The program focuses on curriculum development and on assembling a faculty group for interdisciplinary collaboration. Landscape ecology examines the mosaic of patterns created by landforms, vegetation, wildlife, and people, and how change in one element affects the others. Landscape ecology research projects are set within the context of watersheds and regional systems. The natural resources undergraduate degree program emphasizes the interaction of people, natural resources, and environmental management. The primary objective is to provide an educational framework for developing professional skills and approaches to defend the earth's ecosystems.
Students explore management of the earth's resources for both development and conservation.
A diverse degree program exposes students to biology, conservation, ecology, economics, natural resource sociology, resource management, and policy and planning, with emphasis on the interaction between humans and the environment. In addition, the School of Natural Resources is participating in the development of a core natural resources curriculum that will be required of all CALS undergraduates. Students completing requirements in the natural resources program are awarded the Bachelor of Science-Natural Resources Degree. Students working toward this degree can major in agricultural economics, agricultural education, agricultural journalism, agronomy, entomology, forestry, horticulture, landscape architecture, poultry science, rural sociology, soil science, or wildlife ecology. Graduate instruction is available in many specialized and interdisciplinary areas including forestry, wildlife ecology, landscape architecture, resource communication, toxicology, park management, agricultural economics, and community development.