Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Introduction to Natural Resources Management (Face-to-Face)

NR 1010-01

Course: NR 1010-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: ASNS
CRN: 30052

Instructor Information

Instructor: Nathan Dulfon, MS Rangeland Science
Office: GC 203B
Office hours: MWF 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM or by appointment
Phone: (435)-586-1923
Email: nathandulfon@suu.edu

Course Description

Survey of the professions of Forest, Range, and Wildlife management and relationship of conservation and multiple uses of wildland resources to the welfare of the state and nation. Three (3) lectures per week. (Fall) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Registration Restriction(s): Intensive English Program majors may not enroll General Education Category: Life Sciences

Required Texts

Managing Our Natural Resources, 6th Edition, Camp and Heath-Camp. 
ISBN-13:978-1-285-83507-5

Course Requirements

No course requirements for this class.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course students will be able to:
  • Understand the components and history of natural resource management
  • Define terms associated with natural resource management
  • Use and apply factual knowledge, concepts, fundamental principles, and theories of natural resource management
  • Be proficient with methods used to collect data and assist with the management of natural resources on the landscape
  • Understand and discuss trends related to natural resources

Additionally, students will also:
  • Develop specific skills related to natural resource management used by professionals in the field
  • Increase competency regarding natural resource management
  • Investigate and discuss current topics that influence the management of natural resources
  • Develop points of view needed by professionals of natural resource management
  • Develop an appreciation for entities that manage our natural resources
  • List and describe potential careers associated with the management of natural resources


This course has been identified as a general education course in the Life Science knowledge area.
Therefore, three University Essential Learning Outcomes (ELOs) have been designated for this course.

1) Critical Thinking - Students demonstrate disciplined processes through activities and become proficient in conceptualizing, applying, analyzing synthesizing, and evaluating information gathered by observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, communication, and data collection to guide belief and action within the realm of natural resource management.

2) Problem Solving - Students design, evaluate, and implement strategies to answer open ended questions or achieve a desired goal of natural resource management.

3) Teamwork - Students demonstrate productive interaction with others (inter/intra class) to complete assignments.

Grading

Students will earn points for assignments, projects, and exams.
A letter grade will be assigned according to the following grading scale:

A     >94%
A-    90-93.9%
B+   87-89.9%
B     83-86.9%
B-    80-82.9%
C+   77-79.9%
C     73-76.9%
C-    70-72.9%
D+   67-69.9%
D     60%
F     <60%

Semester Point Breakdown
Critical thinking/Discussion questions from book         100 pts
Unannounced quizzes and class assignments             200 pts
Activities                                                                     200 pts
Project 1 - Self guided field trip brochure                    100 pts
Project 2 - Game show final review                             100 pts
Exam 1 - Midterm exam                                              100 pts
Exam 2 - Comprehensive final exam                           200 pts
TOTAL                                                                      1000 pts

Attendance Policy

The professor expects students to arrive to class on time and be prepared to participate in class discussion. Attendance is very important and students are responsible for making arrangements to get class material when missing class. Students are responsible for transportation to activities within close proximity to SUU campus/SUU Valley Farm/SUU Mountain Center. Cell phones are to be shut off or silenced during class. Cell phones are only to be used for class activities. No dogs in class unless it is a certified service dog.

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Assignments are to be handed in on the established due date. Late work will not be accepted and no make up work will be allowed unless a family/medical emergency or other situation occurs. In these instances, the situation will be evaluated on a case by case basis. 

Course Outline


Date          Topic and reading assignment

W 8/27       Syllabus and course expectations - hand in signature page
F 8/29        Preparing for a career in natural resources & code of the west

M 9/1         Labor Day - No class
W 9/3         Chapter 1 - Our natural resources & *Chapter 1, 2, 3 review question assignment in Canvas*
F 9/5          Chapter 2 - A history of conservation in the US

M 9/8         Chapter 3 - Concepts in natural resources management & case study discussion (page 42 - reintroduction of wolves)
W 9/10       Chapter 1, 2, 3 - Review/discussion & *Chapter 1, 2, 3 review question assignment in Canvas DUE*
F 9/12        Chapter 4 - Soil & *web soil survey assignment* & *Chapter 4, 5, 6, 7 review question assignment in Canvas*

M 9/15        Soils activity (physical properties)
W 9/17        Soils activity (soil horizons)
F 9/19         Chapter 5 & 6 & 7 & 12 - Soil erosion & farm/nonfarm erosion control & careers in soil management (skim for discussion)

M 9/22        Chapter 4, 5, 6, 7 & 12 - Review/discussion (including careers in soil management) & *web soil survey assignment DUE* & *Chapter 4, 5, 6, 7 review                     question assignment in Canvas DUE*
W 9/24        Chapter 13 - Water supply and water users *Chapter 13, 10, 16 review question assignment in Canvas*
F 9/26         Water activity (SNOTEL, USGS streamflow/groundwater & water user groups) & *water data assignment*

M 9/29        Chapter 10 - Wetland preservation and management
W 10/1        Chapter 16 - Water use planning & case study discussion (page 236 - zebra mussel)
F 10/3         Chapter 13, 10, 16 - Review/discussion (including careers in water management) & *Chapter 13, 10, 16 review question assignment in Canvas DUE*
                   
& *water data assignment DUE*

M 10/6         Chapter 8 - Rangeland management & *Chapter 8 review question assignment in Canvas*
W 10/8         Chapter 8 - Rangeland management
F 10/10        Rangeland management activity (grazing capacity)

M 10/13       Fall break - No class
W 10/15       Rangeland management activity (rangeland restoration/long term vegetation monitoring)
F 10/17       Chapter 8 - Review/discussion (including careers in rangeland management)
 
M 10/20
       Mid term exam *100 questions in Canvas* & *Chapter 8 review question assignment in Canvas DUE*
W 10/22      Chapter 19 - Our forests and their products & *Chapter 19, 20, 21, 22 review question assignment in Canvas*
F 10/24       Chapter 20 - Woodland management

M 10/27        Forest management activity (tree height/diameter/volume)
W 10/29      Chapter 21 - Forest enemies and their control
F 10/31       Chapter 22 - Fire! & case study discussion (page 317 - Asian long horned beetle & page 434 Forest and foes)

M 11/3         Chapter 19, 20, 21, 22 - Review/discussion (including careers in forest management - Chapter 23) & *Chapter 19, 20, 21, 22 review question                                    assignment in Canvas DUE*
W 11/5         Chapter 24 - Fish and wildlife management & *Chapter 24, 25, 26, 27  review question assignment in Canvas* & SRM?
F 11/7          Chapter 25 - Game management

M 11/10        Chapter 26 - Marine fisheries management
W 11/12        Chapter 27 - Freshwater fisheries management & case study discussion (page 392 - whaling)
F 11/14         Chapter 24, 25, 26, 27 - Review/discussion (including careers in fish and wildlife management) & *Chapter 24, 25, 26, 27 review question                                         assignment in Canvas DUE*

M 11/17         Chapter 29 - Recreation on public lands and water & *Chapter 29  review question assignment in Canvas*
W 11/19         Chapter 29 - Review/discussion (including careers in fish and wildlife management) & *Chapter 29 review question                                                                            assignment in Canvas DUE*
F 11/21          Chapter 32 - Fossil fuels & Chapter 33 - Alternative energy sources management & Chapter 34 - Metals and minerals

M 11/24         Thanksgiving break - No class
W 11/26         Thanksgiving break - No class
F 11/28          Thanksgiving break - No class

M 12/1          Chapter 36 - Advanced concepts in natural resources management
W 12/3          Project 2 - Game shows - Final review
F 12/5           Project 2 - Game shows - Final review

W 12/10        Final exam - @ 1:00 PM - 2:50 PM          *200 questions*


Disclaimer statement: Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the professor.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.