Program Overview

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Natural Resources: Global Change Ecology and Management Emphasis

Overview

Study evolving ecological changes from a global perspective through courses in biological, physical and socio-economic sciences. Career outcomes: natural resources management and economics, public policy, environmental law and restoration ecology.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate basic knowledge ecological principles; Acquire basic knowledge of ecological principles (e.g., energy flow, material cycling, competition, predation, mutualism), identify current ecological challenges facing natural resource managers, and use ecological principles to develop potential integrated solutions to problems in natural resource management. (RNR 316/202)
• Natural resource management; Describe how social, political, and economic forces affect management of natural resources; and explain why there generally are trade-offs between various objectives in natural resources management.
• Land management agency roles; Identify the major land management agencies responsible for stewardship of natural resources, the key historical conditions that lead to the creation of these agencies, and the primary mandates of each of these agencies.
• Master basic statistical analyses; Conduct, interpret, and present basic statistical analyses of field and laboratory data, develop a research sampling design, and demonstrate the ability to design and conduct monitoring projects in the field.
• Effectively communicate; Write professional reports in the style appropriate for the field of specialization, and demonstrate clear communication of scientific concepts and analytical arguments based on synthesis of published information and use of critical thinking.
• Demonstrate ethical behavior; Identify behaviors of ethical professionals, and describe links between these behaviors and professional accomplishments.
• Taxonomic identification; Demonstrate the ability to use taxonomic keys to identify a variety of plant and animal taxa.
• Career development; Identify career paths and responsibilities within professions related to natural resources, and demonstrate awareness and appreciation for the importance of collaboration for stewardship of natural resources, including among agencies and between scientists and managers.

Program Details

Sample Courses

• RNR 429: Ecological Climatology
• RNR 440: Climate Change Adaptation
• RNR 458: Ecosystem Ecology

Career Fields

• Communications
• Ecotourism
• Environmental law
• Global change policy
• Sustainability

Level of Math

• Moderate Knowledge

The M-strand is for students who require mathematical facility at the level of at least MATH 112 (College Algebra Concepts) or 108 (Modeling with Algebraic and Trigonometric Functions). This strand involves reasonable facility with algebra and algebraic functions, graphs, and simple modeling. Students who choose the M-strand are prepared for further mathematical work. This work may include MATH 107 (Exploring and Understanding Data), MATH 113 (Elements of Calculus), MATH 116 (Calculus Concepts for Business), MATH 119A (Mathematics of Biological Systems: A Calculus Based Approach), or a statistics class from outside the Mathematics Department, such as ISTA 116 (Statistical Foundations for the Information Age) or SBS 200 (Statistics for the Social Sciences).

Level of Second Language

• 2nd Semester Proficiency

Second-semester skill level in a second language is required. Non-B.A. degree students may fulfill this requirement with one of the following options: 1. Scoring the equivalent of second-semester skill level on an entrance or placement examination administered by The University of Arizona. 2. Completion with a C or better of a second semester course at the post-secondary level. 3. An AP (Advanced Placement), IB (International Baccalaureate) or CLEP (College Level Entrance Program) language score determined by the individual language department. 4. In the College of Engineering by a method determined within the College; however, all students in the college must also take a language placement examination on entrance to the University.

Pre-major Required?

• No

This Major's College

• College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sci

Degree

• Bachelor of Science

Sample Plans

2025, Natural Resources: Global Change Ecology and Management Emphasis

• 4-Year Sample Plan
• Map Transfer Coursework
• Plan Ahead with a Transfer Pathway

First Year

• 1st Semester
  • CHEM 151 or CHEM 141 and 143: General Chemistry I
  • ENGL 101 First Year Composition
  • RNR 150C1 Sustainable Earth: Natural Resources and the Environment
  • Foundation Mathematics (MATH 113, 122B, or 125 recommended)
  • RNR 200 Conservation of Natural Environments
  • SNRE requirement
  • GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections
  • Introduction to the General Education Experience (Entry Course)
• 2nd Semester
  • CHEM 152 or CHEM 142 and 144: General Chemistry II
  • ENGL 102 First Year Composition or ENGL 109H
  • ECOL 182R General Biology II
  • ECOL 182L General Biology II
  • GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections
  • GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections

Second Year

• 3rd Semester
  • RNR 230R Field Botany
  • RNR 230 L Field Botany Laboratory
  • GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections
  • Statistics
  • RNR 316 Natural Resources Ecology
  • MCB 181L General Biology I Lab
  • MCB 181R General Biology I Lecture
• 4th Semester
  • GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections
  • RNR 321 Ecological Surveys and Sampling
  • GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections
  • Technical Elective
  • Second Language

Third Year

• 5th Semester
  • Economics requirement
  • Technical Elective
  • Technical Writing elective
  • ENVS 376 Principles of Ecological Climatology
  • Second Language
  • GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections
• 6th Semester
  • RNR 384 Natural Resources Management Practices
  • Technical Elective
  • RNR 458 Ecosystem Ecology
  • Oral or Media Communication Elective
  • General Education Portfolio (Exit Course)

Fourth Year

• 7th Semester
  • RNR 440 Climate Change Adaptation
  • Technical Skills elective
  • WSM 452 Dryland Ecohydrology and Vegetation Dynamics
  • GEOS 478 Global Change Ecology or WSM 460A Watershed Hydrology
  • Technical Electives
• 8th Semester
  • Planning, Governance, Diplomacy elective
  • Technical Electives
  • Policy, Law, and Economics elective
  • RNR 480 Natural Resources Policy and Law

Map Transfer Coursework

• Enter your coursework from Arizona universities or community colleges to see how they can map to this major.
• Connect with The University of Arizona Academic Advisors to validate how your coursework will transfer.

Pathways

• See the pathway agreement in place between Arizona in-state community colleges and The University of Arizona.
• To see a pathway, select an Arizona college: Select an Arizona community college Cochise College Pima Community College