University General Course Catalog 2021-2022 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
University General Course Catalog 2021-2022 ARCHIVED CATALOG: LINKS AND CONTENT ARE OUT OF DATE. CHECK WITH YOUR ADVISOR.

Natural Resources and Environmental Science, M.S.


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The master of science degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Science is offered by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science. To ensure consideration for admission to the program, students must have a minimum overall grade-point average of 3.0, a combined verbal plus quantitative GRE score of 1000 or greater for tests taken prior to August 1, 2011 or combined score of 300 or greater for tests taken on or after August 1, 2011, strong letters of recommendation, and the agreement of a graduate faculty member to serve as a student’s advisor. Specific programs of study are developed through the collegial interaction of the student with his/her Graduate Advisory Committee. The program emphasizes the ecology, management, and restoration of forest, rangeland, and wildlife ecosystems.

Students typically study in the areas of:

  • Biogeochemistry and soil processes,
  • Climate change impacts,
  • Conservation biology,
  • Fire ecology,
  • Forest ecology and management,
  • Ecohydrology,
  • Environmental science,
  • Landscape ecology,
  • Restoration ecology, and
  • Wildlife ecology and conservation.

Contact Information


Dr. Jonathan Greenberg
Associate Professor and NRES Graduate Program Director
NresGraduateProgram@unr.edu
(775) 763-5476
Office: 220c Fleischmann Ag Bldg

Mailing Address:
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, Mail Stop 186
1664 N. Virginia Street
Reno, NV  89557-0014

Departmental Website: 
http:www.cabnr.unr.edu/nres

Graduate Handbook *

Program Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes


The NRES Master’s degree program is inherently multidisciplinary and capitalizes upon the broad spectrum of expertise offered by NRES departmental faculty.

Student learning outcomes include:

  • Students will be able to demonstrate critical thinking, writing, and communication skills that will enable them to succeed after graduation.
  • Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the theoretical basis and experimental methods used for study of natural resources and environmental science.
  • Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of experimental design; field/laboratory instrumentation and procedures; computer models; and data analyses used in natural resource and environmental science research.

Admission Requirements


Prospective students should correspond with potential faculty whose research interests mirror their own interests early in the application process because admittance to the program requires a graduate faculty advisor and because most graduate assistantships are through the research grants of individual faculty.

I. Program Requirements


A. Thesis Plan (30 units)


Coursework (24 units)


Course selection will be determined in conjunction with graduate faculty advisor. Below is a list of possible courses.

Thesis (6 units)


B. Non-Thesis Plan (32 units)


Coursework (30 units)


Course selection will be determined in conjunction with graduate faculty advisor. See “Coursework” list above.

Professional Paper (2 units)


Plan A versus Plan B


The vast majority of incoming students are admitted to the Plan A degree program. This is the option in which the student is expected to write a thesis making an original contribution to the research field of a quality acceptable to a major, peer-reviewed scientific journal. A small number of students, primarily those without research funding and/or who have a full-time job commitment, are admitted to the Plan B degree program. This program requires the writing of a professional paper demonstrating a high level of scholarship. Occasionally, Plan B students transfer to Plan A if research funding becomes available. Only under very special circumstances is a Plan A student allowed to transfer to Plan B.

II. Total Units


  • Plan A: 30 units
  • Plan B: 32 units

Notes


NRES faculty also participate in and support graduate students in several graduate interdisciplinary programs, including:
Graduate degrees may be earned in Environmental Sciences, M.S.  and Environmental Sciences, Ph.D.  in an interdisciplinary program. For further information, refer to the Interdisciplinary and Special Programs section of this catalog.
Graduate degrees may be earned in Hydrologic Sciences, M.S.  and Hydrologic Sciences, Ph.D.  in an interdisciplinary program. For further information, refer to the Interdisciplinary and Special Programs section of this catalog.
A doctor of philosophy degree in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology  is available in an interdisciplinary program. For further information, refer to the Interdisciplinary and Special Programs section of this catalog.
 

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