Department of Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries
Management

Professor Ernest B. Fish, Chairperson.

Kleberg Professor Smith; Professors Britton, Sosebee, Wester, and Zwank; Associate Professor Ballard; Assistant Professors Dabbert, Mitchell, Pope, Villalobos, Wallace, and Wilde; Adjunct Faculty: Ansley, Cronin, Drawe, Harvey, Haukos, Krausman, Parker, Patino, Pence, Peterson, Price, Rhodes, Rollins, Taylor, Teague, and Ueckert.

This department supervises the following degree programs: RANGE MANAGEMENT, WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES MANAGEMENT, and ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Bachelor of Science; FISHERIES SCIENCE, RANGE SCIENCE; and WILDLIFE SCIENCE, Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy.

The Department of Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management is primarily concerned with the application of basic ecological principles to the management and use of natural resources. The range management specialization prepares students for graduate school and meets the Civil Service requirements for positions as range conservationists for agencies such as the Natural Resource Conservation Service, Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management. The wildlife and fisheries management curriculum prepares students for graduate school and meets the minimum requirements recommended by the Wildlife Society for wildlife biologist certification and by the American Fisheries Society for a fisheries biologist. The wildlife and fisheries curriculum includes a track for those interested in wildlife and a track for those interested in fisheries management.

Students may also simultaneously fulfill the requirements for a second B.S. degree in the department by completing a minimum of 24 hours of course work. Students majoring in either range, wildlife and fisheries management, or environmental conservation of natural resources must make a C or better in departmental courses to be eligible for graduation.

Students are encouraged to become actively involved in the clubs sponsored by the Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management Departmentthe Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Club and the Soil Conservation Club. These clubs promote involvement in professional societies such as the Wildlife Society, the American Fisheries Society, the Society for Range Management, and the Soil and Water Conservation Society of America. Club activities also include regularly scheduled meetings with guest speakers and social events such as barbecues.

This department offers a minor in natural resource management for students majoring outside the department. For more information on requirements for completing a minor, refer to the "Selecting a Minor" segment in the college section of this catalog or contact the departmental chairperson.

Range Management Curriculum.

FIRST YEAR
Fall Spring
ENGL 1301, Ess. Coll. Rhet. 3 ENGL 1302, Adv. Coll. Rhet. 3
MATH 1330, Intro. Math. Anal. I or MATH 1331, Intro. Math. Anal. II or
MATH 1350, Anal. Geo. 3 MATH 1351, Calculus I 3
CHEM 1307, Prin. Chem. I 3 CHEM 1308, Prin. Chem. II 3
CHEM 1107, Prin. Chem. I (Lab) 1 CHEM 1108, Prin. Chem. II (Lab.) 1
RWFM 2301, Intro. Wildlife. 3 RWFM 2302, Ecol. & Cons. Nat. Res. 3
RWFM 4100, Seminar 1 AGSC 2300, Computers in Ag. 3
HIST 2300, Hist. of U.S. to 1877 3 16
17
SECOND YEAR
Fall Spring
BIOL 1403, Biol. I 4 BIOL 1404, Biol. II 4
AAEC 2305, Fund. Ag. Eco. 3 RWFM 3501, Rng., For., Wet. Plants 5
BOT 3404, Tax. Flowering Plants 4 PSS 2432, Prin. & Pract. Soils 4
POLS 1301, Amer. Govt., Org. 3 BOT 3401, Plant Physiol. 4
CHEM 3303, Intro. Org. Chem. 3 17
CHEM 3103, Intro. Org. Chem (Lab) 1
18
THIRD YEAR
Fall Spring
RWFM 3302, Range Plant Ecol. 3 RWFM 3304, Prin. Range Mgt. 3
RWFM 3201, Veg. Invent. & Anal. 2 COMS 2300, Public Speaking 3
POLS 2302, Amer. Pub. Pol. 3 AAEC 3401, Ag. Stat. 4
PSS 4332, Soil Class. 3 AAEC 3302, Ag. Finance 3
PSS 3321, For. & Past. Crops 3 HIST 2301, Hist. of U.S. since 1877 3
ANSC 3301, Prin. Nutri. 3 Electives 2
17 18
FOURTH YEAR
Fall Spring
RWFM 4302, Range Impr. 3 RWFM 4303, Range. Anal. & Plan. 3
RWFM 4304, Fire Ecol. & Mgt. 3 ENGL 2309, Technical Writing or
RWFM 4309, Range-Wild. Hab. Mgmt. 3 JOUR 3309, Writ. for Mass Media 3
PSS 3421, Fund. Prin. Gen. or RWFM 4314, Watershed Mgt. 3
BIOL 3301, Genetics 3-4 ANSC 4403, Beef Prod. or
*Humanities 3 ANSC 4406 or ANSC 3302 3-4
Elective 2 Visual & Performing Arts 3
17-18 RWFM 4100, Seminar 1
16-17

Minimum hours required for graduation--136. (Students must fulfill the university Multicultural requirement.)

*Choose from Core Curriculum requirements.

Wildlife and Fisheries Management Curriculum.

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT TRACK

FIRST YEAR
Fall Spring
ENGL 1301, Ess. Coll. Rhet. 3 ENGL 1302, Adv. Coll. Rhet. 3
MATH 1330, Intro. Math. Anal. I or MATH 1331, Intro. Math. Anal. II or
MATH 1350, Anal. Geo. 3 MATH 1351, Calculus I 3
CHEM 1307, Prin. Chem. I 3 CHEM 1308, Prin. Chem. II 3
CHEM 1107, Prin. Chem. I (Lab) 1 CHEM 1108, Prin. Chem. II (Lab.) 1
RWFM 2301, Intro. Wildlife. 3 RWFM 2302, Ecol. & Cons. Nat. Res. 3
RWFM 4100, Seminar 1 AGSC 2300, Computers in Ag. 3
HIST 2300, Hist. of U.S. to 1877 3 16
17
SECOND YEAR
Fall Spring
BIOL 1403, Biol. I 4 BIOL 1404, Biol. II 4
AAEC 2305, Fund. Ag. Eco. 3 ZOOL 2406, Comp. Anat. Game Ani. 4
RWFM 3501, Rng., For., Wet. Plants 5 BIOL 3301, Genetics 3
RWFM 2305, Freshwater Eco. and Mgt. 3 *Humanities 3
CHEM 3303, Intro. Org. Chem. 3 PSS 2432, Prin. & Pract. Soils 4
CHEM 3103, Intr. Org. Chem. (Lab) 1 18
19
THIRD YEAR
Fall Spring
RWFM 3302, Range Plant Ecol. 3 RWFM 3304, Prin. Range Mgt. 3
BOT 3401, Plant Physiol. 4 ZOOL 4308, Ornithology 3
POLS 1301, Amer. Govt. Org. 3 AAEC 3401, Ag. Stat. 4
Elective 5 HIST 2301, Hist. of U.S. since 1877 3
15 POLS 2302, Amer. Pub. Pol. 3
16
FOURTH YEAR
Fall Spring
RWFM 4407, Wild. Inv. Tech. 4 RWFM 4303, Range. Anal. & Plan. or
RWFM 4309, Range-Wild. Hab. Mgmt. 3 LARC 4302 or 4303, or RWFM 4314 OR 4320 3
COMS 2300, Public Speaking 3 RWFM 4408, Wild. Pop. Dyn. 4
ZOOL 4306, Intro. Mammal. 3 ENGL 2309, Technical Writing or
*Humanities or Fine Arts 3 JOUR 3309, Writ. for Mass Media 3
**Elective 2 AAEC 4302, Stat. Methods in Ag. 3
18 RWFM 4100, Seminar 1
Elective 3
17

Minimum hours required for graduation--136. (Students must fulfill the university Multicultural requirement.)

*Choose from Core Curriculum requirements.

**Select one course from the following: RWFM 4305, 4306, 4310, 4403.

Suggested electives for students interested in becoming a game warden are SOC 3323, 4325, and POLS 3350. Suggested electives to enhance the wildlife track are RWFM 3201, 4305, 4306, 4310, and 4401.

Wildlife and Fisheries Management Curriculum.

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT TRACK

FIRST YEAR
Fall Spring
ENGL 1301, Ess. Coll. Rhet. 3 ENGL 1302, Adv. Coll. Rhet. 3
MATH 1330, Intro. Math. Anal. I or MATH 1331, Intro. Math. Anal. II or
MATH 1350, Anal. Geo. 3 MATH 1351, Calculus I 3
CHEM 1307, Prin. Chem. I 3 CHEM 1308, Prin. Chem. II 3
CHEM 1107, Prin. Chem. I (Lab.) 1 CHEM 1108, Prin. Chem. II (Lab.) 1
RWFM 2301, Intro. Wildlife 3 RWFM 2302, Ecol. & Cons. Nat. Res. 3
RWFM 4100, Seminar 1 AGSC 2300, Computers in Ag. 3
HIST 2300, Hist. of U.S. to 1877 3 16
17
SECOND YEAR
Fall Spring
BIOL 1403, Biol. I 4 BIOL 1404, Biol. II 4
AAEC 2305, Fund. Ag. Eco. 3 ZOOL 2406, Comp. Anat. Game Ani. 4
RWFM 3501, Rng., For., Wet. Plants 5 BIOL 3301, Genetics 3
RWFM 2305, Intro. Freshwater Eco. and Fish.. 3 *Humanities or Fine Arts 3
CHEM 3303, Intro. Org. Chem 3 GEOL 1303, 1101 4
CHEM 3103, Intr. Org. Chem. (Lab) 1 18
19
THIRD YEAR
Fall Spring
RWFM 4330, Aquaculture 3 RWFM 4335, Fisheries Science 3
BOT 3401, Plant Physiol. 4 ZOOL 4308, Ornithology 3
ZOOL 4306, Intro. Mammals 3 AAEC 3401, Ag. Stat. 4
POLS 1301, Amer. Govt. Org. 3 HIST 2301, Hist. of U.S. since 1877 3
POLS 2302, Amer. Pub. Pol. 3 ZOOL 4310, Intro Ichthyology 3
16 16
FOURTH YEAR
Fall Spring
RWFM 4407, Wild. Inv. Tech. 4 RWFM 4303, Range. Anal. & Plan. or
RWFM 4401, Fisheries Management 4 LARC 4302 or 4303, or RWFM 4314 or 4320 3
COMS 2300, Public Speaking 3 RWFM 4408, Wild. Pop. Dyn. 4
*Vis. & Perf. Arts 3 ENGL 2309, Technical Writing or
**Elective 3 JOUR 3309, Writ. for Mass Media 3
17 AAEC 4302, Stat. Methods in Ag. 3
RWFM 4100, Seminar 1
**Elective 3
17

Minimum hours required for graduation--136. (Students must fulfill the university Multicultural requirement.)

*Choose from Core Curriculum requirements.

**Suggested electives for students interested in becoming a game warden are SOC 3323, 4325, POLS 3350. Suggested electives to enhance fisheries track are C E 3371, 3171, ZOOL 3406, GEOL 3322.

Environmental Conservation of Natural Resources

FIRST YEAR
Fall Spring
ENGL 1301, Ess. Coll. Rhet. 3 ENGL 1302, Adv. Coll. Rhet. 3
MATH 1330, Intro. Math. Anal. I or MATH 1331, Intro. Math. Anal. II or
MATH 1350, Anal. Geo. 3 MATH 1351, Calculus I 3
CHEM 1307, Prin. Chem. I 3 CHEM 1308, Prin. Chem. II 3
CHEM 1107, Prin. Chem. I (Lab) 1 CHEM 1108, Prin. Chem. II (Lab.) 1
RWFM 2301, Intro. Wildlife. 3 RWFM 2302, Ecol. & Cons. Nat. Res. 3
RWFM 4100, Seminar 1 AGSC 2300, Computers in Ag. 3
HIST 2300, Hist. of U.S. to 1877 3 16
17
SECOND YEAR
Fall Spring
BIOL 1403, Biol. I 4 BIOL 1404, Biol. II 4
AAEC 2305, Fund. Ag. Eco. 3 ENVE 1301, Intro. to Envir. Sys. 3
RWFM 3501, Rng., For., Wet. Plants 5 ATMO 1300, Intro. to Atmo. Sci. 3
RWFM 2305, Freshwater Eco. & Mgt. 3 ATMO 1100, Atmo. Sci. (Lab) 1
CHEM 3303, Intro. Org. Chem. or PSS 2432, Prin. & Pract. Soils 4
CHEM 3305, Org. Chem. I 3 *Physical Science Elective 4
CHEM 3103, Intr. Org. Chem. (Lab) or 19
CHEM 3105, Org. Chem. (Lab) 1
19
THIRD YEAR
Fall Spring
RWFM 3302, Range Plant Ecol. 3 AAEC 3401, Ag. Stat. 4
BIOL 3309, Pop., Comm., & Ecosys. 3 HIST 3327, Sur. Amer. Env. Hist. 3
**Animal Biology Elective 3-4 RWFM 3304, Prin. Range Mgt. 3
Specialized Elective 3 P R 3310, Prin. Public Relations or
POLS 1301, Amer. Govt. Org. 3 AGSC 3301, Ag. Lead. Prin. 3
15-16 POLS 2302, Amer. Pub. Pol. 3
Specialized Elective 3
19
FOURTH YEAR
Fall Spring
RWFM 4407, Wild. Inv. Tech. 4 COMS 2300, Public Speaking 3
Specialized Elective 6 RWFM 4314, Watershed Plan. 3
ENVE 3203, Envir. Measurement or ENGL 2309, Technical Writing 3
RWFM 3201, Veg. Inven. & Anal. 2 Specialized Elective 6
Humanities and Vis. & Perf. Arts 6 RWFM 4100, Seminar 1
17 16

Minimum hours required for graduation139. (Students must fulfill the university Multicultural requirement.)

*Students will select one of the following courses to satisfy the physical science elective: GEOL 1303 and 1101, GEOG 1301 and 1101, 1302 and 1102.

**Students will select one of the following courses to satisfy the animal biology elective: ZOOL 3406, 4306, 4308, 4407, PSS 2401.

Choose from Core Curriculum requirements.

Students will select one of the following specializations according to their area of interest. Of the 18 hours required at least 12 hours must come from one of the specializations listed below:

Technical environmental--additional required electives GEOG 3404, RWFM 4315, 4403, 4408, ENVE 2401, 3404, 4301, CHEM 2401, 3402, BIOL 4310.

Water management--additional required electives RWFM 4335, 4401, 4330, LARC 4302.

Land management--additional required electives RWFM 4302, 4303, 4304, LARC 4302, GEOL 1303, 1101, GEOG 1301, 1101, 1302, 1102, PSS 4331, 4332, 4335, 4337, MBIO 4401.

Animal population management and conservation--additional required electives RWFM 4305, 4306, 4310, 4335, 4408, ZOOL 3406, 4306, 4308, 4407, PSS 2401.

Courses in Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management. (RWFM)

2101. Introductory Wildlife Laboratory (1:0:2). Corequisite: RWFM 2301. Field and laboratory exercises introducing aspects of wildlife ecology and management. F, S.

2102. Ecology and Conservation Laboratory (1:0:2). Corequisite: RWFM 2302. Field and laboratory exercises introducing aspects of ecology and conservation of renewable natural resources. F, S.

2105. Freshwater Ecology and Management Laboratory (1:0:2). Corequisite: RWFM 2305. Field and laboratory exercises introducing aspects of freshwater habitats. F, S.

2301. Introductory Wildlife (3:3:0). Introduction to the ecology and management of wildlife populations. Stresses principles, life histories, and management techniques. F, S.

2302. The Ecology and Conservation of Natural Resources (3:3:0). An introduction to the ecology and conservation of renewable natural resources of native lands, including their multiple use for timber, water, range, recreation, and wildlife. F, S.

2305. Freshwater Ecology and Fisheries (3:3:0). Survey and management of freshwater habitats: types of organisms, adaptations, and ecological interactions; and effects of solar radiation, temperature, currents, dissolved gases, chemicals, and pollution. F, S.

3201. Vegetation Inventory and Analysis (2:1:2). Techniques and methods for sampling and analyzing rangeland vegetation. F.

3302. Range Plant Ecology (3:3:0). The basic principles of autecology and synecology and their relationship to management of the range ecosystem. F, S.

3303. Range Management Principles and Practices (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Sophomore standing. A general course in the principles and practices of range management designed for nonrange majors who plan to enter the ranching industry. F, S. Field trips required. Not open to range or wildlife majors.

3304. Principles of Range Management (3:2:3). Prerequisite: RWFM 3501. Application of ecological principles in the management of rangelands for sustained livestock products consistent with conservation of the range resource. Field trips required. S.

3501. Range, Forest, Wetland Plants, and Plant Identification (5:3:4). Native and naturalized forage plants of the U.S.; identification, distribution, ecology, plant communities, and economic value are stressed. F, S. Field trips are required.

4000. Internship (V1-12).

4001. Undergraduate Research (V1-12). Selected research problems according to the needs of the student. May be repeated.

4100. Seminar (1:1:0). An organized discussion of current problems and research in range, wildlife, and fisheries management. May be repeated.

4301. Problems (3). Prerequisite: Approval of instructor. Individual investigation of an assigned problem in range, wildlife, and fisheries management. Emphasis placed on the theory, methods, and practice of range, wildlife, or fisheries field work.

4302. Range Improvements (3:2:3). Application of principles and practices necessary to enhance the productive potential of the range resource for all potential uses. Methods for brush management, revegetation, conservation etc. are considered. Improvement for increased domestic livestock production and for enhancing wildlife habitat is emphasized. Field trips required. F.

4303. Rangeland Analysis and Management Planning (3:2:3). Prerequisite: RWFM 3304 or 4302. Analysis of rangeland resource inventories for the purpose of planning appropriate use of such resources. A familiarization with the basic components of a range resource plan and their application in decision making. S. (Writing Intensive)

4304. Fire Ecology and Management (3:3:0). Prerequisite: RWFM 3302 and 3501. The effect of fire on major vegetation zones in North America and ecological changes of plants and animals. Physical effects of fires on soils and plants, management applications, and prescribed burning techniques. F. (Writing Intensive)

4305. Big Game Ecology (3:2:3). Prerequisite: BIOL 1404, RWFM 2301. Survey of distributions and life histories of North American big game species. Productivity, food habits, economic significance and management will be examined. Field trips required. S, even years.

4306. Upland Game Ecology (3:2:3). Prerequisite: RWFM 2301 and ZOOL 4308, or consent of instructor. Ecological approach to the management of upland game populations. Stresses population mechanisms and habitat management of selected species. Field trips required. S, odd years.

4309. Range-Wildlife Habitat Management (3:3:0). Prerequisite: RWFM 2301, 3501, 3304, or consent of instructor. A study of wildlife habitats based on major vegetation types and the management problems involved. Emphasis on how other resource demands can be integrated with wildlife. Field trips offered. F, S. (Writing Intensive)

4310. Principles of Waterfowl Management (3:2:3). Prerequisite: RWFM 2301. Ecology and management of continental waterfowl resources. Life histories, population management, and habitat manipulation are stressed. Field trips required. F, even years.

4314. Watershed Planning (3:3:0). The watershed as a unit of resource-oriented planning and development. Principles and objectives of watershed management. Physical description of watershed. Relationship between land-use conditions and the water delivery character of watersheds. Watershed analysis, including techniques, collection of field data, and sources of information. F, S.

4315. Spatial Analysis in Natural Resource Management (3:2:3). Introduction to geographic information systems and global positioning systems. Applications for inventory, planning, and management of natural resources are emphasized. S.

4320. Natural Resource Policy (3:3:0). Prerequisite: RWFM 2301. Emphasis on the human dimension of natural resource management. Historical, agency, and private organization roles in policy and conflict resolution. S.

4330. Aquaculture (3:3:0). Prerequisite: BIOL 1404 and CHEM 1308 or consent of instructor. A global overview of aquaculture including fish, aquatic invertebrates, plants, and design and operation of production facilities. F, odd years.

4335. Fisheries Science (3:3:0). Prerequisite: RWFM 2301, 2302, 2305, and ZOOL 4310. Scientific study of aquatic organisms. Includes resource sampling, ecology, analysis of populations, resource conflict, and management. S, even years.

4401. Fisheries Management (4:3:3). Prerequisite: AAEC 3401. Theory and practice of fisheries management with emphasis on basic strategies used in effective management of aquatic renewable natural resources. Applied field problems, equipment use. F, even years. (Writing Intensive)

4403. Aerial Photo Interpretation in Natural Resource Management (4:2:4). Fundamentals of aerial photograph reading, interpretation, and evaluation. Introduction to remote sensing techniques and geographic information systems. F.

4407. Wildlife Investigational Techniques (4:3:3). Prerequisite: Junior standing and AAEC 3401. The basic methodology of practical wildlife management. This involves the routine techniques in data collection related to population maintenance, as well as ways to monitor field research. F, S. (Writing Intensive)

4408. Wildlife Population Dynamics and Analysis (4:3:3). Prerequisite: AAEC 3401, RWFM 2301, MATH 1331, or consent of instructor. The mechanisms of wildlife population changes and their management. Detailed examination of techniques for measuring population characteristics. S. (Writing Intensive)


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