COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Science in Natural Resources and the Environment requires the successful completion of a minimum of 30 graduate credits and is offered through several interdisciplinary concentration areas, including forestry, environmental conservation and sustainability, environmental economics, ecosystem science, and wildlife and conservation biology. The program is designed to provide students with advanced research training, analytical skills, and professional preparation related to environmental science, sustainability, and natural resource management. Students complete a combination of required coursework, research or directed project work, and professional development activities. Core requirements include NR 903 Approach to Research, which introduces research design and scientific inquiry, and NR 905 Grant Writing or approved alternatives focused on scientific communication and publishing. Students are also required to complete NR 993 Natural and Environmental Resources Seminar, which promotes scholarly discussion and professional engagement, as well as NR 996 Natural Resource Education or NR 900 Teaching Assistantship Practicum for students supported by teaching assistantships. A strong emphasis is placed on data analysis and quantitative research skills, and students must complete one approved course in statistics, data analysis, econometrics, ecological modeling, or research methodology. Options include courses in experimental design, applied statistics, ecological data analysis, predictive modeling, time series analysis, policy research methods, and sociological or psychological statistics, allowing students to choose training most relevant to their specialization and career goals. The program concludes with either a thesis option or a directed research option. Students choosing NR 899 Master’s Thesis complete a research-based thesis intended to form the basis of a peer-reviewed publication, emphasizing original scientific investigation and scholarly contribution. Alternatively, students may complete NR 998 Directed Research, which focuses on professionally oriented work designed to address stakeholder or applied environmental needs and culminates in a scholarly report or publication-quality paper. Students are required to develop and receive approval for a formal program of study plan during their first semester, ensuring a structured and individualized academic pathway. Overall, the program combines interdisciplinary coursework, advanced analytical training, research experience, and professional communication skills to prepare graduates for careers in environmental science, sustainability, conservation, policy, consulting, or doctoral study.