Graduate Program

Master of Science(M.S.) Degree | Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) Degree

The department offers advanced study in the following specialty areas: atmospheric resources, earth resource information systems, fisheries management, water resources, and wildlife management. The purpose of the M.S. program is to provide advanced study in one of these specialty areas whereas the purpose of the Ph.D. program is to educate scientists with a broad experience in natural resources and to prepare them to do independent research in one of the specialty areas. Collaborative programs for interdisciplinary research and study exist with other departments and University units, including the Institute of Water Resources, the Environmental Research Institute, the Northeast Wildlife Disease Center, the Wildlife Conservation Research Center, and the Environmental Health Institute.

Master of Science (M.S.) Degree

To be admitted to the University of Connecticut’s Natural Resources Management and Engineering program, an applicant must hold a Baccalaureate from an accredited college or university or evidence of the equivalent. Admission to degree programs is predicated upon evaluation of undergraduate academic standing and preparation, GRE scores, and a personal interview, when feasible. A cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.0 for the entire Undergraduate record, 3.0 for the last two years, or excellent work in the entire final year is expected. The applicant must submit to the Graduate Admissions Office official transcripts covering all previous work, undergraduate and graduate. Specific requirements are listed in the University’s Graduate Catalog available, along with application materials, from The Graduate School.

Students in the Natural Resources Management and Engineering Department may pursue a M.S. degree by either of two plans as determined by their advisory committee.

• Plan A emphasizes research requiring no fewer than 15 credits of advanced course work and the writing of a thesis summarizing research findings and conclusions.
• Plan B, available only in Water Resources, requires comprehensive understanding of a more general nature requiring no less than 24 credits of advanced course work and a final examination but no thesis.

Both masters’ plans include a final oral examination conducted and approved by the student’s advisory committee who work together with the student in developing a program of study.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) Degree

Programs of study vary according to the student’s previous experience and professional goals, with a committee of three to five members of the graduate faculty along with the major advisor assisting in supervising and examining the Ph.D. student. Full-time students would be expected to complete their degree work in three to five years and part-time students in five to seven years following the M.S. degree.

The Ph.D. degree requires at least 20 credits of course work, exclusive of the related or supporting area, beyond the masters degree. All Ph.D. candidates will be required to take NRME 401 - Research Methods in Natural Resources and additional course work will be approved by the candidate’s graduate committee as part of the program of study. Ordinarily, students enrolled in this program will have completed the masters degree.

Students are required to have at least six credits of advanced work in a related or supporting area or have a competent reading knowledge of at least one foreign language appropriate to the general area of study. Courses for the related or supporting area must be advanced work outside the major field of study and ordinarily outside the Department. The courses must be approved by the advisory committee as part of the plan of study.

The student must prepare a plan of study that is approved by the advisory committee. The student may not take the general examination before the plan of study has been fully approved. There will be both a written and oral examination. No fewer than five faculty members, including all members of the student’s advisory committee, shall participate in the examination.

Upon passing the general examination, completing courses on the Plan of Study (including any related or supporting area requirements), and acceptance of the Dissertation Proposal, the student becomes a candidate for the Ph.D. degree.

A dissertation representing a significant contribution to ongoing research in the candidate’s field is required. Final approval of the dissertation following the final examination shall be by all members of the advisory committee.

The final examination shall be oral and under the jurisdiction of the advisory committee. It shall deal mainly with the subject matter of the dissertation. Invitation to participate in the examination will be issued by the advisory committee, although members of the faculty may attend.