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SENR

School of Environment and Natural Resources

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Professional Master’s (MENR)


MENRFor Aspiring and Mid-Career Environment and Natural Resources Professionals

 

Master of Environment and Natural Resources (MENR) is a non-thesis degree that is appealing both to individuals already working in the field of environment and natural resources who are seeking promotion as well as individuals working in other fields who wish to enter the field of environment and natural resources in an applied or management-related way. Related work or volunteer experience in environment and natural resources areas is preferred, but not required.

Job Placement

Students select the MENR for its theory-into-practice orientation. Outcomes for our alumni are as diverse as their interests. Alumni have gone on to gain a variety of employment, including government, private, and non-profit employers. Those seeking public employment have found it at all levels, such as Columbus Metro Parks, the Ohio EPA and Division of Wildlife, and the US Department of State.

Program Structure

The MENR is a 36-credit hour program that can be completed in two years of full-time enrollment and includes a credit-granting internship. The degree features a rigorous but flexible program, creating valuable educational and training experiences for persons planning for or already engaged in professional careers in environmental or natural resources management, administration, planning, or education. Students in the MENR program will extend their depth of knowledge and expertise in environmental and natural resource science and management beyond that acquired during bachelor degree programs and at the same time improve their decision-making skills.

Advised by the MENR Director, students tailor their program of study in the following curricular areas: three core courses covering sociology, ecology, and the relation of environmental science to law; professional development with an internship and relevant seminars; specialization courses to develop a deep mastery of topics relevant to the focus area; skills courses for the skills necessary to succeed in the chosen field; and  a "keystone course" thematically tying together the whole program of study.

The flexibility of the MENR encourages students  to concurrently enroll in two degree-granting programs so that they can expand their expertise in relevant areas. Read more about our Dual Degrees & Combined Programs.

The MENR degree is currently only offered on the Columbus campus of OSU and is not an online or distance degree.

Preparing for Graduate Study

Applicants who have been out of education for a while and are hesitant about returning, or those with a low undergraduate GPA concerned about their competitiveness, should consider taking one or two graduate courses as a graduate non-degree student. This way, you can test the waters of returning for another degree and prove your ability to perform in graduate study before going through the regular admissions process. Up to 7 credits of coursework (typically two courses) taken under this option can be transferred to a degree-seeking program.