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Natural Resources Education and Extension

Natural Resources Education and Extension

The Master of Science in Forest Resources with a concentration in Natural Resource Education and Extension is intended for people who want to help bridge the information gap that exists between natural resource experts and a variety of client groups, ranging from resource managers to members of the general public. This degree program is intended primarily for people who already possess a Bachelor's degree in Natural Resources (especially land-based resources such as Forestry, Wildlife, and Range) and who wish to further develop their communication and education skills; however, others are welcome to apply if they are willing to develop a sufficient background in the technical aspects of land-based natural resource management. Further, the program is aimed primarily at those who wish to educate adults, although those primarily interested in younger audiences are encouraged to explore options with interested faculty. Graduates of this program might well find themselves working as educators in the Extension Service, as Public Affairs officers in governmental agencies or private organizations, as Education Specialists for arboreta or other natural resource education centers, or as liaisons working between policy makers and the public.

Before completing the MS in Natural Resource Education and Extension, students will be expected to understand the fundamental techniques, concepts, issues, and philosophies associated with the management of forests and other land-based natural resources. A minimum set of undergraduate courses that addresses this requirement is described below under “Minimum Educational Background.” However, additional courses may be required depending on the student's career goals. Further, students will be expected to develop knowledge and skills in two separate areas at the graduate level: 1) Land-based natural resource management and, 2) Education and communications. Course requirements are described below under Graduate Program Requirements.

The M.S. in Natural Resource Education and Extension includes two options for the final project:

Thesis: Normally takes two years to complete and includes original research into some aspect of the education or communication process as it applies to natural resources.

Non-thesis: Normally takes two years to complete and includes a final project in which the student designs, executes, and describes an educational or communication project aimed at a specific natural resource problem or issue.

Admission to the Program
A Bachelor's degree in any field is acceptable for admission to the program. However, a substantial background in Natural Resource Management is essential for graduate course work in this field (see Minimum Educational Background). Students entering the program without this background, or wishing to specialize in fields that require detailed knowledge in fundamental skill areas (e.g., Extension), may require additional time to complete the degree.

Minimum Educational Background
To be effective, a natural resource educator must understand the fundamental terms, concepts, techniques, and philosophies associated with the management of forests and other natural resources. Before completing the M.S. in Natural Resource Education and Extension, each student must develop a background equivalent to the following list (substitutions may be made on a case-by-case basis, subject to approval by the student's advisory committee). Most of these courses are undergraduate in nature and will not satisfy the Graduate Program Requirements.

Program of Study
Before completing 18 hours of graduate credit (usually before the end of the second term of residency), the student must develop a program of study and submit it to his or her major professor and advisory committee, Department Head, and Graduate School for approval. A minimum of 45 graduate credit hours (500 level or greater) is required to complete the M.S. in Natural Resource Education and Extension. Courses taken to meet the Minimum Educational Background may not be used to meet this requirement.

Graduate Program Requirements
The intent of this requirement is two-fold: 1) To ensure that graduates understand the fundamental concepts, principles, and techniques associated with the management of forests and other land-based natural resources and, 2) To ensure that graduates understand the fundamental concepts, principles, and techniques associated with design and delivery of effective educational programs. Students who select this graduate program are likely to have diverse career interests that require significantly different types of academic preparation. In addition, they may enter the program with dramatically different educational backgrounds. Therefore, each student's graduate coursework must be carefully planned with the student's major professor and advisory committee. It is entirely possible that two students with diverse career interests will complete this degree program with dramatically different sets of courses. For example, students interested in Forestry Extension might need stronger backgrounds in the fundamental technical skills of forestry than students interested in being education specialists for an urban arboretum, and students interested in public relations might need stronger backgrounds in mass media communications than students interested in community college education. With these broad goals in mind, each student must successfully complete the following graduate-level courses (or substitutes approved by the student's advisory committee), in addition to any courses taken to fulfill the Minimum Educational Background requirements:

* At least one of the credits earned in the above seminar requirement should be an oral presentation describing the student's project or thesis.

** Courses numbered 500 or greater. At least 6 credits must come from within the College of Forestry. More than 6 credits may be required of students not possessing an undergraduate degree in forestry.

Education and Communication Requirement
Students must select at least 18 credit hours from the following list of courses. Substitutions may be made, but must be approved in advance by the student's major professor.

Program Design, Development, and Delivery

Analytical Techniques

Learning Theory/Communication Theory

Electives (minimum of 7 credits required)
Students are required to take a minimum of 45 credit hours for the M.S. in Natural Resource Education and Extension. In addition, they are encouraged to take elective courses that will better prepare them to meet their career and educational objectives. Although no two programs will be the same, this will leave approximately 7 credits to use as electives. The variety of educational programs conducted by the College of Forestry (e.g., Forestry Extension, Continuing Education, the Forestry Media Center, and the Oregon Forestry Education Program) create the opportunity for valuable real-world internships directly related to students in this program.

Total Credits
Total credits in the program (depending upon student's background and course selection):

Project Paper for Non-Thesis Option
Each student electing the Non-Thesis option will design an educational or communications project that addresses the needs of a specific audience in the natural resource arena. The topic must be approved by the student's advisory committee and be of sufficient quality and depth to earn a grade of "B" or better for 6-9 credits of FOR 501 (Research).

Time Limit
All course work, the thesis or project, and all examinations must be completed within a seven-year period. This requirement is strictly enforced.

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