Graduate Degree Program Summary
Graduate programs offered
Earn a Graduate Degree
- MS in Natural Resource Sciences (30-36 cr, Option I only) with optional specialization:
- PhD in Natural Resource Sciences (90 cr) with optional specialization:
- Minor in College STEM Education with any graduate degree program, subject to approval (apply to degree program, add minor after enrolling)
Online and Distance Opportunities
Some online coursework may be available for your program; contact dept. for details.Contacts for Natural Resource Sciences
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Natural Resource Sciences
Graduate Chair
Dr. Mark Pegg
Graduate Admissions Coordinator
Ms. Patty Swanson
Campus Address
102 Hardin Hall
3310 Holdrege Street
Lincoln NE 68583-0921
Application checklist and deadlines
1. Required by Graduate Studies
Submit these items as part of the standard steps to admission.
- Application for Admission with $50 non-refundable application fee
- One set of transcripts uploaded to MyRED
- If English is not your native language: verification of English proficiency
- If you are not a US citizen and you expect an F or J visa: financial information
2. Required by Natural Resource Sciences
After you apply, allow one business day for us to set up your access so you can complete these requirements via MyRED.
- Entrance exam(s): GRE. See also: department score requirements.
- Minimum English proficiency: Paper TOEFL 600, Internet TOEFL 79, IELTS 6.5
- Three recommendation letters
- Statement of purpose
- CV or Resume
- Letter of Support from your potential advisor
When sending GRE or TOEFL scores, our institution code is 6877 and a department code is not needed.
Application Deadlines for Natural Resource Sciences
- Rolling admissions; Applications are reviewed the first Friday in January.
Application/admission is for entry in a specific term and year. Our academic year is divided into 3 terms: Fall (August-December), Spring (January-May), and Summer (multiple sessions May-August). Some programs accept new students only in certain terms and/or years.
Description
The School of Natural Resources offers graduate programs leading to a Master of Science or Doctor of Philosophy in natural resource sciences. The broad diversity of climate, habitat, hydrology, soils, and near-surface and subsurface geology across Nebraska provides a multitude of opportunities for field studies in each of these areas. Faculty also conduct research in other states and countries.
Excellent laboratory, computer, and field facilities are available for performing up-to-date analyses in all resource areas, as well as water chemistry, GIS, geophysics, computer modeling, remote sensing, and geospatial image analysis. State, federal, and private natural resource organizations provide unique opportunities for cooperative research and degree-related work.
Additional areas of study include: agroecosystems; carbon sequestration; conservation biology; cycling of natural and human-made chemicals; drought mitigation; environmental biophysics; environmental microbiology; environmental soil microbiology, chemistry and physics; fisheries management and ecology; geology; geomorphology and soils; geospatial analysis; global climatic change; global positioning systems; grassland ecology and management; ground water; high plains climate; human-wildlife conflicts; hydrologic modeling; isotope hydrology; lake ecology; landscape ecology; micrometeorology; natural resources economics; natural resource planning and management; natural resources law; riparian systems; rural sustainability; severe weather; simulation modeling; soil moisture; soil restoration; stewardship; surface water systems; urban habitats; water quality and chemistry; wetlands; and woodland habitats.
Courses and More
- Students work with an advisor to choose courses, create a plan of study, and follow the Steps to Degree Completion. See courses in:
- Cost of attendance differs from one student to another. Try our Cost Estimator or see Tuition, Fees, and Funding for details.
Faculty and research
Where available, names link to bios or homepages and contact card icons () link to directory listings with address, phone, and email.
Biodiversity in Wildlife; Human Behavior toward Conservation; Wildlife Community Ecology; Natural Ecosystems; Humans and the Environment Conservation, Wildlife Conservation
Wildlife Ecology and Management; Agroecosystems; Game, Wildlife Ornithology; Birds; Conservation; Ecology; Population dynamics, Distribution; Agrotourism and Ecotourism; Natural History
Science Literacy; Systems Thinking, Student Learning about Matter and Energy; Learning Progression Research; Climate Change Education, Teaching and Curriculum Development; Biogeochemistry; Ecosystem Ecology; Nutrient Cycling
Science Literacy; Undergraduate Learning in Biology; Visualizations; Cognition; Pedagogy; Plant Ecology; Population Dynamics
Monitoring and Conservation of Nebraska's Herpetofauna; Herpetology; Wildlife Management and Conservation; Wildilfe IPM; Programing Amphibian and Reptile Awareness and Appreciation; Wildlife Damage Management; Master Naturalist; Amphibians; Reptiles; Biodiversity; Ecosystems; Endangered Species; Wetlands
Adaptive Management; Avian Migration; Avian Nesting Biology; Human Impact Biology; K-12 Natural Resource Education
Hydrogeophysics; Hydrology; Ecohydrology; Evapotranspiration; Water; Geospatial Applications
Disturbance effects on ecosystem function; Climate change impacts in northern latitude ecosystems; Remote sensing for sampling terrestrial ecosystem composition and function; Detecting plant biochemical responses with non-contact optical methods
Isotope/Tracer Hydrology; Agricultural nutrient and water fluxes; Groundwater-surface water interactions; Groundwater and surface water quantity and quality; Emerging contaminants; Instrumentation and methods development for monitoring groundwater and surface water; Isotopes; Geospatial Applications; Nutrient Cycling; Water Quality; Environmental Restoration
Geomorphology and Landforms; Climate Change; Physical Geography of Nebraska and Great Plains
Physiological Responses of Plants to Insect Injury; Tiger Beetles; Pest Management; Forensic Entomology
Physical and Human Aspects of Water Management; Drought Risk Management; Environmental Perceptions and Justice
Understanding the Influence of Subsurface Heterogeneity on Hydrologic System Function and Water Resource Sustainability
Emerging Sensor Technologies; Hydrologic and Stable Isotope Tracer Techniques; Nutrient and Pesticide Cycling, Fate, and Transport; Surface Water Hydrology Modeling; Ecosystem Restoration; Engineering Education; Environmental Impacts in Developing Countries; Groundwater Hydrology Modeling; Restoration Assessments of Ecosystem Services; Environmental Policy
Science and natural resources education; Arboriculture ; Urban Forestry Management; Growth, morphology, and phenology of urban trees; Tree-ring analysis of urban / managed trees; Volunteer engagement and citizen science
Climatology; Drought; Water management; Impacts; Drought Early Warning Information Systems; Drought Monitoring
Land Use and Cover; Drought; Biogeography; Climate-Vegetation Interactions; Remote Sensing; GIS
Unmanned aircraft systems; Groundwater; Water wells; Onsite wastewater; Adaptive Management; Environmental Engineering
This summary page is maintained by Graduate Studies.
For additional details check out the dept./program website: Natural Resource Sciences.
Departments: Have an update for this summary? Contact Kurt Mueller.