Graduate Studies in Natural Resources Science and Management

M.S. Degree

The Master of Science (M.S.) degree program emphasizes specialized study in one of the above tracks. Many students entering this program have an undergraduate background in natural resources related fields. Students without this background are expected to develop a foundation that will permit them to perform effectively in their selected subfield.

As a student in the M.S. degree program, you and your adviser will work to select either the Plan A or the Plan B option. Both options require a total of 14 course credits in the major field and 6 credits in one or more related fields outside the major. Plan A students register for 10 thesis credits and Plan B students complete 10 additional credits in coursework to meet the 30-credit minimum requirement.

Minimum Credit Requirements

M.S. students must take a minimum of 14 semester credits in the major field and a minimum of 6 semester credits in one or more related fields outside the major or in a single field for a declared minor.

  • Plan A students must complete an additional 10 thesis credits (NR 8777) before receiving the M.S. degree.
  • Plan B students must complete an addition 10 coursework credits. As part of these 10, students are encouraged to enroll in 1-6 research problems (8xxx) or independent study (5xxx) credits. The student and adviser determine the number of credits to take.

Final Oral Exam

The final examination for the M.S. degree is an oral examination. This examination is a closed exam, and all committee members must be present. A public seminar presentation sometime prior to the exam is encouraged.

Exit Interview

Students must meet with the DGS or Graduate Studies assistant for an exit interview.

The M.S. International Peace Corps Program

To complete a degree for the Peace Corps Master's Internationalist program, students must meet the requirements for the MS degree and requirements established by the Peace Corps. The first year involves taking coursework that is applicable to the master's degree. The second and third years are spent in the Peace Corps, during which time components of the student's experience can be applied toward research credits (e.g., Plan B paper for 2 to 6 credits or Plan A thesis for 10 credits). After completing the Peace Corps assignment, students return to the University for 1 to 2 semesters to complete their requirements for the M.S. degree.

See the NRSM Handbook for more details.