Conservation and Resource Management

The CRM track is rooted in understanding how earth systems work and how they can be manipulated to positive ends through management.

Since earth systems are inherently complex and our understanding is often imperfect, conserving and restoring them requires broad knowledge and experience while using the most current analytical, policy, and managerial tools.

A Faculty Perspective

A Student's Perspective 

Students will study the structure and function of forests, farms, cities, and wetlands, and through their coursework they will investigate the causes, consequences, and solutions to environmental problems created by human action.

Students will solve problems in field settings and will learn to communicate their understanding, synthesis, and decision-making to diverse audiences.

Finally, they will gain experience in the actual implementation of decisions. Students may also develop special skills through electives, for example, in the area of geographic information systems and geospatial analysis.

Sample Four-Year Plan

The sample plan below shows you one of several possible ways to complete this degree. Use Graduation Planner to make your customized plan, and work with your academic adviser to ensure that you are on track to graduate on time.

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First Year

First Year

Fall Semester

ESPM 1001 Freshmen Orientation to Environmental Sciences, Policy, and Management  (1 credit)
ESPM 1011 Issues in the Environment (3 credits)
MATH 1142 Short Calculus (4 credits)
Freshman Composition (4 credits)
CHEM 1061 Chemical Principles I (3 credits)
CHEM 1065 Chemical Principles I Laboratory (1 credit)

(16 credits total)

Spring Semester

BIOL 1009 General Biology (4 credits)
ESPM 2021 Environmental Sciences: Integrated Problem Solving (3 credits)
AECM 2421W Professional and Oral Communication for Agriculture, Food & the Environment (3 credits)
LE (Arts/Humanities) (3 credits)
Elective (2 credits)

(15 credits total)

Second Year

Second Year

Fall Semester

PMB 2022 General Botany (3 credits)
CHEM 1062 Chemical Principles II (3 credits)
CHEM 1066 Chemical Principles II Laboratory (1 credit)
FNRM 3131 Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for Natural Resources (4 credits)
LE (Global Perspectives) (3 credits)

(14 credits total)

Spring Semester

ESPM 3012 Statistical Methods for Environmental Scientists and Managers (4 credits)
ESPM 3241W Natural Resource and Environmental Policy (3 credits)
ESPM 3261 Economics and Natural Resources Management (4 credits)
SOIL 2125 Basic Soil Science (4 credits)  

(15 credits total)

Third Year

Third Year

Fall Semester

ESPM 3000 Seminar on Current Issues for ESPM (1 credit)
ESPM 3108 Ecology of Managed Systems (3 credits)
FNRM 3262 Remote Sensing and Geospatial Analysis of Natural Resources and Environment (3 credits)
SOIL 5555 Wetland Soils (3 credits)
Elective (3 credits)
Elective (2 credits)

(15 credits total)

Spring Semester

ESPM 3221 Soil Conservation and Land-Use Management (3 credits)
ESPM 3202W - Environmental Conflict Management, Leadership, and Planning (3 credits)
ESPM 4601 - Environmental Pollution (3 credits)
FW 4102 - Principles of Conservation Biology (3 credits)
LE (Historical Perspectives) (3 credits)

(15 credits total)

Fourth Year

Fourth Year

Fall Semester

ESPM 4041W Problem Solving for Environmental Change (4 credits)
CFAN 4096 Reflecting on Your Professional Experience (1 credit)
ESPM 4295W GIS in Environmental Science and Management (4 credits)
ESPM 3603 Environmental Life Cycle Analysis (3 credits)
Elective (3 credits)

(15 credits total)

Spring Semester

ESPM 3111 - Hydrology and Water Quality Field Methods (3 credits)
SOIL 3416 Plant Nutrients in the Environment (3 credits)
GCC 5008 Policy and Science of Global Environmental Change (3 credits)
LE (Literature) (3 credits)
Elective (3 credits)

(15 credits total)