Rangeland Ecology and Management focuses on the biological and physical processes of ecosystems and application of this knowledge to sustainable use of range lands. This Option is great for students with an interest in plant ecology, plant-animal interactions, and management of landscapes. Selection of courses in wildlife or fisheries science, watershed management and ecohydrology, soil and water science, animal and plant science, or agricultural and resource economics can enhance employment opportunities. Many courses involve hands-on work in the rangelands of Arizona. Range management professionals may inventory soils, plants, and animals; develop resource management plans; help restore degraded lands; or manage a preserve or ranch. Graduates of the program are employed by the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, National Park Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, state land departments, and a variety of other agencies.All programs in the School of Natural Resources and the Environment tend to emphasize applications of ecological principles for conservation and management of plant, animal, and water resources at local and global scales, and solutions to negative impacts of human activity. Students complete courses that provide a foundation in natural resource science, conservation, and management, and elective courses that allow students to explore areas of interest.

The knowledge gained from a Natural Resources major in the Rangeland Ecology and Management concentration of grazing ecology, microbiology, chemistry, plant science, economics, communications, and policy, forms a strong career foundation. Graduates may work as resource coordinators, conservation planners, range managers, or educators for ranches, land trust agencies, nonprofit organizations, extension offices, and government agencies. This concentration is also excellent preparation for graduate studies in arid lands resource science, hydrology, or landscape architecture.