NREM Master of Science Degree Program
It is expected that the academic preparation for students admitted into the MS program in NREM will be the same, be equivalent to, or exceed the core requirements for the BS degree offered in NREM.
NREM offers three options for MS degrees.
Plan A is a thesis-driven, research degree and a student will only be accepted into this plan if a faculty sponsor has been contacted and has agreed to advise that student. Students should indicate in their application who their faculty sponsor will be. Applicants applying for Plan A should indicate if they would like to be considered for the Plan B degree if they are not admitted into the Plan A degree
Plan B is a course-driven, professional degree that also requires an integrating capstone experience.
Plan C is for students with exceptional prior work experience which requires a minimum of two semesters of full time resident study at UHM, a final written and oral comprehensive examination, and a final project.
Student applicants are required to specify in their application which option they would like to pursue within the MS program (Plan A, B, or C). Once admitted, MS students must select a specialization (Plan A) or concentration (Plan B) area with the approval of their advisor. To meet the integrative, interdisciplinary intent of the NREM program, a set of graduate level courses (the Primary MS Core) will be required of every student, regardless of his/her selected Plan option or specialization area.
Plan A MS
Plan A is a thesis-driven, research degree. In addition to the Primary MS Core, a set of electives are required for a total of 30 credits. Electives provide background in research methods and provide depth in the student’s area of specialization. The remaining credit requirements will be met with thesis credits (NREM 700) for conducting the research project.
Primary MS Core (9 credits)
- NREM 600 Evaluation of Natural Resources Management (3)
- NREM 601 Economic Analysis of Natural Resource Management (3)
- NREM 605 Research Skills (2)
- NREM 701 Research Seminar in NREM (1)
Electives (15 credits)
- Course in graduate research methods (3)
- NREM graduate courses (6)
- Other graduate courses for specialization from within or outside of NREM (6); a maximum of 6 credits of upper-division undergraduate course credits (400-level) allowed.
Thesis Option (6 credits)
- NREM 700 Thesis (6)
Plan B MS
Plan B is a course-driven professional degree that requires a total of 36 credits. Students are required to declare a concentration from one of four possible concentration areas. Courses include the Primary MS Core (9 credits), research methods (3 credits), a minimum of 9 credits from the chosen concentration area, a minimum of 3 credits from each of the other concentration areas, and a 6 credit capstone experience.
Primary MS Core (9 credits)
- NREM 600 Evaluation of Natural Resources Management (3)
- NREM 601 Economic Analysis of Natural Resource Management (3)
- NREM 605 Research Skills (2)
- NREM 701 Research Seminar in NREM (1)
Research Methods (3 credits)
- Course in graduate research methods (3)
Plan B Concentration Areas (total 18 credits)
Plan B students will select a concentration area from the 4 listed below. They are required to take a minimum of 9 credits from their concentration area and 3 credits from each of the other areas.
Geospatial Analysis & Modeling
- GEOG 470 Remote Sensing
- NREM 477 GIS for Resource Managers
- NREM 627 Applied Microeconomic Analysis
- NREM 664 Small Watershed Modeling
- NREM 677 Advanced Remote Sensing
- NREM/ECON/TPSS 429 Spreadsheet Modeling for Business and Economic Analysis
- PLAN 673 Information Systems for Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance
Natural Resources Economics and Environmental Planning
- NREM 420 Community and Natural Resource Management
- NREM 458 Project Evaluation and Resource Management
- NREM 611 Resource and Environmental Policy
- NREM 637 Resource Economics
- NREM 671 International Agricultural Systems
- GEOG 621 Coastal Management and Planning
- GEOG 622 Environmental Impact Assessment
- PLAN 640 Land Use Policies and Programs
- PLAN 620 Environmental Policies and Programs
- PLAN 625 Environmental Planning
- PLAN 628 Urban Environmental Problems
Land & Water Resource Management
- NREM 461 Soil and Water Conservation
- NREM 463 Irrigation and Water Management
- NREM 467 Natural Resource Conservation Planning
- NREM 612 Prediction and Controlling Degradation in Human-Dominated Terrestrial Ecosystems
- NREM 660 Hydrologic Processes in Soils
- NREM 662 Watershed Hydrology
- NREM 665 Coastal and Wetland Ecology and Management
- ORE 677 Marine Renewable Energy
- LWEV 588 Legal Aspects of Water Resources and Control
Applied Terrestrial Ecology
- NREM 450 Wildlife Ecology & Management
- NREM 480 Applied Forest Ecology
- NREM 680 Ecosystem Ecology
- NREM 682 Restoration Ecology
- NREM 684 Landscape Ecology
- NREM 686 Forest Nutrition and Biogeochemistry
Plan B Capstone Experience (6 credits)
A capstone experience is required for all Plan B students (NREM 695 and NREM 696). All capstone experiences require approval from the faculty advisor, the capstone instructor, and an at-large panel committee member. The Capstone Experience requirement may be fulfilled in a number of ways, based on each individual student’s interests. In as much, it will vary from student to student, but typical capstone experiences will involve: (i) an internship/coop/special field experience; (ii) an investigation of a special topic; and/or (iii) development of a project, directed readings/study, or a research project. Each student is expected to take the primary role in identifying and organizing their capstone experience. In meeting this requirement, it will be important for students to demonstrate that they are getting an “integrative” experience in natural resources and environmental management. Each student will be required to give a public oral presentation and provide a written document on their capstone experience, both of which will be evaluated by a rotating, three member panel comprised of the capstone instructor, the student's advisor, and the at-large panel committee member.
Plan C MS
Plan C is for students with exceptional prior work experience. Requirements include residence for two semesters of full-time study, a minimum of 18 graduate credit hours, a final examination (written and oral), and a final project. This option is only available to students who are mid-career professionals, having at least 5 years of relevant work experience in natural resources and environmental management.
Primary MS Core (9 credits)
- NREM 600 Evaluation of Natural Resources Management (3)
- NREM 601 Economic Analysis of Natural Resource Management (3)
- NREM 605 Research Skills (2)
- NREM 701 Research Seminar in NREM (1)
Electives (9 credits)
- NREM graduate courses (9, with no more than 3 of NREM 699)
For additional information, refer to the Graduate Student Guide.