University of Minnesota, Duluth
AC-4: Graduate Program

The purpose of this program is to develop advanced practitioners in EE who will take on leadership roles through positions such as EE specialists and directors at nature centers, outdoor and EE centers, natural resource agencies, conservation groups, park and recreation programs, and in P-16 school settings. Core requirements include teaching methodology in formal and non-formal settings; program development, management, and evaluation; theory; and research. Elective courses are used for supporting the final project and/or specific areas of interest. Final project options for this Plan B Master's Degree include a research-based project or journal article, field project, or curriculum project. The degree is intended to be completed in two years, and a minimum of 34 credits is required. Coursework is offered primarily on-campus (in person); some electives are available on-line. Summer coursework is limited, and most students spend summers away from campus gaining relevant experience.

The Water Resources Science (WRS) graduate program is an interdisciplinary and multi-institutional program offered on the Twin Cities and Duluth campuses. The WRS program is committed to the education goals of producing scientists with strong technical skills, developing a holistic understanding of the hydrologic cycle and associated ecosystems, and generating an understanding of the interplay between the bio-physical sciences and the social sciences in developing and implementing public policies related to water. The program draws on numerous water-related courses from departments on the Twin Cities and Duluth campuses, and is administered by the University of Minnesota’s Water Resources Center. The Water Resources Center is affiliated with the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences and University of Minnesota Extension.

The Master of Tribal Resource and Environmental Stewardship (MTRES) is an applied graduate degree designed in consultation with regional tribes to create future leaders and stewards of tribal natural resources. There is no other graduate-level degree program like this in the country. This degree program takes an integrated approach to protection of natural resources through the lens of Indigenous environmental stewardship.

Civil Engineering (MS): https://academics.d.umn.edu/civil-engineering-ms

Earth Science (MS): https://academics.d.umn.edu/earth-sciences-ms

Environmental Health and Safety (MEHS): https://academics.d.umn.edu/environmental-health-and-safety-menvhlthsa

Integrated Biosciences (MS, Ph.D): https://academics.d.umn.edu/integrated-biosciences-ms

Water Resources Science (WRS) students take a deep dive into the science behind planning, management, and designs necessary for our public policies related to water. Students will gain a holistic understanding of the hydrologic cycle and associated ecosystems as well as the interplay between biophysical sciences and social sciences. The WRS graduate minor is structured in a similar interdisciplinary manner to complement many other graduate degree programs. The program involves faculty from the following departments on the Duluth campus: American Indian Studies; Biology; Chemical Engineering; Chemistry and Biochemistry; Civil Engineering; Earth and Environmental Sciences; Geography and Philosophy; Mechanical and Industrial Engineering; Physics and Astronomy; and Political Science; as well as the Large Lakes Observatory, Natural Resources Research Institute, and Environmental Protection Agency in Duluth.

Designed to meet the professional and leadership needs of individuals interested in Tribal natural resources and environmental programs considering multiple perspectives regarding economic value and exchange of decision-making affecting the natural resources of Tribal Nations. The courses in this program provide a transdisciplinary area of study that aims to address the connections between human economies and natural ecosystems. The certificate prepares students to understand the connection between economic decisions and stewardship of natural ecosystems.

The Earth Sciences minor includes areas of economic geology, geophysics, glacial geology and geomorphology, hydrogeology,
igneous and metamorphic petrology, isotope and aqueous geochemistry, limnogeology, paleoclimatology, planetary geology,
sedimentology and stratigraphy, surface processes, forest/vadose zone hydrology, and structure-tectonics. Several of these areas are
strengthened by collaboration with the Large Lakes Observatory and the Natural Resources Research Institute.

Environmental Education Graduate Certificate: https://academics.d.umn.edu/environmental-education-graduate-certificate
Indigenous Environmental Systems and Economics Graduate Certificate: https://academics.d.umn.edu/indigenous-environmental-systems-and-economics-graduate-certificate