The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences offers the Major in Forestry with options in Forest Science and in Wood Products Industries; the Major in Horticulture with options in Horticultural Science,Production Management, and Urban Forestry; and the Major in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences with options in Biological Sciences, Social Sciences, and Soil Science.

Major in Forestry
The major in Forestry prepares students for careers in the management of private and public forest properties for the production of valuable wood products and for watershed protection, wildlife habitat, recreational enjoyment, and other benefits; and the manufacturing of wood into useful products. Graduates may qualify for employment in a wide range of fields with public agencies or private industry, including positions as forest managers, forest economists, silviculturists, forest conservationists, timber appraisers, watershed and wildlife managers, wood products specialists, and forest rangers. A minimum of 130 hours of credit is needed for graduation, including 8 hours of credit earned in summer field studies.

Forest Science Option
The Forest Science Option prepares students for all phases of the management of natural resources, particularly those associated with forests and forest land, including attention to environmental quality and ecology. The Forest Science option focuses on the management of natural resources for the production of wood products and for watershed protection, wildlife habitat, recreational enjoyment, and other benefits. This program is accredited by the Society of American Foresters.

Urban Forestry Option
The Urban Forestry option prepares students for positions involving management of forest resources in primarily urban areas and includes such diverse fields as ecology, landscape design, landscape horticulture, city and regional planning, entomology, and plant pathology. Graduates may qualify for employment in a wide range of fields with public agencies or private industry, inlcuding positions as forest managers, forest economists, silviculturists, forest conservationists, timber appraisers, watershed and wildlife managers, forest rangers, urban foresters, and wood product specialists.

Major in Horticulture
The Major in Horticulture is designed for students who want a basic knowledge of horticulture. Emphasis is placed on the basic plant sciences to give a general background for the specialized phases of horticulture. Opportunities open to graduates of this major include the production of horticultural crops in greenhouses, nurseries, and farms; residential landscape design and construction; park and golf course management; landscape maintenance; urban forestry; arboriculture; flower shop management and floral design; plant breeding; positions as sales representatives and technicians with seed and plant suppliers, chemical industries, and horticultural supply firms; employment with state or federal governmental agencies or institutions as teachers, researchers, horticultural advisors, crop inspectors, and consultants; and horticultural mass media specialists. The major also prepares students for graduate studies.

Horticultural Science Option
Students in the Horticultural Science Option study horticulture with a strong emphasis on the physical and biological sciences.This option is for students preparing for additional graduate studies or for those who want a strong science background along with a broad preparation in horticulture.


Production and Management Option
This option prepares students for careers in the production, marketing, management, and use of horticultural flower, landscape, and food crops in teaching, research, or in a business providing services related to horticultural crops. Students can specialize in landscape, nursery, and turf; floriculture crops and greenhouse management; or in food crops. Students must select one of three specializations within the Production and Management Option.

Urban Forestry Option
Students in the Urban Forestry Option integrate coursework from horticulture and forestry from the perspective of management of plants in urban forests, parks, and other public areas. This option serves students with career interests in urban forestry and horticulture and those desiring interdisciplinary preparation in horticulture and forestry.

Major in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (NRES)
The NRES major prepares students for careers in the management and protection of natural resources and in business or government agencies that provide services related to environmental and natural resources management. The major also prepares students for teaching, research, or other professional activities, as well as for graduate studies or for advanced professional training. Careers open to graduates include becoming environmental consultants, educators, communicators, plant physiologists, researchers, social and environmental impact analysts, resource planners, naturalists, ecologists, biologists, environmentalists, managers of wildlife parks, forests, and rangelands, conversation officers, nature center directors, aquatic ecologists, resource policy analysts, forest economists, watershed managers, soil conservationists, soil scientists, soil test analysts, land use specialists, plant and animal quarantine officers, lobbyists, plant nutrient consultants, and technical sales representatives. Preparation for graduate studies in natural resources and environmental sciences and related areas can be accomlished in any of the options through appropriate selection of coursework.

Biological Sciences Option
The Biological Sciences Option is designed for students interested in the fundamental properties and management of natural resource systems, including interactions among plants, other soil biota, soil, water, wildlife, and humans. The emphasis is on ecology, biology, and management of aquatic, soil, forest, and wildlife resources. Through lectures, labs, and field exercises, students will be given the opportunity to study biosphere relationships in natural resource systems. Students will be required to complete a specified number of restricted electives within the option. The Biological Science Option is structured to provide depth in six areas: ecology, soils, physiology, animal biology, water or air resources, and resource measurements and modeling. Students are given latitude to select individual courses within each of these areas in order to satisfy the requirements.

Social Sciences Option
The Social Sciences Option is intended for students interested in the study of agricultural policies and programs, environmental sociology, land use planning, environmental management, natural resource allocation, social impacts, and environmental law. Students will concentrate on the economic, sociological, and psychological components of natural resource systems and study political and economic institutions that affect resource management and utilization. A set of restricted electivesis designated for this option as well. The Social Science Option has advance requirements in five areas: economics, policy, management, resource measurements, and law. Students are given latitude to select individual courses within these categories.

Soil Science Option
Students with an interest in soil conservation, soil and water interactions with plants and other organisms, water quality, land use assessment, soil nutrient analysis, and related sales should choose the Soil Science Option. This option gives students a strong background in the physical environment, including the areas of soil formation, classification, the role of soils in plant growth, soil management and conservation, soil microbiology and ecology, soil and water chemistry, water quality, managed and unmanaged soil systems, and factors that affect the behavior and movement of pollutants in and through soil.

Students should select the Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences departmental major best suited to their academic, personal, and career interests.