 4004	Freshwater Ecology
BIOL/ENT 4354	Aquatic Entomology
FIW 4534	Ecology and Management of Wetland Systems
FIW 4614	Fish Ecology
FREC/WATR 3104	Principles of Watershed Hydrology
FREC/WATR 3754	Watersheds and Water Quality Monitoring
FREC 4784	Wetland Hydrology and Biogeochemistry
Subtotal		15-16
Free Electives
Select free electives to total 120 credits.		2
Pathways to General Education
Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse (9 credits required)
COMM 1015	Communication Skills	3
or ENGL 1105	First-Year Writing
COMM 1016	Communication Skills	3
or ENGL 1106	First-Year Writing
Select three credits in Pathway 1a (3 credits)		3
Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities (6 credits required)
FREC/LAR/NR 2554	Leadership for Global Sustainability	3
Select three credits in Pathway 2 (3 credits)		3
Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences (6 credits required)
AAEC 1005	Economics of the Food and Fiber System	3
or ECON 2005	Principles of Economics
FREC/AAEC/WATR 4464	Water Resources Policy and Economics	3
Pathways Concept 4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences (6 credits required)
BIOL 1105	Principles of Biology	3
BIOL 1106	Principles of Biology	3
Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking (9 credits required)
MATH 1025	Elementary Calculus	3-4
or MATH 1225	Calculus of a Single Variable
MATH 1026	Elementary Calculus	3-4
or MATH 1226	Calculus of a Single Variable
STAT 3615	Biological Statistics	3
Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts (6 credits required)
FREC 3364	Environmental Silviculture	3
Select three credits in Pathway 6a (3 credits)		3
Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States (3 credits required)
FREC/AAEC/WATR 4464	Water Resources Policy and Economics	3
Subtotal		47-49
Total Credits		120-123

Satisfactory Progress: By the end of the semester in which the student has attempted 60 hours (including transfer, advanced placement, advanced standing, and credit by examination), "satisfactory progress" towards a B.S. degree in Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation will include the following minimum criteria:

Having an in-major and overall grade point average of at least 2.0
Passing at least 24 semester credits that apply to Pathways General Education requirements
Passing the following courses or their equivalents: BIOL 1105 Principles of Biology, BIOL 1106 Principles of Biology, BIOL 1115 Principles of Biology Laboratory, and BIOL 1116 Principles of Biology Laboratory; CHEM 1035 General Chemistry and MATH 1026 Elementary Calculus.

Graduation Requirements

Environmental Resource Management Notes

Minimum credit hours required for graduation is 120.

In-major grade point average computation: Includes all courses designated as FIW, FREC, GEOG, NR, SBIO, GEOS, and WATR.
An in-major and overall GPA of at least 2.0 is required for graduation.
In accordance with university guidelines, courses satisfying degree core requirements may not be double-counted to satisfy other areas of a degree (e.g., Pathways requirements) .
Policy on Student Exchanges: If studying overseas or at another U.S. university, begin planning at least 9 months prior to your departure to allow time to determine what substitutions, if any, will be allowed and to arrange your schedule to ensure that all requirements for graduation will be met.
Prerequisites or enrollment restrictions may apply to some courses. Some of the listed courses must be taken in sequence to satisfy prerequisites. Be sure to consult the University undergraduate course catalog, timetable of classes, or check with your advisor.

For students interested in pursuing hydrology positions in the federal government, please note:

US Office of Personnel Management: Hydrology Qualification Standards:
Basic Requirements:
Degree: physical or natural science, or engineering that included at least 30 semester hours in any combination of courses in hydrology, the physical sciences, geophysics, chemistry, engineering science, soils, mathematics, aquatic biology, atmospheric science, meteorology, geology, oceanography, or the management or conservation of water resources. The course work must have included at least 6 [credit hours] in calculus (including both differential and integral calculus, e.g., MATH 1025 Elementary Calculus and MATH 1026 Elementary Calculus), and at least 6 [credit hours] in physics (e.g., PHYS 2205 General Physics and PHYS 2206 General Physics).
The Watershed Management minor will facilitate completion of additional water-related coursework that may be beneficial for those seeking federal hydrology positions. For full information, consult your advisor.

Acceptable Substitutions

Acceptable Substitutions: The following courses have acceptable substitutions .

STAT 3615 Biological Statistics: STAT 3005 Statistical Methods
ENSC 3134 Soils in the Landscape : CSES 3114 Soils

Foreign Language Requirement

Foreign Language Requirement: A sequence of two (2) foreign language courses is required for graduation unless two (2) high school credits of the same foreign language or six (6) transfer credit hours of foreign language have been earned. These credits do not count toward graduation. See catalog section on "Graduation Requirements."

Students do not need to follow this plan exactly. This is an example plan.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall Semester		Credits
COMM 1015 or ENGL 1105	Communication Skills (Pathway 1f) or First-Year Writing	3
BIOL 1105	Principles of Biology (Pathway 4)	3
BIOL 1115	Principles of Biology Laboratory	1
MATH 1025 or MATH 1225	Elementary Calculus (Pathway 5f) or Calculus of a Single Variable	3-4
Pathway 2 Course		3
Pathway 6a Course		3
	Credits	16-17
Spring Semester
COMM 1016 or ENGL 1106	Communication Skills (Pathway 1f) or First-Year Writing	3
BIOL 1106	Principles of Biology (Pathway 4)	3
BIOL 1116	Principles of Biology Laboratory	1
MATH 1026 or MATH 1226	Elementary Calculus (Pathway 5f) or Calculus of a Single Variable	3-4
CHEM 1035	General Chemistry	3
CHEM 1045	General Chemistry Laboratory	1
	Credits	14-15
Second Year
Fall Semester
FREC 2214	Introduction to Land and Field Measurements	3
FREC 2314	Forest Biology and Dendrology	2
FREC 2324	Dendrology Laboratory	1
AAEC 1005 or ECON 2005	Economics of the Food and Fiber System (Pathway 3) or Principles of Economics	3
FIW 2114	Principles of Fish and Wildlife Conservation	3
FREC 2554	Leadership for Global Sustainability	3
	Credits	15
Spring Semester
FREC 2414	Field Experience in Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation	2
FREC 2614	Human-Environment Systems	3
GEOS 1024 or GEOS 1004	Earth Resources, Society, and Environment or Earth Science: Our Past, Present, and Future	3
GEOS 1124 or GEOS 1104	Earth Resources, Society and Environment Laboratory or Introduction to Earth Sciences Laboratory	1
FREC 2004 or FREC 3314	Forest Ecosystems or Forest Ecology and Silvics	3
Free Electives		3
	Credits	15
Third Year
Fall Semester
FREC/WATR/AAEC 4464	Water Resources Policy and Economics (Pathways 3 and 7)	3
FREC/HORT 3354 or FREC 4334	Trees in the Built Environment or Principles and Practice of Agroforestry	3
STAT 3615	Biological Statistics (Pathway 5a)	3
Restricted Electives (Example: Law)		3
Restricted Electives (Example: Urban Environments)		3
	Credits	15
Spring Semester
FREC 3364	Environmental Silviculture (Pathway 6d)	3
Pathway 1a Course		3
ENSC 3134	Soils in the Landscape	3
Restricted Electives (Example: Public Relations)		3
Restricted Electives (Example: Global Environmental Issues)		3
	Credits	15
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
FREC/NR 4014	Natural Resources Economics	3
FREC 4374	Forested Wetlands	3
FREC 4354	Forest Soil and Watershed Management	3
FREC 4114	Information Technologies for Natural Resource Management	3
FREC/NR 4004	Professional Skills in Natural Resources	1
Free Electives		2
	Credits	15
Spring Semester
FREC 4434	Natural Resource Policy	3
FREC 4214 or GEOG 4354	Forest Photogrammetry and Spatial Data Processing or Introduction to Remote Sensing	3
Restricted Electives (Example: Water)		3-4
Free Electives		3
Free Electives		3
	Credits	15-16
	Total Credits	120-123

Total Credits Required for Graduation = 120