The Wildland Resources Department has a block of commons courses for all majors. These are the Learning Objectives for these courses:
- Ability in preparing, and delivering effective oral presentations
- Proficiency in technical writing and writing for non-professional readers and use of computer-assisted presentation software
- Ability to read with comprehension a variety of documents, and critically evaluate opposing viewpoints
- Understanding of the components, patterns, and processes of biological and ecological systems across spatial and temporal scales
- Understanding of molecular biology, cells, organisms, populations, species, communities, and ecosystems
- Understanding of physical and chemical properties, measurements, and structure
- Ability to understand and use basic approaches and applications for analysis and problem solving as appropriate for the program's stated outcomes
- Understanding of, and an ability to address, moral and ethical questions and an ability to use critical reasoning skills
- Understanding of human behavior and social and economic structures, processes, and institutions of importance across a broad range of societies
- Understanding of the diverse dimensions of the human experience and culture
- Ability to use computers and other contemporary electronic technologies in professional life
- Understanding of taxonomy and ability to identify wildland plants and animal species, their distribution, natural history and ecology
- Understanding soil properties and processes, hydrology, water quality and watershed functions
- Understanding structure and function of ecosystems and communities, competition, diversity, population dynamics, succession, disturbance, nutrient cycling, and the effects of temporal and spatial dynamics
- Ability to make ecosystem, community and population assessments
- Understanding of plant and animal physiology and the effects of environmental influences on health and productivity
- Ability to identify and measure land areas and conduct spatial analysis
- Ability to design and implement comprehensive inventories for specific objectives using appropriate sampling methods and units of measurement
- Ability to analyze inventory data and project future population and community conditions
- Ability to analyze the economic, environmental, and social consequences of natural resource management strategies and decisions
- Ability to develop management plans with specific multiple objectives and constraints
- Understanding of the valuation procedures, market forces, processing systems, and management activities that relate human demands for natural resources with their availability
- Understanding of the administration, ownership, and organization of natural resources management enterprises
- Understanding of natural resources policy and the processes by which it is developed
- Understanding of how federal, state, and local laws and regulations govern the practice of natural resources management
- Understanding of professional ethics and recognition of the responsibility to adhere to ethical standards in natural resources decision making on behalf of clients and the public
- Ability to understand the integration of technical, financial, human resources, and legal aspects of public and private enterprises
Specific learning objectives are associated with each course, minor/emphasis area, certificate, and degree program. These learning objectives are explicitly outlined in each course syllabus (individual syllabi can be accessed by clicking on the course code) and are summarized for each degree program.
To maximize placement of our graduates into career tracks that best match their aspirations and abilities, faculty members work with individual students to determine their professional aspirations, design course work and research, initiate participation in professional meetings, and introduce them to professionals at other universities or natural resource agencies. Learning objectives are tailored to individual students but will likely encompass aspects of experimental design, data analysis, statistics, modeling, and public education.
In our graduate programs we educate students to fill positions in other academic institutions, state and federal agencies, and non-governmental environmental organizations. We accept high-achieving students from a diversity of backgrounds and our graduate education programs are specifically tailored to meet the interests and goals of each individual student.
