Course Descriptions
Forest Science (FRSC)
101. Introduction to Forestry. (1-3). Credit 2. I
Survey of the field of forestry in the U.S.; history, resources, policies, organization, industries, employment, education and research. Laboratory periods to provide exposure to forestry and wood processing operations.*
102. Introduction to Spatial Science. (1-0). Credit 1.
Provides students with an understanding of the spatial sciences, how they are applied for problem solving in a wide variety of fields, and what opportunities are available to professionals in the spatial sciences.
203. Dendrology. (2-2). Credit 3. I
Taxonomy, identification and silvical features of the important timber and understory species of North America. Prerequisite: BIOL 111 or equivalent.
291. Research. Credit 1 to 4.
Research conducted under the direction of faculty member in forest science. May be repeated 2 times for credit. Prerequisites: Freshman or sophomore classification and approval of instructor.
300. Forest Practices. Credit 5. S
A field study of problems in mensuration, silviculture, ecology, soils, harvesting and their role in developing forest management systems. Prerequisites: FRSC 305 and 306.*
302. Fundamentals of Environmental Decision-Making. (3-0). Credit 3. I, II
Introduction to environmental issues in natural resources management; fundamental principles and methods for understanding biosocial interdependencies in complex environmental issues; use of computer-aided group decision-making techniques to develop cooperative strategies for resolving local or global environmental issues. Prerequisite: Junior classification or approval of instructor.*
304. Forest Ecology. (3-0). Credit 3. I
Life history and general characteristics of trees; structure and function of forest ecosystems; fundamental principles of forest tree physiology and ecology applied to an analysis of tree growth in relation to environmental factors and present day forest management; global changes and forests. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.*
305. Silviculture. (3-3). Credit 4. II
The theory and practice of controlling forest establishment, composition, structure and growth; principles of natural and artificial regeneration; intermediate cultural operations; silvicultural systems; use and control of fire in forests.
306. Forest Measurements. (3-3). Credit 4. II
Land measurement and mapping; measuring resources; types of volume; the creation and use of volume equations; principles of forest sampling. Prerequisites: AGLS 201; MATH 141 and 142; STAT 302 or equivalent.*
307. Forest Protection. (3-3). Credit 4. II
Destructive agents in forestry as related to importance, identification, cause, extent of losses and protective measures. Prerequisite: Junior classification or approval of instructor.*
308. Tree Structure and Function. (0-3). Credit 1. II
A laboratory study of tree biology with emphasis on integrated tree responses to the environment and forestry practices. Prerequisites: BIOL 111 and 112.
311. Wood Properties and Utilization. (2-2). Credit 3. I
Structure and identification of wood; anatomical, chemical, physical and mechanical properties of wood; wood deterioration and preservation; technology of forest products (solid wood and wood composites). Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification.*
314. Forest Economics and Valuation. (4-0). Credit 4. II
Economic concepts affecting decisions of production, consumption, and prices of the multiple goods and services obtainable from forests, methods for valuing, and outputs of forest land; concepts and practice of forest and forest products business. Prerequisites: AGEC 105 or ECON 202; MATH 142.
398. Interpretation of Aerial Photographs. (2-3). Credit 3. I
Identification and evaluation of natural and cultural features on aerial photographs; methods for extracting information concerning land use, vegetative cover, surface and structural features, urban/industrial patterns and archaeological sites. Prerequisites: Any mathematics course and one of the following: AGRO 301, BIOL 111, FRSC 101, GEOG 203, GEOL 101, RENR 205, WFSC 101. Cross-listed with GEOG 398.
404. Forest Management. (3-0). Credit 3. I
Elements, criteria and methods of forest management; survey of current forest management issues; diagnosis and development of forest management plans under different ownership objectives; integration of the business and social aspects with the biophysical and technological aspects of forestry. Prerequisites: FRSC 300 and 314 or approval of instructor.*
405. Integrated Forest Resource Analysis and Planning. (3-3). Credit 4.
Integration of biophysical, economic and social factors in forest resource analysis, management planning and decision making; applications of interdisciplinary knowledge and multiple-use principles to practical forest management problems. Prerequisite: Senior classification or approval of instructor.
406. Forest Policy. (3-0). Credit 3. I
Forest policy development in the United States and review of current issues in forest and related natural resource policy. Prerequisite: Senior classification or approval of instructor.
409. Manufacturing and Applications of Wood Products. (3-0). Credit 3. I
Manufacturing process and operation, grading and specification, process control and improvement, and marketing and application of major wood products such as lumber, structural and nonstructural panel, and engineering products. Prerequisite: FRSC 311 or approval of instructor.*
414. Modeling Forest Resources. (3-0). Credit 3. I
Types of models; model fitting; assumptions, assessment, prediction and simulation; applications in natural resources and forest management. Prerequisites: AGLS 201; FRSC 306; MATH 141, 142; STAT 302.
420. Arboriculture. (2-2). Credit 3. I
Tree selection and planting to fit climatic, space and edaphic conditions; diagnosing tree abnormalities and practicing intensive tree care. Frequent field work and demonstrations. Prerequisite: Senior classification or approval of instructor.*
421. Urban Forestry. (3-0). Credit 3. II
Conceptual role of trees in improving the urban environment; optimum use of existing forested areas and the establishment of trees in appropriate open spaces; tree ordinances, species evaluation, street tree planning and tree inventory systems. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.*
430. Introduction to Tree Improvement. (3-0). Credit 3.
Study of genetic variation in forest trees and its use in tree breeding programs; includes introductory genetics, breeding schemes, progeny testing, seed orchards and seedling production. Prerequisites: Undergraduate course in biology, forestry or closely related field; junior or senior classification.
461. Geographic Information Systems for Resource Management. (2-2). Credit 3. I
Geographic Information System (GIS) approach to the integration of spatial and attribute data to study the capture, analysis, manipulation and portrayal of natural resource data; examination of data types/formats, as well as the integration of GIS with remote sensing and Global Positioning System; laboratory includes extensive use of GIS applications to conduct analyses of topics in natural resources. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor. Cross-listed with AGSM 461.
462. Advanced GIS Analysis for Natural Resource Management. (2-2). Credit 3.
Advanced topics in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to solve natural resource problems; manipulation of raster data types; three-dimensional modeling; emphasis on geoprocessing as it relates to applied projects, particularly with habitat suitability models; field and lab use of Global Positioning Systems (GPS); internet-based GIS modeling. Prerequisites: FRSC 461 or AGSM 461 or equivalent or approval of instructor; junior or senior classification. Cross-listed with AGSM 462, GEOG 462 and SPSC 462.
484. Internship. Credit 1 to 4. I, II, S
On-the-job supervised experience program conducted in the area of the student's specialization. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.
485. Directed Studies. Credit 1 to 4 each semester. I, II, S
Individual study and research on a selected problem in forest science approved by instructor.*
489. Special Topics in... Credit 1 to 4. I, II, S
Selected topics in an identified area of forestry. May be repeated for credit.*
491. Research. Credit 1 to 4.
Research conducted under the direction of faculty member in forest science. May be repeated 3 times for credit. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification and approval of instructor.
Rangeland Ecology and Management (RLEM)
102. Introduction to Rangeland Systems. (1-0). Credit 1. I, II
Introduction to rangeland resources and the systems approach to rangeland management; survey of the field of range management and related industries.
103. Introduction to Ecological Restoration. (1-0). Credit 1.
Introduction and overview of ecological restoration that addresses what ecological restoration is, why it is relevant, how it is applied and when it can be most effectively used; course readings and discussions will relate ecological restoration to a wide-range of potential applications, from small-scale disturbances to significant global environmental problems.
291. Research. Credit 1 to 4.
Research conducted under the direction of faculty member in rangeland ecology and management. May be repeated 2 times for credit. Prerequisites: Freshman or sophomore classification and approval of instructor.
301. Range and Forest Watershed Management. (2-2). Credit 3. II
Elements of watershed management and principles and practices of range and forest land management for protection, maintenance and improvement of water resource values.*
302. Rangeland Plants of North America. (2-2). Credit 3. I
Familiarize students with the distribution and economic value of important rangeland plants in Texas and Western North America and teach fundamentals of sight identification of these plants. Plant collection required Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.*
303. Agrostology. (1-6). Credit 3. I
Classification and identification of grasses based on macro- and micromorphological variations of spikelets; interpretation of spikelet variation and use of diagnostic keys to identify important species of North America; a grass collection required. Prerequisites: RLEM 314 and BIOL 101 or approval of instructor.*
304. Rangeland Plant Taxonomy. (2-6). Credit 4. II
Interpretation of plant morphology for keying and identification of important flowering rangeland plants; vegetative and floral characters for important plant families including toxic compounds affecting domestic livestock. Plant collection required. Prerequisites: RLEM 314 and BIOL 101 or approval of instructor.*
305. Watershed Analysis and Planning. (3-0). Credit 3. I
Provide an integrated framework for watershed planning that addresses the related biophysical, social and economic issues; comprehensive in scope and approach giving students the tools and techniques for developing sound watershed management policy and practice; water issues, problems and regulations for Texas. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification.*
314. Principles of Rangeland Management Around the World. (3-0). Credit 3. I, II
Basic knowledge of world rangeland ecosystems, how these systems are managed in diverse cultural settings; principles of underlying ecological processes influenced by various land management practices; foster understanding of the values that people in different countries place on rangeland resources; use of these values to enhance geologically sustainable and socially acceptable rangeland management practices.* Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.
315. Vegetation Inventory and Analysis. (2-2). Credit 3. I
Range inventory techniques and vegetation sampling methods related to range site, range condition and trend, and degree of use; statistical analysis applied to sample data. Prerequisites: RLEM 303 or 304; RLEM 314.*
316. Rangeland Communities and Ecosystems. (2-2). Credit 3. II
Organization and distribution of rangeland ecosystems of the world, with emphasis on North America; community dynamics and functions stressed including biotic history, succession, disturbance regimes, competitive interactions, herbivory, energy flow and nutrient cycling; conservation of rangeland resources. Prerequisites: RLEM 303 or 304; RLEM 314; RENR 205 and 215.*
317. Rangeland Vegetation Manipulation. (2-0). Credit 2. II, S
Range improvement practices such as grazing management, brush and weed control and structural developments as they apply to effective development and maintenance of range vegetation composition for wildlife and livestock habitat objectives; theory, application and economics of treatment scenarios related to rangeland resources management. Prerequisite: RLEM 314 or approval of instructor.*
320. Landscape Restoration. (2-0). Credit 2. II
Ecological restoration of wildland landscapes; synthesis of traditional and ecological philosophies toward repair of degraded landscapes; introduction of concepts and technologies useful in the development of natural areas, biological diversity and sustainable wildland ecosystems; includes both lecture and case study components. Prerequisite: BIOL 101 or RENR 205.*
321. Field Studies in Ecological Restoration. (0-2). Credit 1.
Field trip course that provides examples, visits and field experiences in ecological restoration; reinforces conceptual basis for ecological restoration principles developed in RLEM 320, alternative strategies for succession management, plant materials selection, seedbed preparation, planting technologies and planning ecological restoration programs. Prerequisites: RLEM 320 or concurrent enrollment; junior or senior classification.*
324. Application of Rangeland Management Principles. (0-2). Credit 1. I, II
An opportunity to experience and visualize rangeland management practices under field conditions and to develop a practical understanding of rangeland planning and principles in an integrated fashion. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.
401. Plant-Herbivore Dynamics. (3-0). Credit 3. I
Evaluates the effects of herbivory at the plant population and community levels; developmental plant morphology and plant resistance to grazing; foraging strategies of herbivores relating to landscape/plant attributes along with animal nutritional needs; manipulation of the grazing process to meet management objectives. Prerequisite: RLEM 314.*
415. Range Analysis and Management Planning. (3-2). Credit 4. I
Basic concepts and theories of range management systems. Resource inventory, analysis and management planning. Prerequisite: RLEM 314.*
420. Ecological Restoration of Wetland and Riparian Systems. (2-2). Credit 3.
How wetland and riparian areas link terrestrial and aquatic systems and function hydrologically and ecologically within watersheds; integrated approaches for restoration of degraded wetland and riparian systems; improving water resources through vegetation management with a special interest in rangelands. Prerequisites: RENR 205 and WFSC 428 or approval of instructor.
421. Field Studies in Range Management. Credit 2. S or between sessions
Two-week field course, including visits to private ranches, public lands and experiment stations. Practical applications, problems and new advances in areas of range management, range improvement practices and range ecology. Prerequisite: RLEM 314 or approval of department head.*
430. Advanced Restoration Ecology: Current Concepts and Emerging Issues. (3-0). Credit 3.
A dynamic discipline on fundamentals of ecology; translating and communicating key ecological concepts to advanced case studies in ecological restoration. Prerequisites: RENR 205 and RLEM 320 or 420; junior or senior classification.
440. Wetland Delineation. (2-2). Credit 3. II, S
Covers the application of the 1987 Wetland Delineation Manual in use by the Army Corps of Engineers (CORPS); field indicators of hydrophytic vegetation; hydric soils, wetland hydrology, methods for making jurisdictional determinations in non-disturbed and disturbed areas, recognition of problem wetlands and technical guidelines for wetlands. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification.*
481. Seminar. (1-0). Credit 1. I, II
Study, research and discussion of recent advances in rangeland ecology and management. Prerequisite: Senior classification.*
484. Internship. Credit 1 to 4. I, II, S
Supervised experience program conducted in the student's area of specialization. Prerequisite: Approval of department head.
485. Directed Studies. Credit 1 to 3 each semester. I, II, S
Individual study and research upon a selected range problem. Prerequisite: Approval of student's advisor.
489. Special Topics in... Credit 1 to 4. I, II, S
Selected topics in an identified area of rangeland ecology and management. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.*
491. Research. Credit 1 to 4.
Research conducted under the direction of faculty member in rangeland ecology and management. May be repeated 3 times for credit. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification and approval of instructor.
Renewable Natural Resources (RENR)
205. Fundamentals of Ecology. (3-0). Credit 3. I, II
Principles of ecology using a holistic approach treating plants, animals and humans as one integrated whole; composition, structure, nutrient cycles and energetics of biotic communities; adaptations to environmental factors; biotic relationships; and problems of environmental quality and resource use.
215. Fundamentals of Ecology--Laboratory. (0-3). Credit 1. I, II, S
Sampling and estimating plant-animal populations, measuring environmental factors and recognizing and studying morphological, physiological and behavioral adaptations of plants and animals to biotic or abiotic influences.*
400. Study Abroad in Natural Resources. Credit 2 to 12.
Provides students with an opportunity to gain first-hand experience in natural resource management in foreign countries; focus on the interaction of public, communal and private land tenure systems with the ecological and human dimensions of rangeland management, wildlife conservation and nature-based tourism. May be taken two times for credit. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification.
405. GIS for Environmental Problem Solving. (2-2). Credit 3.
Interdisciplinary approach to train students to integrate GIS and relevant technologies for environmental problem solving; helps students relate learning to real world situations; students conceptualize, develop and manage projects using real data; one term project required. Prerequisite: RENR 201 or equivalent or approval of instructor.
410. Ecosystem Management. (3-3). Credit 4.
Concepts and practices relevant to the development of landscape/regional level ecosystem management plans; an ecosystem management plan will be developed utilizing a strategic management/coordinated resources approach to establish resource goals, ecosystem resource analysis and impact evaluation, and implementation compatible with societal and individual concerns. Prerequisite: Senior classification or approval of instructor.*
444. Remote Sensing in Renewable Natural Resources. (2-3). Credit 3. II
Application of fundamental photogrammetry and photo interpretation and the use of other sensors in remote detection and analysis of natural resources; interpretation of natural vegetation as it applies to ecosystem analysis for range, forest and wildlife management; natural resource planning for rural, urban and recreational development. Prerequisite: Junior classification.
470. Environmental Impact Assessment. (3-0). Credit 3.
The evolution of natural resources regulatory policies and how this influences current procedures for environmental/natural resources assessment and management; demonstration of the environmental impact assessment procedures and policy issues associated with environmental impacts. Prerequisite: Senior classification or approval of instructor.
489. Special Topics in... Credit 1 to 4.
Selected topics in an identified field of renewable natural resources. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.*
Spatial Sciences (SPSC)
102. Introduction to Spatial Sciences. (1-0). Credit 1.
Provides students with an understanding of spatial sciences; how it is applied for problem solving in a wide variety of fields; and survey of the field and what opportunities are available to professionals in spatial sciences. Cross-listed with GEOG 102 and FRSC 102.
461. Geographic Information Systems for Resource Managers. (2-2). Credit 3.
Geographic Information System (GIS) approach to the integration of spatial and attribute data to study the capture, analysis, manipulation and portrayal of natural resource data; examination of data types/formats, as well as the integration of GIS with remote sensing and Global Positioning System; laboratory includes extensive use of GIS applications to conduct analyses of topics in natural resources. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor. Cross-listed with FRSC 461 and AGSM 461.
462. Advanced GIS Analysis for Natural Resource Management. (2-2). Credit 3.
Advanced topics in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to solve natural resource problems; manipulation of raster data types; three-dimensional modeling; emphasis on geo-processing as it relates to applied projects, particularly with habitat suitability models; field and lab use of Global Positioning Systems (GPS); internet-based GIS modeling. Prerequisites: FRSC 461 or SPSC 461 or approval of instructor; junior or senior classification. Cross-listed with AGSM 462, GEOG 462 and FRSC 462.
*Field trips required for which departmental fees may be assessed to cover costs.
