Master of Natural Resources

About This Degree

The online Master of Natural Resources degree is designed to give natural resource professionals the skills to analyze complex natural resource issues and better communicate the results of their analyses.

Students completing this degree acquire the skills to work as decision makers and advance their careers in natural resource management positions.

What You Will Learn

It focuses on five core course areas: Human Dimensions, Ecological Foundations, Quantitative Methods, Information Management, and Policy/Administration.

Students are required to take three credits from each core area and complete a capstone experience. The capstone project is derived from each student’s disciplinary or career interests. The purpose of the project is to demonstrate a student’s interdisciplinary knowledge of the MNR’s core learning objectives, synthesize and apply them to a specific problem for management purposes. Depending upon the project, students are allowed to take 3-6 credits of NR 6600 NR integrative experience to be applied to the MNR degree program.

The Master of Natural Resources degree (MNR) is also available through short-courses approved for the program.

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At a Glance

College: S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources

Department: Environment and Society Department , Watershed Sciences Department , Wildland Resources Department

USU Locations:

Logan campus
Statewide campuses
USU Online

Program Requirements

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Career And Outcomes

Career Opportunities

Graduates gain a broad education in how to solve natural resource problems from multiple perspectives that prepares them for management and decision-making careers in natural resources fields.

Job Outlook

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Advising

We will build on your goals and experiences while working together to design an individualized semester-by-semester plan. Your personalized plan will help you see a path from where you are now on to graduation. Even if you are unsure of the major you would like to pursue, we can help with resources and ideas.

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USU Locations

LOGAN CAMPUS

STATEWIDE CAMPUSES*

USU ONLINE**

*This degree is available at various USU locations.

**This degree is 100% available online. USU is a SARA-approved institution offering fully online programs nationwide; please visit USU's state authorizations for details.

Admission

Admission Requirements

Application Requirements:

A bachelor's degree, preferably in natural resources, biology, ecology or a closely related field
A minimum of one year of work experience in a natural resources field
3.0 or higher grade point average on last 60 semester or 90 quarter credits
Three letters of recommendation (one from an academic source, if possible)
Statement of Purpose: Describe how your past experience and education have prepared you for the MNR program, and how the MNR program will help you meet your future professional goals (500 word limit).

International students have additional admissions requirements.

Deadlines

The department has the following deadlines:

Fall semester – July 1st
Spring semester – November 1st
Summer semester – March 15th

Plan Options

Students can receive the MNR by pursuing the following option:

The Plan C option does not involve a thesis or a defense meeting and is comprised of coursework and a three- to six-credit capstone project addressing a natural resource problem from the “big-picture” prospective.