Students also take coursework in the Institute of Renewable Natural Resources. Ongoing Research . The Department has three research programs that are closely aligned with issues in natural resource management and policy analysis, and are designed to provide a foundation for management into the next century. The first program focuses on policy innovations for river water resources and riparian ecosystems. Managers of such resources are incorporating non-traditional clientele and uses into their allocation strategies, which in turn have required drastically different approaches to water resource management.
Research is directed at providing a foundation for a comprehensive policy reformulation.
The second area of research interest in natural resource management and policy analysis is minority populations and their use of natural resource recreation opportunities. The population growth of Texas is expected to be one of the highest in the nation, with much of that growth associated with minority populations. The increased racial and ethnic diversity of park use may require non-traditional approaches to park management. Research is directed at investigating minority attitudes and behavior regarding parks and wildlife refuges to provide the basis for future management strategies. The third research interest focuses on quality of life issues regarding park and natural area development.