Where Animals and Landscapes Thrive
Healthy rangelands support livestock, wildlife, native plants and vital natural resources. The Rangeland Ecology and Management minor prepares you to understand and manage these working landscapes through hands-on learning in ecology, grazing management and sustainable land stewardship.
What You’ll Study
You’ll explore how animals, plants, soils, water and landscape features interact across grasslands, shrublands and savannas while studying rangeland health, grazing systems and sustainable livestock management.
What You’ll Take Away
You’ll gain the hands-on skills to assess rangeland health, develop grazing and management plans, and balance livestock production with wildlife habitat, conservation and healthy natural resources.
Managing Working Landscapes
Learn how California’s rangelands support livestock production, wildlife habitat and healthy ecosystems. You will build a foundation in the science management behind these dynamic landscapes.
Grazing and Stewardship
Explore how grazing animals can be managed to support healthy rangelands. Learn how thoughtful grazing practices can shape vegetation, protect natural resources and sustain productive working landscapes.
Plants, Soil and Water
Discover how plants, soils and water work together to shape rangeland ecosystems. Build the knowledge to understand changing conditions and make informed decisions about land health and management.
Wildlife and Habitat
Explore how rangeland management can support wildlife, native plants and healthy habitats. You’ll learn to balance conservation and livestock production while supporting long-term ecosystem health.
Professional Pathway
Completion of the minor meets the basic educational requirements for California’s Certified Rangeland Manager license, helping prepare you for professional work in rangeland and natural resource management.
Coursework Highlights
Coursework in Rangeland Ecology and Management brings ecology, livestock management and natural-resource science together to help you understand how rangelands work.
Classes and Labs
Study the management of sheep and goats alongside the principles of rangeland use. You will connect animal production with the stewardship of grazing lands
Build a foundation in plant biology and diversity by learning how plants grow, function and contribute to the ecosystems that support rangelands
Learn how soils from and function through the studies of physical, chemical and biological properties that shape plant growth, water movement, and land-use decisions.
Explore evaluation of rangeland conditions and improvement practices that support specific land-management goals.
Use field-based information to assess rangeland health and develop management plans that respond to changing conditions and long-term goals.
Learn to assess the health and condition of rangeland ecosystems while building practical skills in management planning. You’ll use field-based methods to evaluate landscapes and develop strategies that support healthy, productive rangelands.
Use aerial imagery and remote sensing technologies to measure, map and analyze landscapes. You’ll gain hands-on experience processing spatial data, identifying patterns and detecting environmental change to better understand land conditions.
Explore Rangeland Ecology and Management
Learn how the rangeland ecology and management minor can add practical ecosystem and land-management knowledge to your major.