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Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

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Earn Your Degree At UW

We’ve all heard “Home on the Range,” the unofficial anthem of the American West, but what exactly is “the range?”

The range or rangelands are the unfarmed, wide open spaces that account for more than 40 percent of the earth’s land—and 70 percent of Wyoming’s. These sparsely treed ecosystems provide habitat for wildlife, food for livestock, natural beauty for our souls along with oil, natural gas, timber—and jobs.

To understand and sustainability manage these complex ecosystems, which run the gamut from wetlands to deserts, is at the heart of what you’ll learn as a rangeland ecology and watershed management major.

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Program Details

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Program Requirements

Curriculum & Courses

Department

College of Agriculture, Life Sciences & Natural Resources
Department of Ecosystem Science and Management

What is Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management?

Crossing several academic disciplines, rangeland ecology and watershed management is a rich amalgam of ecology, hydrology, rangeland management, soil science and reclamation with a little politics added to keep things real.

As a rangeland ecology and watershed management student you will learn to understand, manage and help restore the complex ecosystems that make up the world’s rangelands. Through fieldwork, research, study abroad and internships, you will also get direct hands-on experience with how to use science to balance multiple concerns that include livestock grazing, wildlife habitat, recreation and wildland beauty.

Use this degree program as a springboard to graduate school, or head directly into the wild, helping producers, government agencies and other stakeholders make the best decisions for these important resources.

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Want to delve into your strengths and curiosities? Our rangeland ecology and watershed management degree program allows you to match your degree to your individual interests. We offer 5 specialized minors from which to choose:

Minors:

UW’s rangeland ecology and watershed management program is accredited by the Society for Range Management and fulfills the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s requirements for rangeland management specialists.

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What Can You Do With a Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management Bachelor’s Degree?

The University of Wyoming rangeland ecology and watershed management degree program offers preparation for graduate school and a range of jobs such as:  

 

Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management Careers

  • Environmental Consultant
  • Forestry
  • Mine Rehabilitation Specialist
  • Natural Resources Recreation and Tourism
  • Ranch or Range Livestock Manager
  • Real Estate/Land Manager
  • Restoration Ecologist
  • Range or Soil Conservationist
  • Soil Scientist
  • Watershed Ecologist
  • Wildland Fire Manager

 

 

Alum with livestock

Here are some places where UW rangeland ecology and watershed management alumni have made contributions:

  • USDA NRCS
  • U.S. Bureau of Land Management
  • U.S. Forest Service
  • The Nature Conservancy
  • Two Dot Environmental Consulting
  • State of Wyoming
  • Wyoming Game and Fish
  • Trihydro Corporation
  • University of Wyoming
  • City of Fort Collins
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REWM Program Highlights

The University of Wyoming’s rangeland ecology and watershed management program is the largest accredited program in the country. This part-environmental, part-agricultural major offers a unique blend of subjects and experiential learning to prepare you to pursue an advanced degree or become a rangeland and watershed specialist.

See what kinds of opportunities you’ll have as a rangeland ecology and watershed management student:

 

Internships

Acquire hands-on experience and develop your professional skills by completing an internship working for government agencies, ranches or environmental consulting companies.

Student Clubs, Organizations & Teams

Develop skills and learn about potential careers in the College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources more than 30 student groups such as Range Club, Reclamation Outreach and Research (ROaR) and others.

Undergraduate Research

Collaborate with faculty conducting research in areas such as topsoil management and revegetation, seed quality and availability, the use of livestock to enhance reclamation, impacts of resource development on wildlife, the economics of reclamation and other subjects.

Student Resources

The Department of Ecosystem Science and Management offers various resources such as academic advising, tutoring, internships, scholarships and career opportunities that go beyond your time at UW. Our goal is to provide students with the necessary tools and information to succeed academically and professionally in their chosen fields. 

One thing that most folks don’t expect to hear about UW is the study-abroad opportunities. Both of these trips changed my life, because they gave me a chance to see the natural resource management issues I had learned about in Wyoming in a global context, all the while earning credits for both of my majors.

- Barbara Jean Bender, B.S. in Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management and Environment and Natural Resources ’16
Range conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service in Buffalo, Wyoming

Related Programs

Are you passionate about the outdoors? These are some other UW undergraduate programs that provide face time with nature:

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College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources

Academic and Student Programs

Department 3354, 1000 E. University Avenue

Laramie, WY 82071

Phone: (307) 766-4135

Email: uwyo_ag@uwyo.edu