Online Fire Courses
Global Fire Ecology and Management (FOR 426, 3 credits)
Core
Designed to give you an in-depth understanding of fire ecology and implications for ecologically-based fire management in a variety of ecosystems. You will learn about the ecological effects of fire on plants, animals, soil, water and air. Our discussions about fire management address current issues, including fire management in the wildland/urban interface, climate change, and effects of fires on watersheds, streams and riparian areas. We read current scientific literature to gain familiarity with fire ecology research. We emphasize fire as an ecological process in wildland ecosystems, how to characterize and predict fire effects over time and space, and how to apply this to restoration ecology.
Penny Morgan | pmorgan@uidaho.edu | Fall semester | Sample Syllabus
Fire Ecology (FOR 526, 3 credits) (Available Fall 2015)
Core
Overview of fire effects in forest, woodland, shrubland and grassland ecosystems, as well as key concepts, approaches to studying ecological effects of fires, and the science literature. Exams are take-home, requiring extensive reading in scientific journals available online through the University of Idaho library. Because you can choose which questions to address on the take-home exam, you can tailor this class to your interests in fire ecology, including restoration ecology, fire and climate change, and other ecological issues.
Penny Morgan | pmorgan@uidaho.edu | Fall semester | Sample Syllabus
Fuels Inventory and Management (FOR 451, 3 credits)
Core
In-depth understanding of fuels inventory and management. You will gain experience with tools, quantitative analysis, and approaches for inventory and management of fuels for wildland fires over large, diverse areas in forests, woodlands, shrubland and grasslands, including fieldwork and critical review and synthesis of relevant scientific literature.
Leda Kobziar | lkobziar@uidaho.edu | Spring semester | Sample Syllabus
Advanced Fire Behavior (FOR 557, 3 credits) (New—Spring 2016)
Core
Basic chemistry and physics involved in fire, including heat transfer processes and the main factors affecting fire behavior. Key fire behavior models useful for professionals. Illustrations with exercises to bridge the gap between basic science and application of science in fire analysis. Examples from different areas of the world, making use of developments in different aspects of fire, from grassfires or spotting of Australian eucalypts to crown fire experiments in the boreal forests of Canada, relying heavily on work from the U.S. and Europe, on modeling fire behavior.
Francisco Castro Rego | frego@uidaho.edu | Spring semester | Sample Syllabus
Wildland Fire Policy (FOR 587, 2 credits)
Core and Policy
Relationships between fire science, federal laws and regulations that affect fire management in fire affected ecosystems; the politics of wildland fire; and the effects of wildland fire on wildland-urban interface (WUI) communities. Recommended preparation is a course in natural resource and/or environmental policy or FOR 584.
Jo Ellen Force | joellen@uidaho.edu | Fall semester
Natural Resources Policy (FOR 584, 3 credits)
Core and Policy
The development of natural resource policy with emphasis on the policy process at the federal level in the U.S.; the role of and interrelationships between staff, committees, agencies and elected officials; the relationship of science and scientists with policy and politicians in the development of natural resource policy, including preparation of testimony related to natural resource science and policy issues; implementation of policy within the natural resource agencies and judicial interpretation of major natural resource policies in the U.S. Recommended Preparation: An upper-division course in natural recourse and/or environmental policy.
Jo Ellen Force | joellen@uidaho.edu | Spring semester | Sample Syllabus
Science Synthesis and Communication (FOR 546, 3 credits) (New—Spring 2016)
Core and Human Dimensions
Learn together about synthesizing science for application in management. We emphasize fire science. Extensive writing and reading required. In this online course students become informed users of science, learn best practices for synthesizing science, and deepen their understanding of the science-management interface and how to communicate science effectively. We address advocacy. Students complete multiple science briefs and syntheses.
Penny Morgan | pmorgan@uidaho.edu | Fall semester | Sample Syllabus
Landscape and Habitat Dynamics (REM 507, 3 credits)
Ecology
Designed for students interested in quantitative methods for predicting landscape change and dynamics. Central topics are the concepts of disturbance ecology, potential vegetation, niche modeling, successional change, climate-change scenarios, human-induced change, and effects of change on species ranges and habitat. In the laboratory section we use geospatial analysis tools to quantify landscape composition under a variety of modeled management and/or climate scenarios. We read and discuss scientific papers and work on development, analysis, and reporting of an independent student selected project.
Eva Strand | evas@uidaho.edu | Spring semester (alternate years)
Wildland Restoration Ecology (REM 440, 3 credits)
Ecology
Ecological principles and management practices involved in restoring and rehabilitating wildland ecosystems after disturbance or alteration to return damaged ecosystems to a productive and stable state. (Spring only). Prerequisites: FOR 221, or REM 221, or equivalent general ecology course.
Leda Kobziar | lkobziar@uidaho.edu | Spring semester
Rangeland Ecology (REM 459, 2 credits)
Ecology
Ecology of steppe, woodlands, and other semi-arid and arid ecosystems that occupy nearly 50 percent of the world's land surface. We discuss major ecological principles and processes that influence the function of rangeland ecosystems focusing on succession, disturbance (e.g. herbivory, fire, and climatic variation), and nutrient cycling. Diversity and sustainability of ecosystems are ever- increasing important considerations. We will discuss these topics as they are currently applied to rangelands. Examples from other types of ecosystems, such as wetlands, tide marshes, and temperate forests are included.
Eva Strand | evas@uidaho.edu | Fall semester| Sample Syllabus
Air Quality, Pollution, and Smoke (FOR J554, 3 credits)
Tools
Assessment of the controls and drivers of emission processes and impacts on air quality from agricultural, prescribed, and wildfires. Overview of the combustion and emission process, how these emissions impact the "quality of air", and what models exist to monitor the emission. Other topics to include: recent EPA and other guidelines for smoke management planning, attainment issues, collaborative process for implementing smoke management plans.
Alistair Smith | alistair@uidaho.edu | Spring semester
Principles of Vegetation Measurement and Assessment (REM 410, 2 credits)
Tools
Overview of vegetation measurement techniques for grasslands, shrublands, woodlands and forests. Students will gain a solid understanding of how to assess and monitor vegetation attributes relative to wildlife habitat, livestock forage, fire fuel characteristics, watershed function and many other wildland values. Recommended Preparation: A basic statistics course and understanding of how to use computer spreadsheets such as Excel.
Staff | Fall semester
GIS Applications in Fire Ecology & Management (REM 407 / REM J510, 2 credits)
Tools
Designed to give you an in-depth understanding of how geographical information systems are applied in fire ecology and management. You will be introduced to GIS applications in fire ecology, research, and management including incident mapping and fire progression mapping. You will apply GIS overlay analysis, remote sensing fire severity assessments, fire atlas analysis, and explore the role of GIS in the Fire Regime Condition Class concept using LANDFIRE spatial data.
Heather Heward and Leda Kobziar | hheward@uidaho.edu, lkobziar@uidaho.edu | Spring semester| Sample Syllabus
Non-Thesis Master’s Research (NR 599, Section 2, 2 credits)
Core
Professional research project in fire sciences. Requires an oral presentation, written paper encouraged.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For information regarding the Master of Natural Resources Program, email MNR@uidaho.edu or call the MNR Director at 208-885-0118.
For questions about courses and Certificate in Fire Ecology, Management and Technology, contact fire@uidaho.edu, or call 208-885-7952.