Natural Resources and the Environment (Graduate Field)

Program Website

Field Description

Students join a cross-disciplinary group of scholars committed to addressing environmental, natural resources, and climate problems. About two-thirds of our field faculty are in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, with another third from veterinary wildlife, resource economics, international sustainable development, and other disciplines. We strive to create a community where biological, physical, and social scientists and humanists work together to address the pressing issues facing our planet and society.

The M.S. and Ph.D. programs emphasize research and require students to complete a thesis or dissertation. The Master of Professional Studies (MPS) degree focuses on course work and a professional project.

MS and PhD students work with their faculty advisor to design their graduate program, including courses and a research project. Students may conduct research in the US or internationally and have access to excellent laboratory and field facilities. The focus is on research, including its applications to real-world problems.

Prior to applying, prospective MS and PhD students must identify a faculty member who expresses interest in supervising their graduate program. Therefore, it is critical that prospective MS or PhD students correspond with potential faculty advisors during the application process. If a prospective student does not get a positive response from a potential faculty advisor, it is unlikely they will get admitted.

MPS students choose courses and identify a professional project that will advance their professional career. They work together as a cohort of about ten students each year under the direction of the MPS program director. They do not need to identify a faculty member with whom they will work prior to applying.

Data and Statistics

Field Manual