Master of Natural Resources Degree Options for Virginia Tech Students

Undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in another degree program at Virginia Tech have the option to pursue the Master of Natural Resources degree at the same time. 

Prospective students interested in pursuing any of these options should contact Amanda Tai, Program Coordinator, prior to submitting an application form to the Virginia Tech Graduate School.

Accelerated Master’s Degree Program

Who this is for: Undergraduate seniors in their last year 
Requirements: 3.3 GPA or higher
The accelerated master’s degree option allows a student to begin taking courses in the MNR program online during their senior year of college, and to apply credit for these courses to both the master’s degree and their undergraduate degree program. 

Dual Enrollment Grad/Undergrad Program

Who this is for: Undergraduate seniors in their last semester 
Requirements: 3.0 GPA or higher; acceptance into the master’s degree program prior to the start of the final semester of undergraduate study
The dual enrollment master’s degree option allows a student to begin taking courses online in the MNR program during their last undergraduate semester of college, in addition to courses taken for completion of the undergraduate degree. Undergraduate courses count towards the undergraduate degree and graduate courses count toward the graduate degree. 

Simultaneous Graduate Degree

Who this is for: Graduate students in any Virginia Tech department 
Requirements: Consult your program advisor 
The simultaneous graduate degree program allows a Virginia Tech graduate student in another discipline/department to pursue a second graduate degree, such as the MNR degree, at the same time. A student can share up to fifty percent of coursework (of the lower total credit hour program) between the two programs. A student can apply as a simultaneous graduate student any time before the last semester of their “home” graduate program.

Benefits of Enrollment 

Flexible and convenient course schedules
All MNR courses are delivered asynchronously online, which means that students can choose when and where to study. The only in-person component is a Global Study trip, which takes the place of a capstone course later in the program. 

Diverse undergrad majors welcomed
The MNR is a truly multidisciplinary degree and does not require an environmental science background. Students who are looking for a deeper dive into a specific sustainability area are welcome to select a concentration in one of the focus areas below:

• Biodiversity and Ecosystems 
• Cities and Urban Systems 
• Climate Change
• Sustainable Business 
• Water and Marine Systems 
• Environmental Policy

More and better career opportunities
Our alums apply their sustainability education at work in a variety of industries, including government, business, and nonprofits. Here is a sample list of the types of positions and organizations where you can find our graduates: 

Business

• Lead Scientist, Booz Allen Hamilton
• Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility, Logistics and Procurement, Sumitomo Chemical America, Inc.
• Manager - Environmental Science, Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc.
• EHS Manager, Shaw Industries
• Director, Infrastructure, Energy, and Environment, LMI
• Sea Turtle Conservation Biologist, D.B. Ecological Services

Government 

• Sea Grant Program Officer, NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
• Manager, Sustainable Energy Division, Prince George’s County, MD
• Environmental Analyst, Fairfax County, VA
• Soil Conservationist, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
• Program Lead - Environmental Justice, National Environmental Policy Act, and Climate Change, U.S. Department of the Interior
• Natural Resources Planner, Maryland Department of the Environment

Nonprofit

• Stewardship Manager, Land Trust of Virginia
• Environmental Educator, Friends of the Rappahannock
• Director, Global Internal Compliance, Rainforest Alliance
• Senior Vice President, Government Relations, The Conservation Fund
• Urban Development Research Analyst II, World Resources Institute
• Executive Vice President, Corporate Engagement, American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE)

How to Apply

Please consult Virginia Tech Graduate School for more information, or speak to your academic advisor. 

Questions? 

To learn more about these enrollment options, or the Online MNR more generally, contact Amanda Tai, Program Coordinator by phone (571-858-3338) or email (amandatai@vt.edu).