Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Wildland Restoration (Face-to-Face)

RANG 4400-01

Course: RANG 4400-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: Agriculture Sci/Nutritonal Sci
CRN: 30040

Course Description

Fundamentals of restoring, reclaiming, and improving disturbed landscapes and ecosystems, including assessment of site conditions, restoration goals/feasibility regarding hydrologic, biotic, and soil function. (Fall) [Graded (Standard Letter)]

Prerequisites and Co-requisites

Co-requisite(s): RANG 4405

Prerequisite(s): RANG 4200

Required Texts

Restoring Western Ranges and Wildlands, General Technical Report Volume 1

RMRS-GTR-136-vol. 1

Download from: https://research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/7377

Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion students will be able to:

  • Define terms associated with wildland restoration.
  • Understand fundamental principles, generalizations, and theories of wildland restoration.
  • Apply evaluation methods to determine wildland health condition.
  • List and describe wildland restoration practices.
  • Apply course material to improve problem solving and decision making pertaining to restoration practices.
  • Investigate and discuss topics that influence the management and restoration of wildlands.
  • Analyze and critically evaluate ideas, arguments, and points of views regarding wildland restoration.
  • Demonstrate how basic sciences are applied in the restoration of wildlands.
  • Learn to find and use resources for answering questions and solving problems encountered in the restoration of wildlands.
  • Understand the components of a watershed restoration initiative program project.
  • Design and present a watershed restoration initiative project.

Course Requirements

Students will earn points for quizzes, assignments, projects, and exams.

Grades are determined by demonstrated achievement of the Course Learning Outcomes.

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%-66.9% 
F        <60%

Semester Point Breakdown
  • Quizzes, class assignments, and participation                       40%
  • Project 1 - Watershed Restoration Initiative Presentation       20%
  • Project 2 - Midterm and final exam review                             10%
  • Exam 1 - Midterm exam                                                         15%
  • Exam 2 - Final exam                                                              15%

Course Outline

Date, Topic, and Reading Assignment

W 9/2 - Syllabus and course expectations
F 9/4 - Code of the west & Chapter 1 - History of range and wildlife habitat restoration in the intermountain west
 
M 9/7 - Labor Day - No class
W 9/9 - Chapter 2 - The intermountain setting
F 9/11 - Chapter 2 - The intermountain setting

M 9/14 - Chapter 3 - Research background
W 9/16 - Chapter 4 - Basic considerations for range and wildland revegetation and restoration
F 9/18 - Chapter 4 - Basic considerations for range and wildland revegetation and restoration

M 9/21 - Chapter 4 - Basic considerations for range and wildland revegetation and restoration
W 9/23 - Chapter 5 - Restoration or rehabilitation through management or artificial treatments
F 9/25 - Chapter 5 - Restoration or rehabilitation through management or artificial treatments

M 9/28 - Chapter 5 - Restoration or rehabilitation through management or artificial treatments
W 9/30 - Chapter 6 - Climate and terrain
F 10/2 - Chapter 6 - Climate and terrain

M 10/5 - Chapter 7 - Assessing soil factors in wildland improvement programs
W 10/7 - Chapter 7 - Assessing soil factors in wildland improvement programs
F 10/9 - Chapter 8 - Controlling plant competition

M 10/12 - Chapter 8 - Controlling plant competition
W 10/14 - Chapter 8 - Controlling plant competition
F 10/16 - Project 2 - Midterm review

M 10/19 - Fall Break - No class
W 10/21 - Midterm exam
F 10/23 - Chapter 9 - Mechanical plant control

M 10/26 - Chapter 9 - Mechanical plant control
W 10/28 - Chapter 9 - Mechanical plant control
F 10/30 - Chapter 10 - Herbicides for plant control

M 11/2 - Chapter 10 - Herbicides for plant control
W 11/4 - Chapter 11 - Vegetative manipulation with prescribed burning
F 11/6 - Chapter 11 - Vegetative manipulation with prescribed burning

M 11/9 - Chapter 12 - Seedbed preparation and seedling practices
W 11/11 - Chapter 12 - Seedbed preparation and seedling practices
F 11/13 - Chapter 13 - Incorporating wildlife habitat needs into restoration and rehabilitation projects

M 11/16 - Chapter 14 - Nutritive principles in restoration and management
W 11/18 - Chapter 15 - Plant pathology and managing wildland plant disease systems
F 11/20 - Chapter 16 - Management of restored and revegetated sites

M 11/23 - Thanksgiving break - No class
W 11/25 - Thanksgiving break - No class
F 11/27 - Thanksgiving break - No class

M 11/30 - Chapter 16 - Management of restored and revegetated sites
W 12/2 - Chapter 17 - Guidelines for restoration and rehabilitation of principal plant communities
F 12/4 - Chapter 17 - Guidelines for restoration and rehabilitation of principal plant communities

M 12/7 - Project 1 - Watershed restoration project presentation
W 12/3 - Project 1 - Watershed restoration project presentation
F 12/5 - Project 2 - Final exam review

W 12/16 - Final exam - @ 9:00 AM - 10:50 AM - Open on Canvas all day

*Course outline is subject to change*


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

Assignments are to be submitted on or before the established due date.

Late work on quizzes and class assignments will be accepted at a 30% deduction.

There is no makeup for in person activities, midterm exams, and final exams.

If an in person activity, midterm exam, or final exam is missed because of illness or school related commitment, a signed and dated letter from either a doctor or SUU faculty is required to be considered for makeup work arrangements.

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.

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.

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.

Religious / Conscience Belief Accommodation

RELIGIOUS / CONSCIENCE BELIEF ACCOMMODATION: In accordance with SUU Policy 6.7 Student Belief Accommodation, students may request, in writing, that their faculty accommodate their sincerely held religious or conscience beliefs. Students should provide their faculty with sufficient advanced notice, if possible within the first five (5) business days of the semester or session, or thereafter with good cause for requesting an accommodation after the first five (5) business days.

Faculty must provide a schedule accommodation or excuse an absence, in any course, for students to observe or participate in religious holidays or an organized activity conducted under the auspices of the student’s religious tradition or religious organization.

In courses that are required for graduation or for an academic major, a faculty member may accommodate a religious or conscience belief by modifying an assignment or examination if its content conflicts with the student’s belief. Faculty may decline the accommodation if it would fundamentally alter the course requirements. If declined, the student may request review by a neutral arbiter using the Belief Accommodation Request Form: https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv&layout_id=5

Questions go to Assistant Provost Jake Johnson at johnsonj@suu.edu.

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.