|
Natural Resources Policy and Law
The Master of Science in Forest Resources with concentration in Natural Resource Policy & Law is intended for students with interests in the broad policy arena surrounding natural resource management, utilization, and protection. Emphasis is placed on advanced-level work in policy formulation, policy analysis, conflict resolution, and law. Students entering this program should have a Bachelor’s degree with undergraduate coursework in disciplines pertinent to natural resource management such as ecology, economics, sociology, environmental sciences, communications, and statistics. Prior work experience in the fields of natural resources or public administration is also desirable.
The goal of this degree program is to prepare students for professional careers in the broad field of natural resource policy and management. Students completing this program should have a solid foundation of concepts and principles governing natural resource systems and the role that humans play in administering them. Graduates should be able to critically analyze information, integrate and synthesize policy options and implications, and collaborate and communicate effectively.
The program is non-thesis, but requires an internship (or equivalent experience) and project paper involving some aspect of natural resource policy and law. In addition, a set of prescribed courses, options, and electives must be completed. The program, totaling 45 graduate credits, is achievable in one year, provided a full course load is taken during the academic year and the internship and project paper are completed concurrently during the following summer.
Program Requirements
All students must complete at least four courses at the graduate level in the College of Forestry.
Analytical Methods
One of the following course sequences in Statistical Analysis, Qualitative Analysis or Spatial Analysis must be completed: |
|
|
|
|
Statistical Analysis (select one course from this list): |
|
|
ST 511, 512 |
Methods of Data Analysis |
4,4 |
or |
ST 551, 552 |
Statistical Methods |
4,4 |
|
|
Qualitative Analysis: |
|
|
SOC 516 |
Conducting Social Research |
3 |
and |
SOC 518 |
Qualitative Sociology |
3 |
or |
SOC 519 |
Applied Research Methods |
3 |
|
|
Spatial Analysis: |
|
|
GEO 544 |
Remote Sensing |
3 |
and |
GEO 565 |
Geographic Information Systems and Science |
3 |
or |
GEO 569 |
Topics in Geographic Techniques |
3 |
or |
FOR 520 |
Advanced Aerial Photos & Remote Sensing |
3 |
or |
FOR 521 |
Advanced GIS Applications in Forestry |
3 |
|
|
|
|
Law
The following course or its equivalent must be completed: |
|
FOR 562 |
Natural Resource Policy and Law |
3 |
|
|
One of the following courses or their equivalent must be completed: |
|
|
AREC 532 |
Environmental Law |
4 |
|
AREC 553 |
Public Land & Resource Law |
4 |
|
FOR 563 |
Environmental Policy & Law Interactions |
3 |
|
SOC 548 |
Law & Society |
3 |
Other graduate courses pertinent to this category may be substituted as approved by the student’s graduate committee. |
|
Policy
The following course or its equivalent must be completed: |
|
FOR 561 |
Forest Policy Analysis |
3 |
|
|
Two of the following courses or their equivalent must be completed: |
|
|
ANTH 581 |
Natural Resources and Community Values |
3 |
|
ECON 539 |
Public Policy Analysis |
4 |
|
PHL 540 |
Environmental Ethics |
3 |
|
PS 574 |
Bureaucratic Politics |
4 |
|
PS 575 |
Environmental Politics and Policy |
4 |
|
PS 576 |
Science and Politics |
4 |
Other courses pertinent to this category may be substituted as approved by the student’s graduate committee. Examples include seminars and “Special Topics” courses such as FW 699 – Ecological Policy. |
|
|
|
|
Conflict Management Mediation
One of the following courses or their equivalent must be completed: |
|
ANS/FW/HORT/
PS/SOC 585 |
Consensus and Natural Resources |
3 |
|
COMM 512 |
Topics in Speech Communication |
3 |
|
COMM 540 |
Theories of Conflict and Conflict Management |
3 |
|
COMM 542 |
Bargaining and Negotiation Processes |
3 |
|
COMM 544 |
Third Parties in Dispute Resolution/Mediation |
3 |
Other courses pertinent to this category may be substituted as approved by the student’s graduate committee. |
|
|
|
|
Seminar
The seminar listed below (FOR 507) should be one in which the student gives an oral presentation describing their project paper. |
|
FOR 507 |
Project presentation or equivalent |
1 |
|
|
|
|
Internship
Each student will complete a 2-3 month internship in a real-world setting in which natural resource law or policy issues are involved. This requirement may be waived at the discretion of the student’s advisory committee if the student already has substantial experience in this area, thereby allowing more electives to be taken. |
|
FOR 510 |
(TBA) Internship |
0-9 |
|
|
|
|
Project Paper
Each student will prepare a paper on a topic concerning an issue involving natural resource policy, planning, or law. The topic must be approved by the advisory committee and the paper must be of sufficient quality and depth to earn, by unanimous agreement of the committee, a grade of “B” or better. |
|
FOR 506 |
Projects |
5 |
|
|
|
|
Electives
Sufficient elective credits (1-15), selected from courses listed above or others approved by the student’s advisory committee, must be completed to bring the total graduate credits for the program to a minimum of 45 hours. |
|
|
|
|
Time Limit
Coursework and project must be completed within a seven-year period. This requirement is strictly enforced. |
|
back to the top
back to advising guide table of contents
|
Natural Resources Policy and Law