Natural Resources: Ecosystem Science (M.S.)
https://colsa.unh.edu/natural-resources-environment/program/ms/natural-resources-ecosystem-science
NATURAL RESOURCES: ECOSYSTEM SCIENCE
Students in the Ecosystem Science option typically have a strong background in environmental science, earth science, ecology, or related fields. Areas of interest include the ecology, microbiology and biogeochemistry of soils, groundwaters, and surface waters, with an emphasis on how the different components of an ecosystem interact to produce system-level responses to management, global change, and other perturbations. Understanding controls on carbon storage, nutrient transformations, water quality, soil health and greenhouse gas emissions is central to much of the research conducted by students in this option.
Degree Requirements
An M.S. degree is conferred upon successful completion of a program of not less than 30 credits for natural resources and the environment options: forestry, environmental conservation and sustainability, environmental economics, ecosystem science, and wildlife and conservation biology.
Course Requirements or Equivalents
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 904 | Qualitative Inquiry in Research (Policy oriented) | 4 |
Or | ||
| NR 903 | Approach to Research | 2 |
| And with NR 903, choose one of the following additional research methods classes for a total of 4 credits: | 2 | |
| Grant Writing | ||
| Writing and Publishing Science | ||
| Scientific Communication | ||
Or an alternative with approval from the Graduate Coordinator | ||
| NR 993 | Natural and Environmental Resources Seminar | 1-4 |
| or NR 947 | Ecosystem Science: Theory, Practice, and Management Applications for Sustainability | |
| NR 996 | Natural Resource Education (1 credit ) | 1 - 2 |
| or LSA 900 | College Teaching | |
| Select one of the following Data Analysis courses: | 3-4 | |
| Design, Analysis, and Interpretation of Experiments | ||
| Experimental Design & Analysis | ||
| Introduction to Applied Analytic Statistics | ||
| Econometrics I | ||
| Quantitative Methods in Earth Sciences | ||
| Statistical Methods for Research | ||
| Design of Experiments I | ||
| Topics in Probability and Statistics I | ||
| Analysis of Ecological Communities and Complex Data | ||
| Introduction to Statistical Analysis | ||
| Research Methodology and Statistics I | ||
| Research Methods and Statistics III | ||
| Sociological Methods I: Intermediate Social Statistics | ||
| Sociological Methods III: Advanced Social Statistics | ||
| Sociological Methods IV: Qualitative and Historical Research Methods | ||
Or an alternative with approval from the Graduate Coordinator | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
| NR 899 | Master's Thesis (and a formal presentation of the thesis) 1 | 6 |
| NR 998 | Directed Research (and directed research results) 2 | 4 |
| 1 | The thesis option will provide a research-based thesis that is the foundation for a peer-reviewed publication. |
| 2 | The directed research option shall consist of a project, designed and conducted by the student, culminating in a scholarly paper or report that is suitable for publication in the respective field of scholarship. |
An approved program of study plan is required during the first semester.