Western Center for Integrated Resource Management's Master's degree program at Colorado State University

NACTA Journal, Sep 2003 by Miller, K E, Peel, R K, Kossler, J C, Batchelder, J R, Enns, R M

Coursework presented will address areas of relevance to the land resource manager, including human, financial, livestock, wildlife, water and land resources, and policy issues (Taylor, 1994). The principle of Integrated Resource Management is the focus of the first course. This course stresses the methodology necessary for implementation of an Integrated Resource Management plan and the necessity of including human resources in these plans. Students will revisit this concept in the eleventh and final module when they produce their own integrated management plan using an existing land resource as a case study. The fundamentals of business development from the ground up are presented in the second coursea requirement for sustainability. Subsequent courses address topics of land resource ecology and the importance of plants, animals, economics, and their interactions for a profitable system.

Every course addresses process enhancement to manipulate the rangeland ecosystem to increase productivity and establish an optimal cost benefit relationship. Additional tools to modify interactions between the animal and ecosystem base are a common theme in every course. The interaction between animal performance and the ability of the forage resource to supply the nutrient demands of the animal is explored in depth. The benefits of management for a diversity of wildlife, as well as, classical food producing animals are also discussed. Only through the dedication and commitment of the faculty and other individuals involved in the program will this integrated format be successful.

The curriculum for the IRM masters program has been extensively evaluated by the Colorado State University curriculum committee and unanimously approved as graduate level courses. The cost of this program is the same as any other CSU graduate program. Tuition costs are based on the number of credit hours enrolled. Industry professionals are eligible to participate in the courses and the cost is the same as required of the full time students. Currently, there are 12 self-funded students enrolled full-time in the WCIRM Master's degree program in its first year. An advantage of the program is the accelerated nature; students can complete the master's degree in one year or may take up to five years, on a part-time basis, to complete the degree. This allows for working professionals to make arrangements to earn a master's degree, while continuing their career.

A modular format has been selected for presentation of the coursework, which allows students the opportunity to concentrate on one class at a time. The intensive format will retain the focus of the students and provide the foundation for learning throughout the curriculum. The adoption of modular education is a somewhat unique approach to graduate education. The definitive nature of a modular education program is the short, intense class. The modular format can link theory and practice, between education and skills used on the job. This format retains the attention of students and offers a regular feedback system (Kadau, 2001). Modular education has four main advantages: 1) concentrated learning with immediate application; 2) learning reinforcement; 3) organizational control; and 4) easily modified programs (Kadau, 2001). These four advantages allow for greater flexibility of the educational methods. The short time commitment per course facilitates the availability of the classes to land owners and managers, forest service personnel, etc. to attend specific courses that will enhance their job performance.