Natural Resources: Land, Water, and Air - PhD

The Department of Natural Resources and the Environment offers two graduate degrees in Natural Resources: Land, Water, and Air, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and Master of Science (M.S.). The Department offers advanced study in the following areas: Conservation and Management of Forests, Wetlands, Fisheries and Wildlife, Climate, and Water Resources; Ecosystem Science and Management; Geospatial Analysis such as Remote Sensing of the Environment/GIS; Landscape Ecology; and Human Dimensions of Natural Resources. The purpose of the M.S. program is to provide advanced study. The M.S. degree may be awarded as Plan A or Plan B. The Plan A M.S. is a research-based master’s degree whereas the Plan B M.S. is a coursework-based master’s degree. The M.S. program prepares students for Ph.D. programs (Plan A) or for careers in natural resources science and management with local, state, and federal government agencies, environmental consulting firms, or non-profit organizations (Plan A and Plan B). The Ph.D. program is designed to educate scientists with a broad experience in natural resources and to prepare them to do independent research. The Ph.D. program prepares students for careers in research and teaching in natural resources, including academia, non-profit organizations, industry, and government. Full-time students are expected to complete their Ph.D. degree work in three to five years and part-time students in five to seven years.