Natural Resources, Forest, Fire, Watershed, and Rangeland Sciences 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.

Graduate studies in Forest, Fire, Watershed, and Rangeland Sciences are oriented toward generating a greater understanding of the ecology and management of forests, rangelands, and the soils and watersheds that support them. Graduate research is focused on a wide variety of topics, including forest ecology, fire science, forest growth and dynamics, forest operations analysis, watershed processes, rangeland ecology soil science, and integrative analyses across these areas.

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 to the Graduate Coordinator. GRE scores are not required. All prospective graduate students in the Natural Resources program should contact a prospective major advisor.

Contact Information

Andrew Kinziger, Ph.D., Graduate Coordinator
Office: WDFF 210
apk7001@humboldt.edu

Department Website

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.

Forest, Watershed and Wildland Sciences Concentration

FWWS 501 - Research Methods and Planning Units: 2

Approved Electives

Approved upper division and graduate electives bringing the 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 534 - Population and Community Ecology Units: 4
BIOL 548 - Biogeography Units: 3
BIOL 554 - Plant/Animal Interactions Units: 3
BOT 310 - General Plant Physiology Units: 4
BOT 394 - Forest Pathology Units: 3
BA 370 - Principles of Management Units: 4
ECON 423 - Environmental and Natural Resources Economics Units: 3
ECON 470S - Sustainable Rural Economic Development Units: 4
EC 520 - Climate Resilience Units: 3
EC 530 - Social Change and Advocacy Units: 3
EC 540 - Critical Ecology Units: 3
ESM 325 - Environmental Law and Regulation Units: 3
ESM 425 - Environmental Impact Assessment Units: 3
ESM 435 - Grant Proposal Writing Units: 3
ESM 620 - Ecosystems and Society Units: 3
FIRE 531 - Advanced Landscape Fire Modeling Units: 3
FOR 331 - Silvics - Foundation of Silviculture Units: 3
FOR 431 - Forest Restoration Units: 3
FOR 450 - Harvesting Systems Design and Cost Analysis Units: 3
FOR 530 - Advanced Forest Ecosystems Units: 3
FOR 532 - Advanced Principles in Silviculture Units: 4
GEOL 306 - General Geomorphology Units: 3
GEOL 550 - Fluvial Processes Units: 3
GSP 316 - Cartography Units: 4
GSP 326 - Intermediate Remote Sensing Units: 3
GSP 330 - Mobile Mapping Units: 3
GSP 370 - Intermediate Geographic Information Science (GIS) Units: 3
GSP 436 - Advanced Remote Sensing Units: 3
GSP 570 - Advanced Geospatial Analysis and Modeling Units: 3
SOC 583 - Quantitative Research Methods Units: 4
SOC 584 - Qualitative Research Methods Units: 4
WSHD 424 - Watershed Hydrology Units: 3
WSHD 558 - Advanced Climate Change and Land Use Units: 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.