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Department of Natural Resources Management

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Undergraduate ProgramGraduate ProgramCourse DescriptionsFaculty

 

CONTACT INFORMATION: 102 Goddard Building
Box 42125, Lubbock, TX 79409-2125
T 806.742.2841, F 806.742.2280, www.rw.ttu.edu/ttunrm/

About the Program

This department supervises the following degree programs:

  • Bachelor of Science in Conservation Law Enforcement
  • Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources Management
  • Master of Science in Fisheries Science*
  • Master of Science in Range Science*
  • Master of Science in Wildlife, Aquatic, and Wildlands Science and Management
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Fisheries Science*
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Range Science*
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Wildlife, Aquatic, and Wildlands Science and Management
        * Program being phased out and consolidated with Wildlife, Aquatic, and Wildlands Science and
          Management.


Undergraduate Program

The Department of Natural Resources Management is primarily concerned with the application of basic ecological principles to the management and use of natural resources. The curriculum for natural resources management prepares students for graduate school. The range management and wildlife biology tracks meet the Civil Service or certification requirements for positions as range conservationists or wildlife biologists for agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management.

Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources Management. Students pursuing a B.S. in Natural Resources Management must make a C or better in departmental courses to be eligible for graduation. The degree has five tracks (pp. 134-136): (1) ranch management, (2) wildlife biology, (3) fisheries biology, (4) range conservation, and (5) conservation science. The wildlife biology track can meet the minimum requirements recommended by the Wildlife Society for wildlife biologist certification, and the fisheries biology track can meet the minimum certification requirements recommended by the American Fisheries Society for a fisheries professional. The range conservaton tract meets the accreditation standards of the Society for Range Management.

Bachelor of Science in Conservation Law Enforcement. Students seeking the 120-hour B.S. in Conservation Law Enforcement must first obtain an Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice from South Plains College. Designed to prepare students for careers as game wardens or similar positions, this degree requires 60 hours of coursework at Texas Tech University in addition to the initial 60 hours transferred from South Plains College.

Minor. This department offers a minor in natural resources management for students majoring outside the department. For more information on requirements for completing a minor, refer to “Selecting a Minor” in the introductory information about this college or contact the departmental chair.

Club Involvement. Students are encouraged to become actively involved in the clubs sponsored by the Natural Resources Management Department: Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Club; Student Association for Fire Ecology; and the Texas Tech Chapter of The Society for Conservation Biology. 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.

Curriculum Tables

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Graduate Program

Those interested in pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree in the Department of Natural Resources Management should consult with the chairperson prior to enrolling for any course.

Master's Program

The department offers thesis and non-thesis Master of Science programs. The thesis option requires a minimum of 24 hours of graduate coursework plus 6 hours of thesis followed by successful defense of the thesis and final examination. The non-thesis degree requires a minimum of 36 hours of graduate coursework and a final examination. Transfer from a thesis to a non-thesis degree is not allowed after the first semester of enrollment. However, transfer from a non-thesis to a thesis degree is allowed for students showing a significant aptitude, provided that a major advisor has the desire and resources to support the transfer. Before recommendation for candidacy to a master’s degree program, students may be requested to take a preliminary examination to determine proficiency and background for graduate work. Students may be required to take (without graduate credit) such undergraduate leveling courses as may be designated by the graduate advisory committee.

Doctoral Program

Doctoral candidates may specialize in grazing management, range improvement, range animal nutrition, fire ecology, plant ecology, plant physiology, wildlife habitat management, big game ecology, upland game ecology, fisheries, or wetland ecology and management.

An oral and/or written preliminary examination is required of all students seeking a Ph.D. degree. If the preliminary examination reveals weaknesses in the student’s background, remedial courses may be designated by the graduate advisory committee. The student’s graduate advisory committee will also recommend courses to be taken in supporting disciplines. In accordance with the requirements of the Graduate School, a qualifying examination is prepared and administered by the candidate’s graduate advisory committee and any other professors the committee may consider necessary.

The doctorate normally requires completion of 60 to 80, or more, semester credit hours of graduate coursework beyond the bachelor’s degree, exclusive of credit for the dissertation. In addition to the courses required for the major, an applicant for the doctorate must have taken at least 15 semester hours of graduate coursework outside the department. These hours may be taken in supporting fields without concern for a minor specialization, depending on recommendation of the student’s graduate advisory committee. However, if they are taken in a block of related courses, they may be declared as a minor.

There is no foreign language requirement for the Ph.D. degree, but such a requirement may be incorporated into individual programs at the discretion of the student’s graduate advisory committee. All doctoral candidates must successfully complete or have completed one semester of experimental design (NRM 5403) and one semester of teaching practicum (NRM 7210).Back to Top

 

Course Descriptions

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Faculty

Click here to view alphabetical listing of all TTU faculty and their academic credentials.

Mark C. Wallace, Ph.D., Chairperson

Kleberg Professor of Wildlife Management: Gipson
Professors: Boal, Fish, Patino, Wallace
Associate Professors: Dabbert, Perry, Villalobos
Assistant Professors: Cox, Grabowski, Griffis-Kyle, Kahl, Pease, Rogowski, Verble-Pearson
Adjunct Faculty: Alcumbrac, Arnett, Arsuffi, Baccus, Breck, Brewer, Coldren, DeMaso, Drawe, Haukos, Kamler, Krausman, LeVering, McLendon, Pence, Peterson, Pope, Rhodes, Rideout-Hanzak, Vermeire, Wester

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