COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Science in Natural Resources and the Environment with a Forestry option requires the successful completion of at least 30 graduate credits and combines interdisciplinary coursework, quantitative analysis, research training, and professional development focused on forestry, conservation, and natural resource management. Students complete several required core courses that build advanced research and communication skills, including NR 903 Approach to Research and NR 905 Grant Writing or approved alternatives such as scientific communication and publishing courses. These courses help students develop expertise in research design, scientific writing, and professional communication. Students are also required to complete NR 993 Natural and Environmental Resources Seminar, which encourages scholarly discussion and engagement with current environmental and forestry issues, as well as NR 996 Natural Resource Education or NR 900 Teaching Assistantship Practicum for students supported by teaching assistantships during their first semester. A major component of the program is quantitative and analytical training through one approved data analysis course selected from a broad range of subjects such as applied statistics, predictive modeling, ecological data analysis, econometrics, regression analysis, time series analysis, experimental design, and policy research methods. These options allow students to tailor their analytical preparation to specific interests within forestry and environmental science. The program concludes with either a thesis or directed research option. Students choosing NR 899 Master’s Thesis complete an original research-based thesis intended to form the foundation for a peer-reviewed scientific publication, emphasizing independent investigation and scholarly contribution. Students selecting NR 998 Directed Research instead complete a professionally oriented project designed to address practical forestry or stakeholder-related needs, culminating in a scholarly paper or publication-quality report suitable for the field. Both pathways emphasize critical thinking, evidence-based problem solving, and professional communication. The program’s flexible structure supports a variety of interests related to forestry, ecosystem management, conservation, and environmental policy while preparing graduates for careers in government agencies, environmental consulting, private forestry organizations, nonprofit conservation groups, and advanced doctoral study in forestry and natural resource sciences.