Natural Resources and Environmental Studies

The graduate program in Natural Resources and Earth Systems Science (NRESS) is an interdepartmental program offering the Ph.D. degree for interdisciplinary work in areas related to the understanding and management of the environment in the broadest context. Areas of study include, but are not limited to, ecosystem science, biogeochemical cycling, geochemical systems, atmospheric science, environmental philosophy, forestry, geologic science, hydrology, marine science, oceanography, social science, environmental policy and ethics, environmental education, and multidisciplinary natural resources management.

Natural Resources and Environmental Studies (NRES)

The NRESS Ph.D. in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies (NRES) focuses on problems dealing with the allocation and distribution of natural resources, policies at the local to global scale, and ethical and societal factors that affect resource management. Students typically enter the program with a bachelor's and/or master's degree in economics, environmental conservation, philosophy, political science, or sociology.

The Natural Resources and Environmental Studies (NRES) PhD degree within the Natural Resources and Earth Systems Science PhD Program trains scientists and scholars whose research addresses problems dealing with the allocation and distribution of natural resources, related policies at the local to global scale, and ethical and societal factors that affect resource management. Through interdisciplinary coursework and doctoral research, we train researchers who can independently pursue the process of science and scholarship, effectively apply their research to both solve basic questions in natural resource and environmental studies and apply their work to issues of relevance to society and the environment, especially in this era of global change. learning outcomes:

• Critically review and cogently synthesize relevant literature, and identify need for new research.
• Draw on previously published work to independently design and execute new experiments or field manipulations or develop models with a high degree of sophistication. The design and execution of an experiment or the building of a model should demonstrate an understanding of good laboratory, field or modeling practices.
• Structure a coherent and convincing academic argument.
• Lead the writing of manuscripts describing their research and its impacts that are suitable for publication in peer-reviewed journals or appropriate professional outlets for their particular sub-discipline, and be able to describe their research in presentations at national meetings of major relevant scientific societies, and at national and international symposia hosted by other professional organizations. The general expectation is that the final dissertation will include three first-authored publications submitted to or accepted in a peer-reviewed journal, or ready for submission.
• Articulate how their research relates to a broader context outside of academia, and how their expertise will be applicable in the execution of complex research problems.

• Transcript evaluation by a third party is not required as long as an application is in English. Translation services and evaluation services may be requested at the discretion of the academic department.
• Transcripts from all previous post-secondary institutions must be submitted and applicants must disclose any previous academic or disciplinary sanctions that resulted in their temporary or permanent separation from a previous post-secondary institution. If it is found that previous academic or disciplinary separations were not disclosed, applicants may face denial and admitted students may face dismissal from their academic program.
• International applicants may submit copies of official transcripts by emailing [email protected]. We will upload those transcripts to your application checklist. 
• Official transcripts will be required if admitted. These can be hand-delivered in a sealed envelope upon arrival, emailed to [email protected], or mailed hardcopy to UNH Graduate School, Thompson Hall, 105 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824.