About Us

NC State's Natural Resources Masters Program is a unique, intercollegiate, multidisciplinary program that focuses on several aspects of natural resource policy, management, and assessment. A selection of technical options couple Natural Resources core courses in resource issues and management with a series of related courses in a variety of technical disciplines. Many positions in federal and state agencies, private companies, and environmental organizations require individuals with expertise in a technical area coupled with a broad knowledge of policy and management.

The Natural Resources Core Curriculum prepares professionals who are well versed in policy and regulation and skilled in quantitative assessment. The Technical Options are designed to enhance students' understanding of the processes within an individual option.

Courses within the various technical options are taught in several different departments and provide a broad background with rigorous technical emphases. Applicants generally have an undergraduate degree in natural resources or a related field, though experience will be considered during the admission process. See How to Apply for specific requirements.

Degree Types

Graduate students in Natural Resources may choose to pursue a Master of Science in Natural Resources (MS-NR) or a non-thesis Master of Natural Resources (MNR).

In general, the MS-NR degree requires that a student develop and conduct a research project and present methodologies and results of the test or experiment as a thesis. The MS-NR degree is the preferred track for students who are interested in pursuing a Ph.D. or who anticipate conducting or reviewing research in their future work.

Graduate students MNR (non-thesis) program are required to conduct a project and present a report on the work accomplished. These students generally take up to 3 credits in supervised project work and an additional 15 to 18 credit hours in courses from their chosen technical option.

Curriculum

Both the MNR and MS-NR degree programs feature a core curriculum consisting of 10 credit hours, including a seminar, and both require graduate students to choose a technical option, then present the results of their thesis or project in that option to the department at large.