Curriculum & Schedule « Master of Natural Resources « Graduate Degrees & Programs « Online Degrees « Home

Master of Natural Resources - Curriculum

Course schedule

OSU is on the quarter term system. Fall term starts in late September; Winter term begins in early January; Spring classes start around April 1; Summer Session starts in late June. Registration usually begins two months prior to the start of the term. Check the Ecampus Schedule of Classes for details.  

Curriculum – 45 Total Credits Required

As an MNR student, your curriculum includes core courses, an area of emphasis, independent study, and an oral examination:

Core interdisciplinary classes (18 credits)

• Introduction to Sustainable Natural Resources (3 credits) 
• Ecology/Production (6 credits)
• Human Systems (6-9 credits)
• Methodology (3 credits)

Courses from an area of emphasis of student's choice (18 credits)

• Sustainable Natural Resources (SNR)
• Fisheries Management (FM)
• Water Conflict Management (WCM)
• Geographic Information Science (GIScience)

MNR Capstone Project (9 credits)

Core Courses (18 credits from three thematic areas)

THEME: Overview/Introduction (3 credits)

• MNR 511- Introduction to Sustainable Natural Resources (3)

THEME: Ecology/Production (select 6 credits)

• CSS 420/520- Seed Science and Technology (3)
• CSS 599- Special Topics in Crop Science and Social Science (1-3)
• FS 548- Biology of Invasive Plants (3)
• FW 527- Principles of Wildlife Diseases (4)
• FW 535- Wildlife in Agricultural Ecosystems (3)
• FW/HIST 570- Ecology & History:  Landscapes of the Columbia Basin (3)
• FW 579- Wetlands & Riparian Ecology (3)
• FW 581- Wildlife Ecology (4)
• NE 440/540- Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Management (4)
• SNR 530- Ecological Principles of Sustainable Natural Resources (3)
• SNR 531- Sustainable Silviculture & Forest Certification (3)
• SNR 532- Planning Agroforestry Projects (2)
• SNR 533- Alternative (Nontimber) Forest Products (2)
• SNR 534- Reduced Impact Timber Harvest (2)
• SNR 535- Sustainable Mgmt. of Aquatic/Riparian Resources (3)
• SNR 540- Global Environmental Change (3)
• RHP 583- Radiation Biology (4)
• RPH 588- Radioecology (3)

THEME: Human Systems (select 6-9 credits from at least 3 of the 5 areas)

Economics

• AREC 534- Environmental and Resource Economics (3)
• SNR 521- Economics of Sustainable Natural Resources (3)

Policy

• AREC 432/542- Environmental Law (4)
• ES 444/544- Native American Law: Tribes, Treaties & the US (3)
• FW 620- Ecological Policy (3)
• GEO 599- Special Topics (1-3)
• PS 575- Environmental Politics and Policy (4)
• PS 577- International Environmental Politics & Policy (4)

Sociology

• ANTH 481/581- Natural Resources and Community Values (4)
• FW/FOR/SOC 585- Consensus and Natural Resources (3)
• PSY 437/537- Motivation (3)
• SOC 421/521- Social Change and Modernization (3)
• SOC 526- Social Inequality (4)
• SOC 580- Environmental Sociology (4)
• SOC 581- Society and Natural Resources (4)
• SNR 520- Social Aspects of Sustainable Natural Resources (3)

Ethics

• PHIL 540- Environmental Ethics (3)
• PHIL 543- World View and Environmental Values (3)
• PHIL 547- Research Ethics (3)
• PS 425/525- Gender and Law (4)
• SNR 522- Basic Beliefs and Ethics in Natural Resources (3)
• WS 440/540- Women and Natural Resources (3)
• WS 525- Gender and Technology (3)
• WS 550- Ecofeminism (3)

Communication

• COMM 524- Communication in Organizations:  Theories and Issues (3)
• COMM 599- Environmental Conflict Management(3)
• FOR 593- Environmental Conflict Management (4)
• GEO 518- Geosciences Communication (3)
• PS 515- Politics and the Media (4)

THEME: Methodology (select 3 credits)

• BOT 540- Field Methods in Vegetation Science (4)
• CH 590- Computer Programming for Scientists (3)
• FS 523- Natural Resources Data Analysis (4)
• GEO 444/544- Remote Sensing (4)
• GEO 565- Geographic Information Systems and Science (3)
• GEO 580- Advanced GIS Applications in the Geosciences (4)
• SOC 518- Qualitative Research Methods (4)
• STAT 511- Methods of Data Analysis (4)
• STAT 512- Methods of Data Analysis (4)

Area of Emphasis (18 credits) Provides depth. May be a Certificate. A Certificate may not be used to satisfy core requirements.

• Geographical Information Science (GIScience)
• Marine Resources Management (MRM)
• Professional Science Masters (PSM)
• Sustainable Natural Resources (SNR)
• Water Conflict Management and Transformation (WCMT)
• Fisheries Management (FM)
• Custom designed option (No certificate)

Independent Study (9 credits)

• MNR 560-  Master's Case Study (9). The Capstone Project integrates all coursework, readings, and assignments from the MNR program and helps students address natural resource problems of local or regional importance. Case study projects provide students with experience that approximates a future work environment, while also providing client organizations with solutions to complex natural resource issues and useful products.

Oral Examination 

• Successful completion of a final oral examination is required for all master's degrees (Graduate Catalog: Policies Governing Master's Degree Programs). The student will defend the course of study and Capstone Project by coordinating with his/her Graduate Advisory Committee (GAC).

• While it is generally expected that all members of graduate committees, including students, should be physically present at all required meetings, it is permissible for the student and/or committee members to participate from a remote location. Review the conditions listed on the Remote Participation Form and contact your GAC if defending from a remote location is an option you are considering.