Program Overview

Introduction to High Latitude Range Management

The High Latitude Range Management (HLRM) program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) Northwest Campus offers two levels of recognition: a certificate program and an occupational endorsement. The HLRM certificate is a part-time three-year program, while the occupational endorsement focuses on a smaller set of courses.

Program Description

The HLRM program is designed for students interested in natural resources or reindeer business. Many students in the program come from Native communities that practice and take pride in their traditional culture, where subsistence and sustainability go hand-in-hand. The program is suitable for individuals with a high school diploma or GED and an interest in science-related work.

Program Delivery

The certificate in rangeland management is a part-time three-year program that includes distance-delivered online courses. Students participate in two or three intensive nine-day sessions annually, which are delivered in a face-to-face, hands-on learning environment that supports individual student needs.

Career Opportunities

The HLRM program combines academic and indigenous knowledge to offer courses that help prepare students for entry-level jobs in the field of natural resources or to become a reindeer entrepreneur. Students learn field-based techniques used by agencies to inventory, monitor, and manage plant and animal populations, as well as the land. Potential career paths include:

• Natural Resources
• Management
• Biologist
• Environmental Scientist
• Community health expert
• Land use planner
• Field researcher
• Wildlife ecologist
• Forester

Curriculum

The rangeland management training program requires students to complete 31 credits over the course of three years. The curriculum includes courses on reindeer husbandry in Alaska, management skills, facilities design, and nutritional needs for domesticated ungulates in Alaska.

Hands-on Learning

The program offers a variety of hands-on learning opportunities, including frequent field trips related to reindeer, wilderness, meat production, and rangeland management. Students participate in activities such as butchering, cooking, and eating reindeer, as well as taking samples from the field to learn about sustainable herd management.

Conclusion

The High Latitude Range Management program at UAF provides students with a unique opportunity to learn about rangeland management and natural resources in a hands-on, supportive environment. With its focus on academic and indigenous knowledge, the program prepares students for careers in natural resources, reindeer entrepreneurship, and related fields.