Curriculum & Program Requirements

 

 

 

The Professional Science Master's Degree in Environmental Sustainability and Natural Resource Management at Texas Tech University is offered through two different tracks, and you can earn your degree on either track, depending on your background, preparation and interests.

Track 1, Ecology and Environmental Sustainability, is offered through the Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences, and

Track 2 in Natural Resources Management is offered through the Department of Natural Resources Management in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Management

Although all students take courses from both departments, differences between the two tracks of study are primarily how many courses are elected from each department. Students select the track they are interested in and apply through that department. Students with a background in ecology generally elect Track 1 whereas those with a natural resources and wildlife background generally elect Track 2.

Curriculum

The curriculum includes multiple educational approaches

• A selection of core courses from the graduate offerings of both the departments of Biological Sciences and Natural Resources Management
• Preferred elective courses from both departments
• Professional skills development through completion of a SkillSoft modular online curriculum or by completing the requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Essentials of Business offered by the Rawls College of Business.
• Business/government/non-profit internships which include a final required project
• Preparation of a student portfolio that becomes part of the student's professional dossier

The curriculum (30-34 credit hours) can be completed in two years of full-time study. The curriculum consists of graduate coursework in the departments of Biological Sciences and Natural Resources Management, completion of a Graduate Certificate in Essentials of Business from the Rawls College of Business, or completion of a SkillSoft business training curriculum, and completion of an internship or capstone course. A 12-16 week internship or capstone course (depending on the work experience of the student) is required.

Program Requirements

A. Course Credits:

Students will complete a minimum of 30 credit hours in the Departments of Biological Sciences in the College of Arts & Sciences and the Department of Natural Resource Management in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Management:

12-13 credits |Core courses plus an additional 3-6 HOURS of an internship or capstone experience, depending on the work history of the student. Students without work experience take an internship; those already employed in an agency in a position related to the PSM program training will sign up for the capstone experience. These will be experiences in industry, small business, a state or federal agency, or a non-governmental organization to build real-world skills.

15 credits | Preferred elective courses

See PSM Graduate Courses for a list of core and elective courses for both tracks 1 and 2

B. Professional skills:

Experiences emphasizing oral and written communication, sustainable business practices, accounting and finance, leadership, management, strategic planning, marketing, operations, science and society, and ethics will be obtained in one of two ways. Either the student will complete the requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Essentials of Business offered by the Rawls College of Business ( or will take approved course modules in the Business Education of the SkillSoft business series of online modules.

See: Graduate Certificate

C. Student Portfolio:

Each student will compile a Career Portfolio to serve as written evidence of the experience and expertise acquired during the course of completing the Professional Science Master's program in Environmental Sustainability and Resource Management. The portfolio is a vehicle describing the student's learning outcomes and emphasizing his or her broad competencies acquired throughout the program.

See "Student Portfolio"

D. Internship:

Each student will complete either an internship or capstone experience. This must be arranged with an agency whose primary purpose is related to the student's area of concentration, i.e. environmental sustainability or natural resources management. For further information, see "Internship"