NATRS 300 - Forest Ecology

Credits: 5
Focuses on ecological principles applied to forest management including production ecology, biogeochemistry, disturbances, environmental factors, populations, community ecology, forest succession, and forest classification/description. Course will be taught through classroom and field studies. Hands-on application will be emphasized.

Enrollment Requirement: ENGL 128 with a grade of 2.0 or higher; and instructor consent.

Course Fee: $50.00

Course Outcomes:
Students who successfully complete this class will be able to:

Demonstrate understanding of plant succession, soil conditions and implications for tree growth.
Synthesize the science behind ecological occurrences and disturbances.
Discuss the theories including biodiversity, inter- and intraspecific interactions, disturbance and succession that describe ecological processes and how they can be applied across multiple ecosystems.
Demonstrate high reading and comprehension skills through reading and discussing scientific articles.
Conduct an ecological research project.
Write a scientific paper with their findings.

Program Outcomes

Attain a job in the Natural Resources field.
Manage Forestland or Resources to attain positive outcomes.
Demonstrate effective written and verbal communications between industry partners and cooperators.

College-wide Outcomes

Critical Thinking - Critical thinking finds expression in all disciplines and everyday life. It is characterized by an ability to reflect upon thinking patterns, including the role of emotions on thoughts, and to rigorously assess the quality of thought through its work products. Critical thinkers routinely evaluate thinking processes and alter them, as necessary, to facilitate an improvement in their thinking and potentially foster certain dispositions or intellectual traits over time.
Responsibility - Responsibility encompasses those behaviors and dispositions necessary for students to be effective members of a community. This outcome is designed to help students recognize the value of a commitment to those responsibilities which will enable them to work successfully individually and with others.
Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning - Quantitative Reasoning encompasses abilities necessary for a student to become literate in today’s technological world. Quantitative reasoning begins with basic skills and extends to problem solving.
Written Communication - Written Communication encompasses all the abilities necessary for effective expression of thoughts, feelings, and ideas in written form.