Natural Resources Policy and Management

Overview

Programs in natural resources policy and management teach people how to plan, create, direct, monitor, and evaluate programs to protect resources.

Natural resources policy and management programs include topics such as:

Wildlife and conservation biology
Environmental science
Animal population surveys
Administrative and communication skills
Natural resources economics
Public relations
Economics
Urban planning
Environmental impact assessments
Applicable land use laws and policy
Research methodology and statistics

Concentrations

In natural resources policy and management programs, students may be able to specialize in:

Land use planning and management/development
Natural resources economics

Internships

Internships allow students to develop skills at companies or organizations. Some natural resources policy and management programs require students to complete an internship.

Schools

Community colleges and other two-year schools offer associate degree programs in natural resources policy and management. An associate degree usually takes two years to complete. After earning an associate degree students can transfer to a college or university for further study.

Many colleges and universities offer bachelor's degrees in natural resources policy and management. A bachelor's degree usually takes about four years of full-time study. Several programs are part of larger urban planning, public administration, or environmental studies departments.

Many universities offer graduate degrees in natural resources policy and management. A master's degree typically requires two years of study beyond a bachelor's degree. Doctoral (PhD) degree programs usually require two or more years of study beyond the master's degree.

See schools that offer this program.

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Program Admission

You can prepare for this program by taking courses in high school that prepare you for college. This typically includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and two years of science. Some colleges also require two years of a second language.

Below is a list of high school courses that will help prepare you for this program of study:

Agriculture Science
Algebra
Biology
Chemistry
Earth Science
Environmental Science
General Computer Applications
Geometry
Natural Resources Management
Physical Science
Trigonometry
Wildlife Management

Graduate Admissions

Admission to graduate programs is competitive. You need a bachelor's degree, good grades, and good test scores.

Additional requirements at some schools include:

Academic writing sample
Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General
Graduate Record Exam (GRE) Biology, Chemistry (less common)
Letters of recommendation
Personal statement
Undergraduate degree or significant course work in urban planning or environmental studies

Typical Course Work

Program Courses

This program typically includes courses in the following subjects:

Atmospheric Physics
Biology
Botany
Business Management
Ecology
Economics
Endangered Species
Environmental Law
Fisheries Science
Forest Science
Land Use Laws
Microbiology
Oceanography
Political Science
Principles of Land Use Planning
Recreation Management
Reforestation
Resource Management and Conservation
Safety Practices
Species Management
Technical Writing
Transportation and Land Use Planning
Water Resources
Watershed Hydrology
Wildlife Science

Graduate Program Courses

Graduate study in natural resource policy and management typically includes:

Required courses
Thesis (master's degree)
Preliminary exams (doctoral degree only)
Dissertation and dissertation defense (doctoral degree)

Things to Know

Many programs encourage you to volunteer with local parks, nature organizations, and government environmental and planning agencies. Internships are available with government agencies and private corporations.

People with degrees in natural resources policy and management have many employment options. You can work for government agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency. You can also work for local, state, and national parks. You can be a planner for local and state governments.

A background in natural resources policy and management is considered good preparation for graduate study in ecology, environmental policy, public administration, and law.