Natural Resources and Environmental Communication and Engagement (NRECE)

About This Certificate

USU offers an interdisciplinary Natural Resources and Environmental Education (NREE) certificate program to provide graduate students with an educational foundation for understanding and communicating natural resources and environmental information.

The purpose of the certificate is to meet the needs of graduate students who wish to work in natural resources and environmental education and interpretation. Essentially, the goal of environmental educators and interpreters is to take scientific environmental information and present it in relatable formats and in language that the general public can understand. Students in the NREE program gain the analytical skills needed to effectively implement environmental education and communication techniques for a variety of audiences.

To earn the certificate, students must be enrolled as graduate students at USU. Currently we are not able to offer one of the two NREE core foundation courses, ENVS 5110 (Environmental Education). Therefore this program is only available for students who participate in the Utah Conservation Corps’ one-year Individual Placement Program in environmental education, take the course at another college or university, or have gained a background in environmental education through another means.

These options fulfill the requirement on a case-by-case basis. The NREE program coordinator will determine if a student’s experience in environmental education qualifies.

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At a Glance

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

Department: Environment and Society Department

USU Locations:

Logan campus

Program Requirements

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Career And Outcomes

Career Opportunities

Graduates with the NREE certificate are qualified to work as environmental educators and interpreters in the following areas:

Formal (K-12 school-based) educational programs
Nonformal (youth, community, and outdoor) education programs
Nonprofit organizations
For-profit commercial sector
Federal, state, and local agencies
Nature centers and conservation groups

Job Outlook

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION AND ADVISING

Advising

Mark Brunson

Professor, director of the NREE program
Email: mark.brunson@usu.edu
Office: NR 216
Phone: (435) 797-2458

I am not a current USU student

I have not applied or been admitted, even if I've taken a USU Concurrent Enrollment course

I am a current USU student

I have been admitted and plan to attend, or continue attending USU

USU Locations

LOGAN CAMPUS

Admission

Admission Requirements

To apply for admittance into the NREE interdisciplinary graduate certificate program, a student must:

Be accepted to the School of Graduate Studies at Utah State University for study in a master's or doctoral program. Students in any graduate program at USU can participate in the certificate program. The credits for the courses can go toward a master's degree with the College of Natural Resources, but may not be approved for progress toward degrees in other colleges. However, students from other colleges are still welcome to complete the program.
Complete an NREE interdisciplinary graduate certificate program application.
Submit a resume with references, along with a narrative describing personal interest in completing the NREE certificate program with respect to your professional goals.

Deadlines

Because all students in the certificate program must also be enrolled in a graduate degree program, students should refer to the deadlines for the graduate degree they are interested in pursuing. After acceptance into that program, students can apply to the NREE certificate program.

Program Requirements

The interdisciplinary graduate certificate program consists of three curriculum components totaling 15-17 credits:

The NREE core, with two foundation courses, a NREE graduate seminar, and an integrating capstone experience
One human dimensions of natural resources/environment course
One natural resources/environmental management course
There is also an option to focus additional coursework in the area of personal/professional inquiry

Financial Aid

Students participating in the certificate program are also enrolled in a graduate program; therefore, their financial assistance is awarded as part of their respective master's or doctoral programs.

A variety of funding opportunities are available on the graduate school website.