
The School of Natural Resources combines interdisciplinary approaches and disciplinary excellence to foster an integrated, systems approach to address complex natural resource, environmental, and human issues. We provide quality academic experiences for students to develop innovative approaches toward fundamental research in natural resource systems. Further, we promote a comprehensive conservation ethic for the effective and appropriate management of natural resources.
Optional Specializations
Many students focus their studies in one of our numerous specializations. These specializations are optional, well-defined areas of study that have been approved by the Graduate Council and appear on transcripts alongside degrees and majors. Each specialization has an unique set of requirements that must be met for a program to be considered completed.
Advising Faculty
Choosing an advisor whose interests match your research goals is critical for the success of your work. SNR emphasizes the cooperative exchange between students and advisors in research programs while still giving advisors the overall responsibility for the direction and course of the student's research.
Locate faculty who can advise:
Requirements
Master of Science in Natural Resource Sciences
Credit Hours:
- 30 total graduate credit hours
- 15 in major credit hours (including thesis)
- 20-24 total course work
- 6-10 hours of thesis work (a maximum of 10 hours can be listed on the Memorandum of Courses)
- 8 hours of Grad-only courses (without 400 or lower counterpart)
- Optional minor
- Once admitted to Candidacy by filing a Memorandum of Courses, you may not change options
Oral Presentations:
Graduate students are required to present two seminars:
- A research prospectus seminar (presented either late in your first semester or early in your second semester of residency)
- A final results seminar (before your final oral exam)
Seminars:
The School holds regular departmental and special seminars to which all graduate students are expected to attend. These seminars are presented by students and faculty in the School, by faculty in other departments, and by visiting scholars from other universities or agencies.
Scholastic Grade Requirements:
Scholastic Grade Requirements are set by UNL Graduate Studies and are described here.
Examinations:
Comprehensive Examination
- Optional
- Covers the student's approved program of study
- Taken approximately 10 months before graduation, typically during the semester prior to graduation
- Administered by the advisor, as directed by the student's committee
Final oral examination (Final Defense) of the Thesis
- Conducted in the semester of graduation
- Consists of two parts, generally held on the same day:
- a seminar on the thesis topic (described above)
- a formal oral examination
- Thesis examinations are open to all Graduate Faculty; active participation in the examination process (other than at the seminar) is at the discretion of the advisor and the student's advisory committee.
Doctorate of Philosophy in Natural Resource Sciences
PhD candidates in Natural Resource Sciences must:
- Complete 90 semester hours of graduate credit (including a dissertation); previous credit earned during the completion of a master’s degree may be counted towards this total if approved by your graduate advisor. Scholastic Grade Requirements are set by UNL Graduate Studies and are described here.
- At least half of the graduate work (45 hours), including the dissertation, will be completed in the student's major.
- Write a dissertation
- Pass written and oral comprehensive exams
- Demonstrate proficiency in one research tool
- Present two formal seminar presentations – one generally covering the topic of your research prospectus, the other discussing your final research results.
Completing a program for the PhD degree normally requires a minimum of three full years of graduate study. The time limit for finishing the PhD degree is eight years from the time of filing your program of studies in the graduate studies office.
For more information about UNL’s PhD requirements, please see the University’s bulletin.
Minor Option in Natural Resource Sciences
A minor in Natural Resource Sciences consists of at least 9 graduate credit hours for the Master of Science program and 15 hours for the Doctorate of Philosophy program.
Careers
Graduates can find work at a wide range of positions in both the public and private sectors that are engaged in natural resource management. Alumni of the program have secured positions in a wide array of government agencies as well as non-government organizations and private businesses that range in scope and location from local to international scales.
Come join us. Follow your passion, and change the world!
How to Apply
Follow the steps at our "How to Apply" webpage.
Selected Dissertations and Theses
You Go Over, I Go Under: A Study of the Coyote-Badger Relationship and their Prairie Home - Emma Balunek
- Oral Presentation
- 05/01/2025
Maggot Mass Effect on the Development and Survival of Forensic Blow Flies. - Akomavo Fabrice Gbenonsi
- Thesis Defense
- 04/24/2025
Spectral Signatures of Whitetail Ear Tissue: Investigating the Effects of Age and Sex in the absences of CWD Positives - Nate Martin
- Oral Presentation
- 04/22/2025
Public Participation in Drought Risk Management - Andrew Mwape
- Dissertation Defense
- 04/17/2025
Influence of Biotic and Abiotic Factors on Decomposition and the Determination of Time Since Death: Application of Forensic Entomology and Taphonomy - John Obafunwa
- Dissertation Defense
- 01/08/2025
Assessing Spatial and Temporal Variation in Photoprotective Responses of Deciduous and Evergreen Tree Canopies with Leaf Spectroscopy. - Alec Piper
- Thesis Defense
- 12/04/2024
Perspectives Through the Lens of Educators and Students: Teaching Flood Mitigation and Other Controversial Food, Energy, Water Nexus Issues in the Classroom - Sumaiya (Oshin) Tabassum
- Dissertation Defense
- 11/20/2024
Remotely Sensed Early Warning of Algal Blooms in an Eastern Nebraska Reservoir: A Comparison of Temporal and Spatial Indicators - Mercy Kipenda
- Thesis Defense
- 07/24/2024
Applying Circuit Theory to Describe Changes in Structural Landscape Connectivity in Response to Wildfire - Christian Nielsen
- Thesis Defense
- 06/28/2024
Further developing Drought Early Warning Information Systems using mixed-methods and multiple streams of data - Caily Schwartz
- Dissertation Defense
- 05/08/2024
Demographic consequences of off-river nesting for piping plovers (Charadrius melodus) and interior least terns (Sternula antillarum athalassos) in the Lower Platte River system, Nebraska - Elsa Forsberg
- Thesis Defense
- 04/19/2024
Piping plovers (Charadrius melodus; hereafter plovers) and interior least terns (Sternula antillarum athalassos; hereafter terns) are two avian species that nest along the Lower Platte River system (LPRS) in Nebraska. Natural nesting habitat for both species consists of sparsely vegetated expanses of sand near water. In the LPRS, river sandbars provide natural nesting habitat for plovers and terns. Sandbar habitat has been reduced from historical availability due to anthropogenic modifications and annually variable depending on hydrological fluctuations. Plovers and terns in the LPRS also nest at off-river sites, such as sand and gravel mines and their derivatives, transition sites and lakeshore housing developments. Off-river sites provide most of nesting habitat in the LPRS when sandbar habitat is scarce and are presumed to be important for the persistence of plovers and terns in the LPRS. However, the quantity of plover and tern nesting habitat provided by off-river sites is not self-sustaining and predicted to decline due to changing sand and gravel mining industry practices. Understanding the vital rates of plovers and terns in the LPRS will inform the role that off-river sites hold in the future conservation and long-term persistence of both species. To contribute to this understanding, I assessed consequences of off-river nesting between sandbars and off-river sites and among off-river site types using a long-term monitoring database collected by the Tern and Plover Conservation Partnership from 2008-2023. I also investigated additional factors that could affect vital rates such as the timing of nest initiation and hatching, extreme temperatures, conspecific and heterospecific nesting proximity, and nest exclosure usage (plovers only). For plovers, I evaluated annual and intra-seasonal adult survival, annual hatch-year survival, pre-fledging chick survival, and pre-fledging chick growth rates at off-river sites, and nest survival at off-river sites and sandbars. For terns, I evaluated pre-fledging chick growth rates and nest survival at off-river sites and sandbars. I did not find evidence for a difference between off-river sites and sandbars in nest survival for either species or for tern chick growth. Among off-river sites, plover chick growth was greatest at housing sites and tern chick growth was greatest at mine sites. There was no evidence that hatch date affected growth of plover chicks, but later hatched tern chicks had greater growth. Nest survival for plovers did not differ among off-river sites but was greatest at housing sites for terns. For both species, nest survival increased with increasing proximity to tern nests, greater proportion of incubation days with ambient temperatures above mean high temperatures, increasing nest age, and decreasing nest initiation date. Exclosed plover nests had higher survival. There was no evidence to show a difference in survival for adult plovers with exclosed nests. Plover adult, hatch-year, and chick survival was comparable to estimates of other populations. These results demonstrate the dynamics of plovers and terns in the LPRS and the importance of off-river habitat for the persistence of plovers and terns in the LPRS. Specifically, the lack of evidence for a demographic consequence of off-river nesting to nest survival or tern chick growth suggests that off-river habitat may support plovers and terns similarly to river sandbars. Furthermore, prioritization of early season nests may be most efficient for conservation and management resources, however tern chicks may benefit from investment later in the breeding season. As nesting near terns may improve plover nest success, measures to protect terns may also benefit plovers. Additionally, continued use of nest exclosures may improve nest success for plovers with limited effects to adult survival. Continued monitoring and study of plovers and terns at off-river sites and sandbars, particularly in the face of changing climatic and industry conditions, will further support the persistence of these species in the LPRS.
Redox-driven transformation of inorganic nitrogen species in the vadose zone: insights from column experiments. - Yvon Ukwishaka
- Thesis Defense
- 12/05/2023
Connecting the Nebraska Water Quality Index to the Aquatic Microbial Community of the North Platte River Basin, Nebraska - Paula Guastello
- Thesis Defense
- 11/29/2023
Assessing the Morphological and Physicological Traits of Smooth Brome Pastures under Long Term Grazing and Nutrient Enrichment in Eastern Nebraska - Hassan Shehab
- Thesis Defense
- 11/20/2023
Fishers' Satisfaction in the Presence of Invasive Species. - Caroline LaPlante
- Thesis Defense
- 11/17/2023
Understanding Recreational Activities of People with Fishing Licenses - Kyle Hansen
- Thesis Defense
- 11/15/2023
Measurement and Prediction of Stage and Discharge with Ground-Based Imager - Ken Chapman
- Dissertation Defense
- 06/08/2023
Salt Valley Greenways: Nature’s Network - Carlee Moates
- Oral Presentation
- 04/26/2023
Applications of screening in rangeland monitoring: Quantifying early warning signals of state transitions in Nebraska - Daniel Bauloye
- Thesis Defense
- 04/19/2023
Questions ?

Brooke Mott
Recruitment and Retention Coordinator - SNR Graduate Programs
- Address
-
School of Natural Resources
911 South Hardin Hall
3310 Holdredge Street
Lincoln, NE 68583-0989 US - Phone
- 402-472-5355
- bmott2@unl.edu