University of Nebraska - Lincoln
AC-4: Graduate Program

The School of Natural Resources offers graduate programs leading to a Master of Science or Doctor of Philosophy in Natural Resource Sciences. The broad diversity of climate, habitat, hydrology, soils, and near surface and subsurface geology across Nebraska provides a multitude of opportunities for field study in each of these areas. Our excellent faculty conduct research throughout Nebraska, across the United States, and around the world.

Excellent laboratory, computer, and field facilities are available for performing up-to-date analyses in all resource areas, as well as water chemistry, GIS, geophysics, computer modeling, remote sensing, and geospatial image analysis. State, federal, and private natural resource organizations provide unique opportunities for cooperative research and degree-related work.

The Departments of Civil Engineering, Biological Systems Engineering, and Chemical Engineering jointly administer an interdisciplinary program leading to a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering. The program is closely coupled to other areas, particularly in the water environment and natural resources areas. Faculty members in the three departments offer a balance of expertise covering major areas of Environmental Engineering. The fields in which students may focus their studies include: water supply, wastewater treatment, hazardous waste management, non-point source pollution control, and agricultural waste management.

Graduate study may be directed toward agricultural power and machinery systems, animal waste management, animal well-being, biomedical engineering, bioprocessing, computer applications, control systems, decision support systems, environmental engineering, food process engineering, geographic information systems, global positioning systems, ground and surface water management, irrigation system design, materials handling and processing systems, monitoring and controlling biological systems, plant environment, risk assessment, soil and water conservation, solid and hazardous waste management, water quality, and other areas of engineering science and design. Offering specializations in Environmental Studies and Water Resources Planning and Management.

Go to this page and scroll down for complete list of all sustainability-focused graduate programs:

https://www.unl.edu/gradstudies/academics/programs?interest_area=439&field_location_tid=All&field_department_tid=All&term_node_tid_depth=284&combine=

The College of Architecture offers a specialization of Environmental Studies for its Community and Regional Planning minor, that is developed on an individual basis between the student and faculty, choosing courses that have a sustainability focus, such as CRPL 871 Environmental Impact Assessment. A Community and Regional Planning minor is a great way for students to connect their desire to make a positive impact on the environment, society, and communities through sustainable practices and planning efforts.

The Grassland Management graduate certificate is a 12 credit hour program designed for current and future grassland professionals--managers, advisers and conservationists--and others who want to increase their knowledge about the conservation, utilization and sustainability of managed grassland systems.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Kansas State University, Iowa State University, and the University of Missouri (Columbia) have been collaborating on grasslands management distance education courses as part of the multi-institutional USDA-funded Higher Education Challenge grant. The overarching project goal of the grant is to establish a multi-state agricultural consortium to develop and deliver high-priority collaborative distance education program in the food and agricultural sciences.

There is a history of excellence in grassland research and education at the institutions collaborating on the Grasslands Management Graduate Certificate Program. The graduate certificate is designed to provide students a knowledge base in pasture and range management; vegetation analysis, root growth, and utilization; grassland and wetlands ecology; watershed management; fire ecology; grassland plants, insects and diseases; and basic research and educational programs in grasslands.

Another program in the College of Agricultural Sciences that deals with sustainability is Environmental Studies. The environmental studies program uses a holistic approach and a framework of sustainability. This framework recognizes the necessity of meeting current resource needs without compromising the environment or the ability of future generations to meet their needs.