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The School of Natural Resources and the Environment is concerned with the management and conservation of natural ecosystems with emphasis on the desert, rangeland, and forest ecosystems of arid and semi-arid environments. Graduate programs leading to the degrees of Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy prepare students for (1) research and teaching in the areas of natural resource science, conservation, management, and planning; and (2) positions in natural resource management agencies and organizations. All students are urged to gain a broad understanding of social and political institutions as they affect fundamental relations of humans and their environment, particularly those involving plants, animals, soil and water resources, and climate. Students pursuing the M.S. or Ph.D. degree may elect one of four disciplinary emphasis areas: Ecology, Management, and Restortation of Rangelands; Natural Resources Studies; Watershed Management and Ecohydrology; and Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation and Management. Students also may choose from a wide variety of minor subjects, including soil science, watershed management, animal science, wildlife ecology, plant science, ecology, anthropology, public administration, and global change.
Career opportunities for M.S. and Ph.D. graduates exist in federal and state natural resource agencies and legislative policy and budget offices; in non-governmental organizations; in offices of corporations and trade associations concerned with natural resource policy and administration; and in international development agencies, consulting firms, universities, and private research organizations.
Students working toward the M.S. degree, thesis track, shall complete a minimum of 30 units including a thesis for which as many as 6 units may be earned. Students working towards the M.S. degree, non-thesis track, shall complete a minimum of 36 units.
The Ph.D. requires a minimum of 63 units distributed as follows: 36 units in the major, 9 units from the minor, and 18 units of dissertation. For information concerning requirements for the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees see Requirements for Master's Degrees and Requirements for Doctoral Degrees (https://grad.arizona.edu/gsas/degree-requirements).
Applicants for the Master of Science or Doctor of Philosophy degree programs are required to submit 1) a well-crafted letter of intent, 2) three letters of recommendation, 3) a summary of coursework (available through the School), and 4) a resume. Additionally, applicants are strongly encouraged to communicate with prospective faculty advisors prior to applying. Applicants are expected to have completed an undergraduate major in a natural resources or closely related field with strong training in biological, physical, and social sciences comparable to that required for the bachelor's degree at The University of Arizona. Applicants lacking these prerequisites will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Natural Resources Studies: The Natural Resources Studies emphasis is intended to provide an interdisciplinary graduate education for individuals who wish to contribute to natural resource policy and management decisions made in an environment increasingly influenced not only by technical elements, but by economic, legal, political, and social factors. This option is appropriate for students continuing from undergraduate work in natural resource management and for mid-career professionals interested in broadening their expertise in natural resource policy, administration, planning, management, and ecology. Course requirements for the option in Natural Resources Studies are higher than for the other programs. Contact the graduate coordinator for additional information.
School of Natural Resources and the Environment
The School of Natural Resources and the Environment is a world leader in pursuing science that informs how environmental change impacts arid and semi-arid systems and how best to adapt to environmental challenges. We are a cohort of students, faculty, and staff who take great pride in our focus on problem-driven research, teaching, and extension encompassing all aspects of environmental stewardship. Our research answers important questions about how ecosystems respond under environmental or human pressures. We develop strategies to help mitigate the effects of these pressures, helping to create and maintain healthy and sustainable ecological systems.
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
University of Arizona - Main - Tucson
GPA 3.0
Proof of English proficiency is required for any international applicant born in a country where English is not the official language. Please click the link below for more information.
https://grad.arizona.edu/admissions/requirements/international-applicants#english-proficiency
THE GRE IS NO LONGER REQUIRED FOR ADMISSION
3 letters of recommendation
Letter of intent
Summary of course work
(http://snre.arizona.edu/academics/prospective-students/graduate-degrees under "How to Apply")
Proof of English proficiency is required for any international applicant born in a country where English is not the official language. Please click the link below for more information.
https://grad.arizona.edu/admissions/requirements/international-applicants#english-proficiency
Research Assistantships
Some Teaching Assistantships
Some Tuition scholarships
Some graduate fellowships (for incoming students only)
Domestic Applicants:
International Applicants:
International applicants may be considered for conditional admission to this program at the department's discretion.
4832
ETS Major Field Code(s) for this program: 0106 (Fisheries), 0108 (Forestry), 0111 (Range), 0113 (RNR) and 0115 (Wildlife)
36
Minumum credits: 36 for MS, 63 for PhD
Coursework: 30 for MS, 45 for PhD
Language requirements: NA
Entrance and Degree Requirements
Required: 2 semesters of RNR 696A Department Seminar (1 unit)
Students are encouraged to design a plan of study that is appropriate for their interests. Each student identifies 2 concentration areas with ≥ 9 units in each area or 3 concentration area, with ≥ 6 units in each area. One course in applied statistics or research methods is required.
These courses can be taken at the graduate level to fulfill coursework deficiencies:
RNR 548 Ecosystem Ecology (3 units)
RAM 556A Rangeland Inventory and Monitoring (4 units)
RNR 585 Economics and Social Connections to Natural Resources (3 units)
Additional coursework can include but is not limited to the following:
AIS 531A Traditional Ecological Knowledge (3 units)
ANTH 601 Conservation & Community (3 units)
AREC 575 Economics of Water and Environmental Markets and Incentive-based Policies (3 units)
BIOS 576A Biostatistics for Public Health (3 units)
GC 597A Local and regional consequences of global change and the application of research to decision making (3 units)
GC 695G Global Change Toolkit (1 unit)
GEOG 516A Computer Cartography (3 units)
GEOG 530 The Climate System (3 units)
GEOG 596M Science and Decision Making (3 units)
GEOS 578 Global Change (3 units)
LAS 550 Qualitative Research Methods (3 units)
LAW 603J Sustainability and Environmental Policy (2 - 3 units)
LAW 641 Water Law (3 units)
LAW 696I International Environmental Law (3 units)
PA 582 Managing to Collaborate on Environmental and Natural Resources Conflicts (3 units)
REM 590 Remote Sensing for the Study of Planet Earth (3 units)
RNR 517 Geographic Information Systems for Natural and Social Sciences (3 units)
RNR 519 Cartographic Modeling for Natural Resources (3 units)
RNR 520 Advanced Geographic Information Systems (3 units)
RNR 522 Resource Mapping Using Unmanned Aircraft Systems (3 units)
RNR 540 Climate Change Adaptation (3 units)
RNR 548 Conserv Plan & Wildlife Recre (3 units)
RNR 583 Geographic Applications of Remote Sensing (3 units)
RNR 596G National Climate Assessment (3 units)
RNR 599 Independent Study (1 to 3 units)
TTE 530 Environmental Learning (3 units)
Minimum GPA in all coursework must be ≥ 3.0
Qualifying Meeting: During your first semester you and your advisor will need to coordinate a meeting with the chair of the departmental option, another faculty member in SNRE, your advisor, and yourself. The purpose of this qualifying meeting is to orient you to the program, go over degree requirements, and provide initial guidance regarding your first few semesters. During the meeting, the attendees will review your background, research interests, and course needs. You will outline a preliminary master’s plan of study with the courses listed semester by semester, however, your final Plan of Study will be determined by your MS committee.
Annual reports are required and due by April 15th each year.
Students in the Natural Resource Studies option must also file a School-generated plan of study form (available online http://snre.arizona.edu/sites/snre.arizona.edu/files/NRS_POS.pdf and in D2L) which must be approved prior to submitting the GradPath POS form. The form indicates how courses in the major must be structured to highlight interdisciplinary study that is the hallmark of this option. The School form is to be approved by the Program Chair prior to submitting the GradPath form.
Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for students who are pursuing this program of study.