GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

The Department of Natural Resource Management offers programs of study leading to the Master of Science (thesis and non-thesis) and Master of Agriculture (non-thesis) degrees in Range and Wildlife Management, depending on an individual's educational objectives. Programs in Natural Resource Management emphasize, through the mastery of advanced technology, methods of improving and/or better utilizing agricultural resources. The graduate program is designed to prepare students for advanced educations (Ph.D.) and for careers in teaching, extension, research, management, and other occupations requiring the higher level capabilities of a resource manager/scientist. Offerings in collateral fields enable the student to develop a program tailored to their particular needs and interests. GRE scores of 290 (verbal and quantitative) are required for full admission to the M.S. thesis program. GRE scores of 280 (verbal and quantitative) are required for full admission to the M.S. non-thesis program. Additional requirements for all graduate options include a letter of intent, a resume, and two letters of recommendation from outside the department. Departmental GPA requirements are the same as general admission requirements outlined for the university.

The Department of Natural Resource Management has a formalized cooperative agreement with Texas A&M University (TAMU) to offer a Ph.D. in Wildlife Science (through the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Science at TAMU) and Rangeland Ecology (through the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management at TAMU). Details on the Cooperative Ph.D. Program can be requested from the NRM Chair.
Master of Science
(Thesis) Range and Wildlife Management-30 hours

The Master of Science program of study for the Range and Wildlife concentration must include the following courses:

NRM 5302 - Seminar in Range and Wildlife Management (must take two sections with unique course titles)

NRM 5305 - Range and Wildlife Research Methods

NRM 5306 - GIS, GPS and Remote Sensing for Resource Managers

NRM 5312 – Bio-statistical Analysis I

NRM 5313 – Bio-statistical Analysis II

NRM 6301 - Thesis Proposal

NRM 6302 - Thesis Defense

GEOL 5402- Interdisciplinary GIS

Plus 2 additional graduate credit hours.

Students will enroll each semester or summer term in which assistance is provided by graduate committee members or when use of the library or other research facilities of Sul Ross State University is made.

The Master of Science (non-thesis) program of study for the Range and Wildlife concentration must include the following courses:

NRM 5302 - Seminar in Range and Wildlife Management (must take two sections with unique course titles)

NRM 5304 - Research

NRM 5305 - Range and Wildlife Research Methods

NRM 5306 - GIS, GPS and Remote Sensing for Resource Managers or

GEOL 5402 - Interdisciplinary GIS

NRM 5312 – Bio-statistical Analysis I

NRM 5313 – Bio-statistical Analysis II

Plus 15 additional graduate credit hours selected with the help of your ad­visory committee. In addition, each M.S. (Non-thesis) candidate must complete a Record of Study based upon their experiences in NRM 5304

Students will enroll each semester or summer term in which assistance is provided by graduate committee members or when use of the library or other research facilities or Sul Ross State University is made.
Master of Agriculture (Non-thesis)
Range and Wildlife Management-36 hours

The Master of Agriculture program of study for Range and Wildlife concentration must include the following courses:

NRM 5302 - Seminar in Range and Wildlife Management

NRM 5304 - Research (optional)

NRM 5311 - Scientific Writing

NRM 5312 - Biostatistical Analysis I

GEOL 5402- Interdisciplinary GIS

Plus 20 semester hours of additional graduate work selected with the help of your advisory committee.

5302. 
      Seminar in Range and Wildlife Management (3-0). This course is designed to be flexible to meet the needs of graduate students studying various disciplines in Range and Wildlife Management. May be repeated under different subject matter titles. Recent courses include GIS applications; Applied Wildlife Research; Wildlife Research, Grants, and Publications; Principles of Ecology; Wildlife Conservation for Teachers; Advanced Techniques in Vegetation Analysis; Range Research Techniques. May be repeated under different subject matter titles.
      
5303. 
      Special Topics (3-0). Advanced studies in current agricultural and natural resource sciences research. Topics assigned according to student interest and need. Registration approval by the NRM chair. May be repeated under different subject matter titles.
      

5311. 
      Scientific Writing (3-0). An advanced study of proposal and thesis format in Animal Science or Range and Wildlife Management. Covers publication styles common in each students chosen field. Scientific publications are emphasized.
      
5312. 
      Biostatistical Analysis I (2-2). An introduction to statistical concepts and models applied to agricultural and biological systems. The course introduces the scientific method, inferential theory, data types, descriptive statistics, and goodness of fit, contingency tables, the normal distribution and one- and two-sample hypothesis testing. Emphasis will be placed on data analysis and interpretation using computer statistical applications. Offered fall.
      
5313. 
      Biostatistical Analysis II (2-2). An advanced course in statistical concepts and models applied to agricultural and biological systems. The course will cover experimental designs, paired-sample hypotheses, multisampling hypotheses (ANOVA), multiple comparisons, factorial and nested ANOVA, data transformations, linear regression, and correlation, multiple regressions and correlation, polynomial regression and the binomial distribution. Emphasis will be placed on data analysis and interpretation using computer statistical applications.
      

6301. 
      Thesis Proposal (0-6). Satisfactory completion of this course will result in an acceptable prospectus presented to the Graduate Committee. The student will normally register for this course no earlier than the second semester of graduate study.
      
6302. 
      Thesis Defense (0-6). The student will enroll in this course each semester or summer term in which assistance is provided by Committee members or when use of the library or other research facilities of Sul Ross State University is made. Satisfactory completion of this course will result in the completed thesis presented to the graduate committee, accepted by the ANRS dean, and filed in the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs.
      

Office: Ferguson Hall 108

Phone: (432) 837-8368

FAX: (432) 837-8382

E-mail: arts-sciences@sulross.edu

Website: http://www.sulross.edu/pages/3080.asp

The College of Arts and Sciences consists of the following seven departments:

The College of Arts and Sciences also includes the Rio Grande Research Center, a research center promoting and engaged in scientific research.

The College of Arts and Sciences promotes and coordinates international educational travel opportunities among the various departments.
Degree Programs in the Arts and Sciences:

1. 
   Bachelor of Arts with majors in Communication, English, General Studies, History, Psychology, Social Science, and Spanish;
   
2. 
   Bachelor of Fine Arts with majors in Art and in Theatre;
   
3. 
   Bachelor of Science with majors in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Studies, Geology, and Mathematics;
   
4. 
   Master of Arts with majors in English, History, Liberal Arts, Political Science-Public Administration;
   
5. 
   Master of Science with majors in Biology and Geology.
   

Office: Ferguson Hall 214

Phone: (432) 837-8408

FAX: (432)837-8317

E-mail: ace@sulross.edu
Director and Assistant Professor of English: Kathy K. Stein, Ed.D.
Lecturers: Chris Garcia, M.A., Alex Hardison, B.S., and Julie Vega, M.A.
Academic Enhancement Seminars: Chris Garcia

SRSU Honors Program: Kathy K. Stein

The Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) provides a myriad of multifaceted services intended to support all students and academic programs at Sul Ross State University. To this endeavor, ACE provides an Academic Learning Center (ALC) which aids in helping students learn methods and techniques of studying as well as critical thinking. ACE also offers course work for students in need of satisfying the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) and for those preparing to enter the Teacher Certification Program. ACE also provides facilities, organization, and coordination for the SRSU Honors Program. The SRSU Honors Program challenges students to conceptualize, analyze, and learn subject material in a different way. By incorporating and bringing together these disparate student bodies, an environment of understanding, camaraderie, and cooperation is created. ACE works closely to help students adjust and adapt to college life and to succeed in their life-long learning experience.

The Academic Learning Center (ALC) is located in Ferguson Hall 213. The ALC provides students with access to one-on-one and small group tutoring for reading, writing, and mathematics. The Learning Center also makes computers and software available to students. Students can access the online program PLATO through the ALC. Reference materials available in the ALC include study materials for the Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA), the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), and class specific texts and study guides.

The Learning Center also makes Academic Enhancement Seminars available to students. Each semester, a series of seminars is conducted to give students the opportunity to gain and hone their academic skills and address such topics as developing and recognizing effective academic practices.

Developmental Education

The developmental education courses are designed to target deficiencies as identified by the criteria established in the Texas Success Initiative (TSI). Students initially enrolling into Sul Ross State University who do not meet the College Readiness Standards must take a state approved assessment meant to identify needs in reading, writing, and mathematics. Students must pass all developmental courses for which they have shown a need prior to attempting any college level courses related to one of the three areas.

Prerequisite: C or better in ENG 0300 or ED 0300 OR satisfactory score on placement exam.

Prerequisite: C or better in MATH 0300 or satisfactory score on placement exam.

The Sul Ross State University Honors Program is a challenging and an integrative program of academic experiences with a high degree of student and faculty interchange designed to stimulate the more motivated student. This program offers the outstanding student an opportunity to take intellectually motivating seminars. It is not an accelerated program but an in-depth approach to the understanding of ideas and relationships. The program offers students a chance to go beyond the norms of the traditional classroom experience and explore with a greater intensity more challenging concepts and issues while applying critical thinking to the learning experience.

A student who completes a minimum of 24 credit hours in honors classes with a GPA of 3.50 or higher and a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher will earn the designation Graduate in Honors Studies. This designation will be imprinted on each student’s transcript. Students are encouraged to apply to the SRSU Honors Program by completing an application. Contact the Academic Center for Excellence for more information on applying to the SRSU Honors Program.
Honor Courses

1301 Honors First-Year Seminar: Communications (3-0). This is an introductory Honors course emphasizing oral and written communication skills. This course is designed to introduce students to the tools required for independent research and presentation of results. Topics vary. This course would fulfill the Oral Communications core requirement. (HONS 1301)

Prerequisite: Admission into the Honors Program or consent of the instructor.

Prerequisite: Consent of instructor and either admission to the Honors Program or ENG 1301.

Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor and either admission to the Honors Program or ENG 1301.

Prerequisite: Completion of the freshman English requirement and one of the fol­lowing: admission into the Honors Program or consent of the instructor.

Prerequisite: Biology 1401 or Biology 1402.

Prerequisite: Admission into the Honors Program or consent of the instructor.

Prerequisite: Admission in the Honors Program or consent of the instructor.

Prerequisite: Admission into the Honors Program and consent of the Director of the Honors Program.

Office: Lawrence Hall 208

Phone: (432)837-8157

FAX: (432)837-8146

E-mail: jdowning@sulross.edu
Professor and Chair: James Downing, Ph.D.
Professors: Jim D. Case, Ph.D., Dale B. Christophersen, Ph.D.,

David L. Cockrum, Ph.D., Mark S. Saka, Ph.D. and Paul A. Wright, Ph.D.

and Mark C. Emerson, Ph.D.