The Human Dimensions Graduate Specialization
Theory and Real World Applications
The Human Dimensions program builds a strong scientific base for understanding and affecting people’s thought and behavior toward natural and managed environments, with the goal of improving stewardship of ecosystems and natural resources. Environmental managers and researchers increasingly need to understand the human element – human behaviors, attitudes and needs – and incorporate these into natural resources planning. They also may be called on to facilitate collaboration between groups, help resolve conflicts, create policies, serve as educators and advocate for environmental issues. This specialization offers both natural resources and social science courses to provide a well-rounded curriculum focused on human-environment interactions.
Participating faculty in other units, such as Agricultural Economics, Anthropology and Geography, Community and Regional Planning, Psychology, and Law, offer a range of natural resource and social science study, allowing students to design individualized programs.
View a brief list of Human Dimensions projects involving faculty and graduate students.
State of the Art Facilitites and Resources Plus Valuable Research and Work Oppotunities
The School of Natural Resources is housed in the newly renovated Hardin Hall on UNL’s beautiful East Campus. The new building has excellent laboratory, office, and classroom facilities to support research, teaching and outreach regarding the human dimensions of natural resources. The University of Nebraska is also home to several centers that provide students opportunities to gain practical experience in a variety of climate, water and other natural resource subjects:
- National Drought Mitigation Center
- High Plains Regional Climate Center
- Great Plains Regional Center for Global Environmental Change
- Center for Advanced Land Management Information Technologies
- Water Center
- Public Policy Center
Faculty Point-of-Contact
If you are interested in the Human Dimensions graduate specialization, please feel free to contact the following SNR faculty member:
| Advising Faculty | Specialty Area |
| James R. Brandle | Agroforestry/Shelterbelt Ecology |
| Mark E. Burbach | Leadership Development/Management in Governmental Organizations |
| Kenneth F. Dewey | Climate Variations |
| Michael J. Hayes | Drought Mitigation/Impacts |
| Qi (Steve) Hu | Regional/Global Climate Variations |
| J. Michael Jess | Water Policy and Hydrology |
| Cody Knutson | Local Drought Planning/Mitigation/Social Science |
| Karl J. Reinhard | Environmental Anthropology |
| Drew J. Tyre | Statistical Ecology/Population Dynamics/Simulation Modeling |
| Brian D. Wardlow | Remote Sensing and GIS / Drought Monitoring / Decision Support Systems |
| Donald A. Wilhite | Drought Planning/Policy/Mitigation |
| Collaborating Faculty | Specialty Area | Department |
| J. David Aiken | Water Law/Environmental Law | Agricultural Economics |
| Gary D. Lynne | Ecological/Economics/Behavior/ Conservation/ Climate/Water |
Agricultural Economics |
| Gordon Scholz | Parks and Recreation Planning/Tourism/ Planning Ethics |
Community and Regional Planning |
| Raymond J. Supalla | Irrigation Management/Water Quality/ Water Policy/Sustainable Agriculture |
Agricultural Economics |
| Alan J. Tomkins | Mental Health Policy/Community Health/ Stakeholder Input |
Law/Psychology |
| Sandra B. Zelmer | Natural Resources/Water Conservation/ Environmental Law |
College of Law |
Areas of Study
- Agroecology
- Climate Variability & Change
- Community and Regional Planning
- Drought Planning and Management
- Environmental and Ecological Economics
- Environmental Leadership
- Environmental and Natural Resources Policy
- Forest Ecology
- Fisheries and Wildlife
- Natural Resources and Environmental Law
- Recreation and Park Planning
Admission Requirements
There are no specific requirements beyond those necessary for admission into the School of Natural Resources graduate program. Once admitted, students are eligible for competitive graduate research and teaching assistantships. Fellowships can help offset the cost of out-of-state tuition. Several UNL centers offer employment opportunities for graduate students.
All potential SNR M.S. graduate students must meet the following minimum requirements or provide the requested information:
- A bachelor’s degree with a background that includes at least one course in each of the following disciplines with a minimum of eight courses total:
- Mathematics (must include one semester of Calculus)
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Life Sciences (Agronomy, Biology, Ecology, Forestry, Wetlands, etc.)
- Earth Sciences (Geology, Meteorology, Oceanography, Soils, etc.)
- GRE scores of 500 verbal, 620 quantitative, and 4.0 analytical writing
- TOEFL score of 600 paper-, 300 computer- or 79 web-based (applies only to international applicants for whom English is not the first language)
- GPA of 3.0 (on a 4-point system)
- Three letters of recommendation
- Statement of purpose
Program Requirements
Document with complete program requirements (pdf)
Career Opportunities
A greater emphasis on interdisciplinary and integrated research and the importance of understanding human behavior in the conservation, management and restoration of natural resources, ecosystems and the environment is leading to increased opportunities in business, government and non-governmental organizations at all levels.
Printable Version (pdf)
