Natural Resources, Environmental Science and Management Concentration, M.S.

The graduate program in Natural Resources is designed to provide students with the knowledge and experience necessary to address natural resource problems and to carry out scientific investigations including design, implementation, and evaluation of research in their specific area of study. While it is designed to provide and in-depth understanding of the student’s particular area of emphasis, it is also intended to develop an appreciation for the interdisciplinary character of natural resource problems. Each candidate for the degree is required to consult with an appropriate faculty committee and to prepare an individualized program of study which must be approved by that committee.

Environmental Science and Management graduate studies are oriented toward environmental analysis and land use planning; environmental science, particularly ecological restoration, renewable energy, and energy policy; recreational use of natural resources; and geospatial analysis of environmental and natural resource-related topics.

Program Admission Requirements

Applicants must possess preparation equivalent to the baccalaureate degree. Adequate academic preparation can best be demonstrated by a baccalaureate degree in the chosen option or in a closely related field. Applicants who lack adequate preparation may be required to make up academic deficiencies through additional course work. Such course work may not be used toward the graduate degree.

Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 for the last 60 undergraduate units. Applicants not meeting this criteria, with extensive work experience, exceptional GPA, or Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores may be reconsidered by appeal through the Graduate Coordinator. GRE scores are not required. All prospective graduate students in the Natural Resources program should contact a prospective major advisor.

Please refer to the College of Natural Resources & Sciences website or contact CNRSmast@humboldt.edu for additional information.

Contact Information

Andrew Stubblefield, Ph.D., Graduate Coordinator
(707) 826-3258
aps14@humboldt.edu

Requirements for the Degree (30 Units)

For a description of degree requirements to be fulfilled in addition to those listed below see, “Master’s Degree Requirements ”.

Natural Resources Graduate Program Core (16 Units)

SCI 501 - Research Methods and Planning Units: 3

Analytical Methods

Complete 4 units.

ESM 510 - Research Methods in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Units: 4
FISH 558 - Fish Population Dynamics Units: 4
GSP 510 - Research Methods in Geospatial Science Units: 4
STAT 333 - Linear Regression Models/ANOVA Units: 4
STAT 504 - Multivariate Statistics Units: 4
STAT 506 - Sampling Design and Analysis Units: 4
STAT 510 - Modern Statistical Modeling Units: 4
WLDF 578 - Advanced Ecology of Wildlife Populations Units: 4

Research and Thesis

Students complete a combination of thesis and research units for a total of 9 units with a maximum of 6 thesis units. Students select the courses based on their program concentration. All students are required to enroll in at least 1 unit of program specific 690 and 695 every semester.

ESM 690 - Thesis Units: 1-4
ESM 695 - Field Research Units: 1-4
FISH 690 - Thesis Units: 1-4
FISH 695 - Research Problems in Fisheries Units: 1-4
FWWS 690 - Thesis Research Units: 1-3
FWWS 695 - Field Research Problems Units: 1-3
WLDF 690 - Thesis Units: 1-3
WLDF 695 - Advanced Field Problems Units: 1-3

Culminating Experience

A thesis, public oral presentation, and a closed formal defense are required.

Environmental Resources Engineering Concentration (14 Units)

ESM 685 - Graduate Seminar Units: 1-3
Enrollment in ESM 685 is required during two semesters of residence. A maximum of 2 units is applicable to the 30-unit requirement.
Students may enroll in 1 unit of ESM x690 through the College of Extended Education & Global Engagement their final semester if approved by their advisor.

Approved Electives

Approved upper division and graduate electives to bring total units to no fewer than 30 units. At least half of these units must be courses organized and conducted at the graduate level.

BIOL 340 - Genetics Units: 4
BIOL 430 - Intertidal Ecology Units: 3
BIOL 440 - Molecular Genetics Lab Units: 2
BIOL 484 - Current Topics in Biology Units: 1
BIOL 534 - Population and Community Ecology Units: 4
BIOL 548 - Biogeography Units: 3
BOT 330 - Plant Ecology Units: 2
BOT 350 - Plant Taxonomy Units: 4
BOT 358 - Biology of the Microfungi Units: 2
BOT 359 - Biology of the Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes Units: 2
CS 325 - Database Design Units: 4
CS 328 - Web-Apps Using Databases Units: 4
EC 620 - Economic-Political Dimensions Units: 3
EC 630 - Socio-Cultural Dimensions Units: 3
EC 640 - Ecological Dimensions Units: 3
ENGR 532 - Energy, Environment and Society Units: 4
ENGR 471 - Thermodynamics and Energy Systems II Units: 3
ENGR 371 - Energy Systems and Technology Units: 3
ESM 303 - Applied Natural History and Ecology Units: 4
ESM 305 - Environmental Conflict Resolution Units: 3
ESM 309B - Environmental Communication Units: 3
ESM 325 - Environmental Law and Regulation Units: 3
ESM 350 - Fundamentals of Environmental Education and Interpretation Units: 3
ESM 355 - Principles of Ecological Restoration Units: 3
ESM 360 - Introduction to Environmental Planning Methods Units: 3
ESM 365 - Local Government Planning Units: 3
ESM 370 - Energy, Technology and Society Units: 3
ESM 425 - Environmental Impact Assessment Units: 3
ESM 430 - Natural Resource Management in Protected Areas Units: 3
ESM 455 - Ecological Restoration Capstone Units: 4
ESM 460 - Environmental Planning for Public Lands and Rural Communities Units: 3
ESM 462 - Coastal and Marine Planning Units: 3
ESM 555 - Applied Ecological Restoration Units: 4
ESM 620 - Ecosystems and Society Units: 3
ESM 685 - Graduate Seminar Units: 1-3
FISH 375 - Mariculture Units: 3
FISH 434 - Ecology of Freshwater Fish Units: 4
FISH 435 - Ecology of Marine Fish Units: 4
FISH 558 - Fish Population Dynamics Units: 4
FISH 570 - River Fish Restoration Ecology Units: 3
FISH 576 - Ecology of Running Waters Units: 3
FOR 315 - Forest Management Units: 3
FIRE 321 - Fire Ecology Units: 3
FIRE 323 - Fire Behavior and Effects Units: 3
FOR 359 - Forest and Rangeland Policy Units: 3
FOR 374 - Wilderness Area Management Units: 3
FOR 430 - Forest Ecosystems Units: 3
FOR 431 - Forest Restoration Units: 3
FOR 432 - Silviculture Units: 4
FOR 532 - Advanced Principles in Silviculture Units: 4
GEOG 302 - Global Ecology and Biogeography Units: 3
GEOG 357 - Climate, Ecosystems and People Units: 3
GEOL 306 - General Geomorphology Units: 3
GEOL 308 - Natural Disasters Units: 3
GEOL 550 - Fluvial Processes Units: 3
GSP 316 - Cartography Units: 4
GSP 318 - Geospatial Programming I Units: 3
GSP 326 - Intermediate Remote Sensing Units: 3
GSP 330 - Mobile Mapping Units: 3
GSP 370 - Intermediate Geographic Information Science (GIS) Units: 3
GSP 416 - Advanced Cartography Design Seminar Units: 4
GSP 418 - Geospatial Programming II Units: 3
GSP 436 - Advanced Remote Sensing Units: 3
GSP 570 - Advanced Geospatial Analysis and Modeling Units: 3
NAS 331 - Indigenous Natural Resource Management Practices Units: 3
OCN 310 - Biological Oceanography Units: 4
OCN 340 - Geological Oceanography Units: 4
OCN 420 - Oceans and Climate Units: 3
RRS 306 - Rangeland Management Principles Units: 3
RRS 360 - Rangeland Plant Communities Units: 3
RRS 370 - Rangeland Ecology Units: 3
RRS 375 - Rangeland Inventory and Health Units: 3
RRS 430 - Rangeland Restoration and Improvement Units: 3
RRS 475 - Advanced Study of Rangeland Plants Units: 1
SOC 583 - Quantitative Research Methods Units: 4
SOC 584 - Qualitative Research Methods Units: 4
SOC 665 - Community, Ecology and Social Action Units: 4
SOIL 360 - Origin and Classification of Soils Units: 3
SOIL 363 - Wetland Soils Units: 3
WSHD 310 - Hydrology and Watershed Management Units: 4
WSHD 424 - Watershed Hydrology Units: 3
WSHD 458 - Climate Change and Land Use Units: 3
WLDF 301 - Principles of Wildlife Management Units: 3
WLDF 311 - Wildlife Techniques Units: 4
WLDF 365 - Ornithology I Units: 3
WLDF 460 - Conservation Biology Units: 3
WLDF 468 - Spatial Wildlife Ecology Units: 3
WLDF 578 - Advanced Ecology of Wildlife Populations Units: 4
WLDF 585 - Seminar in Wildlife Management Units: 1-3

Program Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program.

Scientific Investigation: Student carries out a scientific investigation of phenomena in a natural system that includes formulation and statement of a research question based on literature review.
Written Communication: Student communicates scientific investigation in writing, using accepted structure, style, and format for scientific reports and papers in the discipline.
Oral Communication: Student communicates scientific investigation in oral presentation, using accepted structure, format, and visual aids for scientific presentations in the discipline.
Quantitative and Qualitative Methods: Student applies appropriate mathematical, computer simulation, statistical models, and/or qualitative methods in their research.
Link to Natural Resources: Student articulates the relationship of his/her scientific investigation to the physical, ecological, and/or socioeconomic aspects of a problem in the natural environment.