Course Form
I. Summary of Proposed Changes
Dept / Program
Forest Management
Prefix and Course #
Course Title
Basic and Applied Fire Ecology
Short Title (max. 26 characters incl. spaces)
Basic&Applied Fire Ecology
Summarize the change(s) proposed
New Course
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Requestor:
Carl Seielstad
Phone/ email :
x6200/ carl@nstg
.umt.edu
Program Chair/Director:
Elizabeth Dodson
Other affected programs
Dean:
FORS333
Date
James Burchfield
Are other departments/programs affected by this
Please obtain signature(s) from the
modification because of
Chair/Director of any such department/
(a) required courses incl. prerequisites or corequisites,
program (above) before submission
(b) perceived overlap in content areas
(c) cross-listing of coursework
III: To Add a New Course Syllabus and assessment information is required (paste syllabus into
section V or attach). Course should have internal coherence and clear focus.
Common Course Numbering Review (Department Chair Must Initial):
YES
NO
Does an equivalent course exist elsewhere in the MUS? Check all relevant disciplines if
XXX
course is interdisciplinary. (http://mus.edu/transfer/CCN/ccn_default.asp)
If YES: Do the proposed abbreviation, number, title and credits align with existing course(s)? Please indicate
equivalent course/campus. 
If NO: Course may be unique, but is subject to common course review. Be sure to include learning outcomes
on syllabus or paste below. The course number may be changed at the system level.
See attached syllabus
Exact entry to appear in the next catalog (Specify course abbreviation, level, number, title, credits,
repeatability (if applicable), frequency of offering, prerequisites, and a brief description.) 
FORS333 Basic and Applied Fire Ecology 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., FORS230. A detailed, analysis of
fire ecology in terrestrial ecosystems with a focus on the Rocky Mountains, including fire history, fire effects,
landscape pattern, land use legacies, and management implications.
Justification: How does the course fit with the existing curriculum? Why is it needed?
An upper-division undergraduate course in fire ecology and management is core to any wildfire-related
academic program. Several professional endorsements require it, and UM CFC is the only natural resource
program in the West not to have one. This course will be required of the minor in Fire Science &
Management in the CFC.
Are there curricular adjustments to accommodate teaching this course?
No
Complete for UG courses (UG courses should be assigned a 400 number).
Describe graduate increment - see procedure 301.30
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/committees/grad_council/procedures/default.aspx
Complete for Co-convented courses
Companion course number, title, and description (include syllabus of companion course in section V)
See procedure 301.20 http://umt.edu/facultysenate/committees/grad_council/procedures/default.aspx.
New fees and changes to existing fees are only approved once each biennium by the
Board of Regents. The coordination of fee submission is administered by
Administration and Finance. Fees may be requested only for courses meeting specific
conditions according to Policy 940.12.1 http://mus.edu/borpol/bor900/940-12-1.pdf .
Please indicate whether this course will be considered for a fee.
If YES, what is the proposed amount of the fee?
Justification: N/A
IV. To Delete or Change an Existing Course – check X all that apply
Deletion
Title
Course Number Change
From:
Level U, UG, G
Co-convened
To:
Description Change
Change in Credits
From:
To:
Prerequisites
1. Current course information at it appears in catalog
(http://www.umt.edu/catalog) 
YES
NO
XXX
From:
To:
Repeatability
Cross Listing
(primary
program initiates
form)
Is there a fee associated with the
course?
2. Full and exact entry (as proposed) 
3. If cross-listed course: secondary program & course
number
4. If co-convened course: companion course number, title, and description
(include syllabus of companion course in section V) See procedure 301.20
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/committees/grad_council/procedures/default.aspx.
5. Is this a course with MUS Common Course Numbering?
http://mus.edu/transfer/CCN/ccn_default.asp
If yes, please explain below whether this change will eliminate the course’s common course
status.
YES NO
6. Graduate increment if level of course is changed to UG. Have you reviewed the graduate
Reference procedure 301.30:
increment guidelines? Please check (X)
space provided.
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/committees/
grad_council/procedures/default.aspx
(syllabus required in section V)
7. Other programs affected by the change
8. Justification for proposed change
V. Syllabus/Assessment Information
Required for new courses and course change from U to UG. Paste syllabus in field below or attach and send
digital copy with form.
Basic and Applied Fire Ecology –
Basic&Applied Fire Ecology FORS333
9:10-10:00am MWF CHCB439
Carl Seielstad, Assoc, Professor, Fire Science & Mngmt
UM College of Forestry and Conservation
Department of Forest Management
Spring Semester xxxx
CHCB439, 243.6200, carl.seielstad@firecenter.umt.edu
Office Hours: Mon xx-xx; Tues xx-xx,by appointment
Course Overview
The composition and structure of forests, shrublands, and grasslands often reflects disturbance histories
involving fire, but the impacts of fires on these landscapes are incredibly variable in time and space, and the
effects of fire often play out over periods much longer than a human lifespan. Consequently, it is useful to
study species-level responses to fire in terms of life history traits, physiology, and physical process in order to
understand landscape patterns and to predict the effects of fire on plant and animal communities. FOR333
Basic and Applied Fire Ecology examines the ecological role of fire in a variety of North American
ecosystems, considering the fundamental effects of fire on individuals, communities, and landscapes. The
mechanisms that lead to landscape pattern are considered, and fire regimes are analyzed in the context of the
historical range of variability (HRV). Applied fire ecology as a critical element of successful ecosystem
maintenance and restoration is also discussed. The class is targeted at students with backgrounds in fire
management and ecology, and is intended to provide a detailed understanding of fire ecology to
undergraduate students in natural resources and related fields while serving as a stepping off point for those
interested in further study of disturbance ecology.
Course Organization
PART 1. INTRODUCTION & OVERVIEW
PART 2. THE FIRE ENVIRONMENT and FIRE BEHAVIOR
PART 3. FIRE EFFECTS ON PLANTS & ANIMALS
PART 4. FIRE REGIMES & FIRE HISTORY
PART 5. FIRE IN LONGLEAF PINE
PART 6. FIRE IN THE MONSOONAL SOUTHWEST
PART 7. FIRE IN PONDEROSA PINE AND DOUGLAS-FIR FORESTS
PART 8. FIRE IN SUBALPINE FORESTS
PART 9. FIRE IN SHRUBLANDS AND GRASSLANDS
PART 10. FIRE IN PIÑON-JUNIPER, MONTANE ASPEN, MIXED CONIFER, RIPARIAN, WETLANDS
PART 11. PEOPLE & FIRE: LAND-USE LEGACIES
PART 12. MANAGING FIRE FOR MAINTAINING/RESTORING FIRE-DEPENDENT ECOSYSTEMS
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

Define a fire environment in terms of ignition, fuels, topography, climate, and fire behavior.

Evaluate species’ responses to fire in the context of life history traits, physical processes, and
physiology.

Understand the ecological role of fire in a variety of ecosystems, including longleaf pine, ponderosa
pine – Douglas-fir, subalpine, sagebrush, and grassland.

Describe fire regimes and first and second order fire effects on plants and animals.

Recognize fire-related vegetation patterns and understand the mechanisms that created them.

Predict the effects of fire on individuals, communities, and, landscapes.
Prerequisites:
FORS230 Forest Fire Management.
Readings
Required Textbook: Fire Ecology in Rocky Mountain Landscapes, 2009, William L. Baker, Island Press, 605
pp.
The textbook will be supplemented significantly with readings from the scientific literature.
Course Polices
Attendance: Attendance is strongly encouraged. There will weekly problem sets that cannot be made up.
Additionally, I will not consistently post comprehensive class notes or powerpoints, nor will I spend office
hours giving lectures again. Take good notes, and if you miss a class, get notes from a classmate. I am
happy to answer questions, clarify issues, and elaborate on lecture and reading topics during office hours.
Academic Honesty: Students must practice academic honesty. Academic misconduct is subject to an
academic penalty and/or a disciplinary sanction by the University. This is a zero tolerance policy that will
result in failure and possible expulsion if not followed. All students need to be familiar with the Student
Conduct Code. The Code is available for review online at: http://life.umt.edu/vpsa/student_conduct.php
Cell Phone Use: Please turn cell phones OFF during lecture. This means no texting, browsing, or checking
email until class is over. If you need to engage in these activities, remove yourself from the classroom before
doing so.
Make-up/Extra Credit: There will be no make-up assignments and no opportunities for extra credit. I will not
administer exams early or late. The briefing paper (described below) will lose 10% for each day past the due
date.
In the case of a learning disability, please contact me during the first two weeks of the class to make
arrangements for accommodation.
Assignments
Weekly Problems/Questions: Three to four questions will be posed at the end of each week (for 15 weeks)
related to current readings and lecture. They will typically take 20-40 minutes to complete and will be due
the following Tuesday at noon. There will be no make-ups. The questions are, in part, an attendance and
reading check. They will be graded on a categorical scale reflecting how well students read and understood
the material.
Exams: There will be two ‘midterm’ exams during the semester plus a final exam. The first midterm will
occur near the end of the fire regimes and fire history section, and the second exam will be held after the fire
in piñon pine section. Each midterm will cover material (reading & lecture) preceding that exam. In the
case of the second midterm, it will cover material presented after the first exam. The final exam will be
cumulative, covering material from the entire semester. Exams will consist of combinations of short answer,
multiple choice, matching, true/false, and essay.
Field Trip & Lab: A day long field trip to a nearby burned environment is required of all students. More
info is forthcoming regarding when and where this field trip will take place. Students will be required to
collect and collate ecological data and present it graphically. A write-up that includes a well-cited
introduction, methods, results and conclusions is required.
Briefing Paper and Presentation: This assignment is a 4-5 page paper (not including front matter, references,
or appendices) on a scientific topic related to fire ecology in one of the ecosystems addressed in this class
(see course organization). I am looking for a clear, well-organized presentation of material describing an
ecological issue of interest to you. You should approach the paper assuming the reader will not have a
technical knowledge of the subject matter, and you should address policy implications and make
recommendations if the topic allows. An example topic could be: fire return intervals in sagebrush steppe.
Typically, the most difficult part of this assignment is choosing and focusing a topic. My recommendation is
to review the bibliographies of the assigned readings. Also, review scientific journals such as Forest Ecology
and Management, International Journal of Wildland Fire, and Fire Ecology. When you find a topic of interest
to you, write down a few questions that you will try to answer in your paper. Feel free to draw on material
from other classes, talk to your classmates, friends and professors, and visit with me during office hours.
A good paper should have a concise topic statement and a couple of paragraph summary, followed by
background, analysis, and conclusions/recommendations. Please feel free to include your opinions if you can
provide evidence and support for them. Personal experience and observation can form a basis for this
support. For references, please use the style presented in the journal Forest Ecology and Management.
Grading
Briefing Paper
Field Trip & Lab
Weekly Questions (15)
First Midterm
Second Midterm
Final
10
10
15
20
20
25
100%
Grades will be assigned as followed: 90-100 A; 80-89 B; 70-79 C; 60-69 D; <60 F.
Tips for success
 READ! The weekly questions and exams will cover material from the readings and lecture. I will not
cover everything in the readings during lecture, nor will all of the lecture come from the readings.

It is imperative that your university email works and that you check it frequently. This will be the
primary means of communication between me and you. I will send notes, class material, and updates
by email.

Stay on top of this class! Review your lecture notes within a couple of days of each lecture and make
notes of things you missed or don’t understand. Then ask questions of me and/or you classmates.
Review the readings in the same manner.

Ask questions and take advantage of office hours. Don’t wait until the last minute to do the readings
or the writing assignment.
Course Schedule
To be assigned.
VI Department Summary (Required if several forms are submitted) In a separate document list course
number, title, and proposed change for all proposals.
VII Copies and Electronic Submission. After approval, submit original, one copy, summary of
proposals and electronic file to the Faculty Senate Office, UH 221, camie.foos@mso.umt.edu.
Revised 5-4-11