University of Missouri

The Natural Resource Science and Management degree addresses the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, conserving, and repairing natural and human-dominated ecosystems, in a sustainable manner, to meet desired societal goals.  The degree has elements that belong to the biological, physical, social, political and managerial sciences that are applied to conserving plant and animal species in forests, grasslands, rivers and streams, and urban areas.  The degree also develops students' skills in working with diverse groups of people. Students with degrees in Natural Resource Science and Management work as fisheries biologists, foresters, interpreters, naturalists, and wildlife biologists for state and federal agencies, nature centers and museums, and consulting firms.

Students pursuing a degree in Natural Resource Science and Management individualize their degree by choosing one of four emphasis areas. The Forest Resources emphasis prepares students to manage forests in order to protect wildlife habitats and the environment while meeting the ever-growing demand for wood products. The Human Dimensions emphasis trains students to apply social sciences to address questions about how people’s attitudes, knowledge, values and behaviors impact management of our natural resources. The Fisheries and Wildlife Science emphasis focuses upon development of skills in conservation of wildlife habitat, protection of endangered species, and management of wild animal populations. The Terrestrial Ecosystem emphasis allows students to combine interests in wildlife management and forestry to both conserve biodiversity and satisfy the needs of society for renewable natural resources using the practice of ecosystem management.