Range scientists and managers deal with natural resources on rangelands, which are the grasslands, deserts, woodlands, wetlands, and tundras that occupy a significant land area in the United States and around the world. Students learn to manage and conserve rangeland resources to ensure the sustained output of products and values, such as habitat for a wide variety of plant and animal life, forage for livestock and wildlife, water for agricultural and municipal use, and scenic beauty for recreational activities. This degree program also teaches students how to restore lands damaged by past misuse.
Students pursuing a degree in rangeland resources study biology, ecology, chemistry, math, ecosystems, soils, watershed science, vegetation measurement and management, livestock production, wildlife management, and natural resource economics and policy. These areas give them a broad, multidisciplinary education in all of the areas related to range science and management.

Rangeland resources gradutes are prepared to work as range managers for federal and state land management agencies, in ranch and livestock management, or in environmental consulting.

Range managers in the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service work with wildlife biologists, fire management specialists and ecologists to improve wildlife habitat, repair areas damaged by wildfires, and manage invasive weeds.

In other agencies, such as the Natural Resources Conservation Service, range managers work directly with ranchers to improve forage resources for livestock.

Nongovernment organizations, such as the Nature Conservancy, hire range managers and scientists to conserve critical habitat for plants and animals on preserves throughout in the U.S. and abroad.