Course Form (revised 5/1/12)
(Instructions: http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/documents/forms/courseform_instructionsX.aspx)
I. Summary of Proposed Changes
Dept / Program
Resource Conservation
Prefix and Course # NRSM 215
Course Title
Field Studies in Conservation
Please check one or more
X New course  Delete course
of the following:
Course Changes
 Course Title  Description  Learning Outcomes
 Prerequisites  Cross-listing  Other
 Credits
from _________ to________
 Number / Level from _________ to________
 Repeatability
from _________ to________
Justification / explanation (required for ALL proposals) For new courses please provide rationale for why
the course is needed, how it fits with exiting curriculum and whether there are curricular adjustments.
This course provides an important introduction to conservation in a field setting where students can learn
natural history, ecology, community conservation, and policy in a specific place, interacting with multiple
faculty and local experts.
Has the Department gone through common course Review?
X Yes  No  In process
II. Syllabus/Assessment Information Required for new courses, learning outcome changes and
course change from U to UG.
Important: please spell out learning goals and learning outcomes clearly in the syllabus.
Learning Goals are a list of what students should know, understand, or be able to do at the end of
the course, including essential information and knowledge or skills relevant to the subject area.
Learning Outcomes are measures of performance or behavior that indicate, to the teacher and the
students, that students understand the material, and what criteria differentiates among different
levels of understanding. Attach syllabus at the end of the document.
III. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Date
Requestor:
Steve Seibert
Phone/ email :
Ext. 4661
Program Chair(s)/Director:
Laurie Yung
Dean(s):
Mike Patterson
All other affected programs:
N/A
Approve
 Yes  No
 Yes  No
 Yes  No
 Yes  No
 Yes  No
 Yes  No
Are other departments/programs affected by this
modification because of
(a) required courses incl. prerequisites or corequisites,
(b) perceived overlap in content areas
(c) cross-listing of coursework
Signatory Comments (required for disapproval):
Please obtain signature(s) from the
Chair/Director of any such department/ program
(above) before submission
IV: 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
X
course is interdisciplinary. (http://www.mus.edu/Qtools/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. The course number may be changed
at the system level.
Short Title (max. 26 characters incl. spaces) Field Study Conservation
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.) 
U 215 Field Studies in Conservation 1 cr. Offered spring. Field study focusing on flora and
fauna,
history of land use and ecological change, contemporary forest management, conservation and
community development in western Montana.
Complete for UG courses (UG courses should be assigned a 400 number).
Describe graduate increment - see procedure 301.30
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/procedures/default.aspx
Complete for Co-convened courses
Companion course number, title, and description (include syllabus of companion course in section V)
See procedure 301.20 http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/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:
V. Change an Existing Course
1. Current course information at it appears in catalog
(http://www.umt.edu/catalog) 
YES
NO
X
2. Full and exact entry (as proposed) 
3. If cross-listed course: secondary program & course
number
4. Is this a course with MUS Common Course Numbering?
http://www.mus.edu/Qtools/CCN/ccn_default.asp
If yes, please explain below whether the change will eliminate the common course status.
YES NO
5. If co-convened course: companion course number, title, and description
(include syllabus of companion course in section V) See procedure 301.20
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/procedures/default.aspx
6. Graduate increment if level of course is changed to UG.
Reference procedure 301.30:
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/procedures/default.aspx
Have you reviewed the graduate
increment guidelines? Please check (X)
space provided.
(syllabus must be attached)
7. Other programs affected by the change
8. Is there a fee associated with the course?
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.
NRSM 215, Field Studies in Conservation, 1.0 Credit
Description: NRSM 215 introduces undergraduate students to the flora and fauna, history of land use and
ecological change, contemporary forest management, conservation and community development efforts in the
Seeley-Swan region of western Montana. The course introduces key concepts that will be further developed in
subsequent coursework. This is a 3 day/3 night, 1 credit, traditional letter graded course offered at Northwest
Connection (NwC) in Condon, MT in March each year. Course participants will depart UM at 4 PM on Thursday and
return at 6 PM on Sunday. The course is highly recommended (but not required) for sophomores and transfer
students interested or enrolled in the undergraduate Resource Conservation program and is limited to 20 students.
Instructors: Three Resource Conservation faculty and two NwC staff.
Required Readings: Readings will be available at the Mansfield Library through ERES. Students will be expected to
complete all readings prior to the field portion of the course.
Learning outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course students will:
- Be familiar with some of the key challenges and opportunities in the field of resource conservation;
- Be able to identify common trees, shrubs and wildlife species/tracks in western Montana;
- Be able to describe general vegetation/forest types in the Swan Valley and their habitat values;
- Have a basic understanding of land use history and ecological changes associated with Salish resource use
and management, homesteading by white settlers, timber harvesting on industrial and USFS lands, and
contemporary ecological restoration efforts in the Swan Valley;
- Be familiar with landscape-level conservation (e.g., MT Legacy project, Crown of the Continent) and
community conservation (i.e., NwC, SEC, and the SW Crown Collaborative) efforts;
- Understand opportunities and constraints to developing and maintaining economically viable livelihoods
for local residents.
Assessment:
Quiz
Paper
Participation
20%
50%
30%
Quiz – This quiz will focus on identification of vegetation and wildlife tracks, history/ecological change, and
opportunities and constraints to generating local incomes/livelihoods .
Paper – Students will select a specific conservation issue or topic and write a 5-page paper after the field portion of
the course. Students will submit an outline on the final field day and submit the paper three weeks later. Papers
must utilize at least 4 sources and describe the issue, including social and ecological aspects, and opportunities and
constraints as they relate to resolution/future action. Papers must be well-written, properly cited, and
demonstrate critical thinking skills.
Participation – Students will be expected to complete all readings in advance of the field portion of the course, and
be prepared to interact with peers and instructors in a field setting. Participation grades will be based on the level
at which students interact with the material, the group, and their surroundings in a way that promotes their own
learning as well as that of the group.
Contact Hours:
Total classroom contact:
Total laboratory work:
Travel time not included.
13.5 hours
11 hours
(equiv. to 0.9 credits)
(equiv. to 0.2 credits)
TOTAL
1.0 credits
Course Readings:
Bookwalter, M. 2010. Emerging markets in biomass: Local opportunities. Seeley Swan Pathfinder, May
27.
Keiter, R. B. 2002. Biodiversity Conservation and the Intermixed Ownership Problem: From Nature
Reserves to Collaborative Processes. Idaho Law Review 38:301-324.
Mace, R.D., J.S. Waller, T. L. Manley, L. J. L., H. Zuuring. 1996. Relationships among grizzly bears, roads
and habitat in the Swan Mountains Montana. Journal of Applied Ecology 33:1395-1404.
Matthews, D. 2003. Conifers. Rocky Mountain Natural History. Raven Editions, Portland. pp. 43-82.
Millar, C.I, N. L. Stephenson, S. L. Stephens. 2007. Climate change and forests of the future: Managing in
the face of uncertainty. Ecological Applications 17(8):2145–2151.
Parker, M. Swan Story. In: Saving the Wide Open Spaces: The Conservation of Biodiversity and
Working Landscapes in the American West. S. Chaney, T. Sheridan, G. P. Nabhan (eds). Univ. of
Arizona Press, Tuscon (in press).
SW Crown Collaborative. 2011. Forest funding advances Montana forest restoration work. Press
release.
Upper Swan Valley Landscape Assessment. 2004. Swan Ecosystem Center.
Vernon, S. M. 2011. Montana Voices of the Swan. Upper Swan Historical Society, Condon, MT.
Volz, M. 2010. Western Montana, Idaho forest restoration projects get federal funds. Missoulian, August
14.
Course Schedule
Thursday: depart UM at 4 PM, arrive NwC 6 PM, dinner, followed by orientation and discussion
- meet RSCN faculty;
- land use history and ecological changes associated with Salish resource use and management,
homesteading by white settlers, timber harvesting on industrial and USFS lands, and contemporary
ecological restoration efforts;
- the Seeley-Swan and landscape conservation efforts (e.g., MT Legacy project, Crown of the Continent). (1
hour classroom)
Friday: Forests, wildlife and restoration/management efforts (full day in field)
AM (2 hrs classroom):
- introduction to winter wildlife tracks, vegetation and habitats.
AM/PM (6 hours outdoor lab)
- wildlife tracking;
- tree and shrub identification;
- vegetation/forest types and associated habitats;
- current restoration and management activities (e.g., road removal, weeds, bull trout, etc.).
Evening (after dinner)
- discussion of the day’s activities and related readings in small groups (1 hour classroom);
Saturday: Livelihoods and collaboration: morning class/discussion with afternoon field exercises
AM (indoors) (3 ½ hours classroom):
- local conservation efforts by NwC, SEC and the SW Crown Collaborative;
- opportunities and constraints to developing and maintaining economically viable livelihoods for local
residents;
- other management issues (e.g., grizzly bears and fire) and ways in which they are being addressed (e.g.,
waste management, fuels reduction/thinning, reintroduction of fire);
- quiz: identification of vegetation and wildlife tracks, short answers re. history/ecological change and local
livelihoods (1/2 hour classroom).
PM (4 hours outdoor lab):
- wildlife tracking, tree and shrub identification, vegetation/forest types and habitats;
- examples of local conservation and management efforts in the field.
Evening (after dinner):
- discussion of the day’s activities and related readings in small groups (1 hour classroom);
Sunday: Pulling it all together
AM (4 hours classroom)
- working group (3) discussions – a) opportunities and constraints to forest/wildlife conservation in the
context of developing economically viable and sustainable livelihoods for local residents, b) lessons from
historical uses of forest, wildlife and land and how that informs future conservation and management
activities, c) resource conservation academic and experiential opportunities;
- full group discussion of points and issues reviewed in the working groups;
- review of paper assignment (5-6 pp.), due one week after completion of field course.
PM (2 hours indoor/outdoor lab)
- unstructured time for additional conversation or time in the field (1-3 PM);
- depart NwC at 4 PM, return UM at 6 PM.