Natural Resources Management

School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences
(907) 474-7083
www.uaf.edu/snras/

B.S., M.S. Degrees

Minimum Requirements for Degree: 30-35 credits

Downloadable PDF (60K)

Natural resources management is making and implementing decisions to develop, maintain or protect ecosystems to meet human needs and values. The core natural resources management curriculum provides students with a broad education in the various natural resources and their related applied fields. Programs can be tailored to enhance a student's depth or breadth in a given field of interest. The program is designed for students desiring careers in resources management or in other fields requiring knowledge of resources management, students planning advanced study, as well as those wishing to be better informed citizens.

The School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences offers an M.S. degree in natural resources management. The courses and curriculum for this program were developed in cooperation with groups and agencies that work professionally with resource management in Alaska.

The M.S. program offers both thesis and non-thesis options. The thesis option is designed for those intending to pursue management careers requiring thorough familiarity with research procedures and techniques in one or more of the resources fields, to proceed to doctoral programs, and/or to conduct research in management problems. The non-thesis option is designed for those planning a management career involving largely non-research responsibilities such as general planning and administration, communication and public information, and impact assessment.

Thesis research in natural resources management is directed toward resource problems at high latitudes. Research by graduate students has centered on biological and physical aspects of land management in Alaska in relation to land ownership, land use planning, economic analysis and competing resources needs. Areas of emphasis have included forest management, land use planning, soil management, natural resource policy, parks and recreation management, horticulture and agronomy and animal science.

State and federal agencies such as the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Natural Resource Conservation Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service contribute significantly to the instructional program, by providing guest lecturers and internship and field work opportunities for students.

Graduate Program--M.S. Degree

1. Complete the following admission requirement:
   1. Submit GRE scores.
2. Complete the general university requirements.
3. Complete the master's degree requirements.
4. Complete or have prior general familiarity with the major resource fields listed as concentrations under the B.S. degree requirements. Course requirements in any one field will depend on the needs of the candidate and the capabilities of the university.
5. Complete or have prior course work within the program in computer science, statistical methods and basic economics.
6. Complete the thesis or non-thesis requirements:

Thesis

1. Complete the following:
   NRM 692--Graduate Seminar 3 credits
   NRM 699--Thesis 6-12 credits
   Research methods course at the 300-level or above* 3 credits
   STAT course at the 300-level or above** 3 credits
   Additional approved courses 9-15
2. Minimum credits required 30

Non-Thesis

1. Complete the following:
   NRM 692--Graduate Seminar 3 credits
   NRM 698--Research 3 credits
   Research methods course at the 300-level or above* 3 credits
   STAT course at the 300-level or above** 3 credits
   Additional approved courses 23
2. Minimum credits required 35
   
   * Requirement may be met with a research methods course in a discipline related to natural resources management.
   
   ** Requirement may be met with a statistics course in mathematical sciences or in a discipline related to natural resources management.