Rangeland Ecology & Management (B.S.) Degree Program

Rangeland Ecology & Management (B.S.) Degree Program

Rangelands occur as vast reaches of grasslands and shrublands that dominate our Western landscapes and cover nearly half of the earth’s land surface. The rangeland ecology and management bachelor’s degree is one of only 10 accredited academic programs recognized by the Society for Range Management. Graduates have the knowledge and skill to manage and restore these lands for livestock forage, wildlife habitat, wildland recreation and watershed health. Highlights of the rangeland program include classroom activities and field trips to rangelands with working professionals. Summer internships with land management agencies and conservation organizations add educational opportunities. This degree will prepare you for the scientific management of rangelands. Nearly 100 percent of the graduates with a degree in rangeland ecology and management secure jobs in this challenging and exciting field.

As a rangeland professional, students may:

• Oversee the use of rangelands for agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service and state land management agencies
• Serve as a consultant to assess rangelands for proposed projects or to meet management goals
• Manage wildlife habitat for state and federal agencies and conservation organizations
• Work with landowners to draft integrated management plans to reach land conservation and production goals
• Gather information for environmental impact statements, environmental assessment and rangeland monitoring projects
• Work as a natural resource facilitator to bring rangeland stakeholders together and agree on appropriate rangeland uses and management goals

Hands-on experience – actually having to do a job – is a great teacher. Many interactive opportunities are incorporated throughout the rangeland curriculum for hands-on learning. These opportunities include a week-long plant identification trip, lab activities, summer internships and undergraduate research projects. The department also facilitates travel to professional meetings and workshops where topics of rangeland management, arid land ecology and ecological restoration are discussed.

Moscow, Idaho, is the ideal base camp for anyone who loves nature and adventure. We are just minutes away from world-class fishing, hiking, camping, hunting, white-water rafting, kayaking, rock climbing, skiing and snowboarding. This is such a beautiful place; it’s both relaxing and fun. Spend your college years and career exploring the outdoors, the mountains, fields, rivers and lakes. There’s no better place to prepare for a career studying and preserving the great outdoors than the University of Idaho’s College of Natural Resources.