Field Naturalist M.S.

Program Overview

Field Naturalists aren't really generalists—they're specialists in integration. Our curriculum, while it covers the fundamentals of natural history such as geology and botany, emphasizes the complex ways that these landscape "layers," including human history, interact to create ecosystems. We train naturalists who, dropped into an unfamiliar patch of land, could tell its story stretching back thousands of years.

Students also craft their writing and public speaking skills throughout the program, practicing many different styles to reach many different audiences. Field Naturalists strive to forge the link between scientists and the public. And we don't do all the talking; we listen to and learn from people in communities where we work. We bring open minds and objective analysis to develop solutions that work for people and places.

Using these skills, students develop a master's project with a partnering conservation organization such as a land trust, federal or state agency, or municipal parks department. Each project meets a demonstrated need, ensuring that the work will be used. After the summer field season, each student authors a report for the sponsoring partner and a popular article or journal publication.

Curriculum

First Fall Semester

Fundamentals of Field Science (PBIO 6230)
Field Botany (PBIO 6690)
Field Naturalist Practicum (PBIO 6110)
Professional Writing (PBIO 6330)

January Term (optional)

Winter Ecology (PBIO 5990)

First Spring Semester

Landscape Inventory and Assessment (PBIO 6240)
Elective(s)

Summer

Master's Project field season 

Second Year

Master's Project - report for sponsor
    and other deliverables (PBIO 6392)
Professional Writing (PBIO 6350)
Electives

Deadlines

Applications submitted by or on January 15 will receive full consideration. No applications will be reviewed prior to the deadline. Offers of admission are typically extended in March.

Application materials and information can be found on the UVM Graduate Admissions webpage or by calling the Graduate Admissions office at (802) 656-3160. Information about degree requirements can be found in the University Catalogue.

Please note that GRE scores are no longer required nor accepted as part of the application. No writing sample (besides the statement of purpose) is required either.

Application fee waivers are available in some cases—see UVM's application platform Slate for details. Recent alumni (within two years) of the Peace Corps and Americorps qualify, as does anyone for whom the fee presents a demonstrable financial hardship.

Admissions

In reviewing applications, we look for the following:

• sustained interest and engagement in the environment
• a track record of academic and professional achievement in science or environment
• at least some coursework in the life sciences (a bachelor's degree in the life sciences is not required)
• knowledge of this and other programs
• at least three years of job, professional, or life experience after college
• moxie

Visits

We encourage prospective students to meet with our students and faculty; there is no better way to learn about the Field Naturalist Program and whether it is a good fit for you. You should do likewise with other programs you may be considering. Talk with our students and ask hard questions about what it's really like here. Gauge whether the graduate student body would provide a stimulating environment for you.

Prospective Students Day

Each year we hold an informational session for prospective students. It is certainly not required for admission to the program, but if you're able to come we encourage it. This event is no longer held in person, rather virtually to make it more accessible to everyone without travel costs. This year's virtual Prospective Students Day will be held on Friday, November 21, 2025. Register here, and feel free to contact us at fieldnaturalist@uvm.edu with additional questions.

Outcomes

The Field Naturalist Program trains students to understand the ecological underpinnings of biodiversity and apply landscape-level strategies to its conservation and restoration. Graduates understand how to find and translate current science into action, providing crucial links between scientists and policymakers and between specialists and the public.

The program engages students in close study of natural history, integration of scientific knowledge, oral and written communication, and real-world problem solving, thus equipping graduates to become advocates for biodiversity and stewards of the natural world. 

Graduates are proficient in:

Field Skills: Identifying organisms in the field, reading and making maps, using spatial technology, and employing standard field tools such as dichotomous keys, soil pH kits, wildlife cameras, etc.

Integration: Reading a landscape—understanding how and why places look the way they do—by integrating knowledge from the fields of botany, zoology, ecology, soil science, geology, hydrology, and human history.

Communication: Engaging with diverse audiences through written and oral communication; using communication tools to educate, influence, and persuade; demonstrating poise, confidence, and respectfulness when challenged.

Application: Applying the scientific method, including basic statistical analyses, to real-world environmental problems; designing and implementing appropriate ecological inventories and assessments to meet stakeholders’ goals; interpreting and displaying results in professional reports.

Costs and Funding

We assemble a package of assistance that includes small (four-figure) scholarships, and fellowship aid on a similarly modest scale. We may be able to reduce tuition to in-state rates for out-of-state students. Details about university-wide tuition rates can be found here.

Graduate teaching assistantships may become available, but university policies and changing teaching needs make it unlikely. GTAships for UVM master's students in general have become increasingly rare in recent years. We would not be able to offer you one until you have already enrolled in the program, so that contingency should not be relied upon. However, we do generally offer lab mentorships at least in the first semester, which come with a stipend and involve more logistical support than teaching.

The funding situation of the program is very much in flux, and we apologize that this must all sound frustratingly vague. It is certain, however, that the assistance we can offer is not close to full support, so students do have to find funds outside of the program for remaining tuition, fees, and living expenses. Most students will qualify for Vermont Medicaid, which is excellent health insurance.

We are working on a homeshare program with alumni in the greater Burlington area, through which a current student could rent a room in a home for an affordable price.

More

F.A.Q.

Why are applicants required to wait for at least three years after college before applying?

We have found that it makes for a richer educational experience when all incoming students have spent significant time outside of academia (typically four years or more), which can help them home in on an educational and career trajectory. If a nontraditional student had worked for a while before their undergraduate degree, an exception could be made, but internships and summer jobs during college do not generally count toward this life experience requirement. If you graduated in 2025, you will be eligible to apply for and enroll in the program in 2028.

I want to go on to a Ph.D. Is the FN Program right for me?

Probably not. This master's program is designed as a terminal degree program, with the intent that graduates will go on to applied careers in conservation, land management, occasionally outreach. If you want to be a research scientist — one day heading a lab as a principal investigator, for example — it would make more sense to pursue a research master's program or Ph.D. We'd be happy to talk this through with you.

Does the program have a DEI strategy?

The program and the work that we do is strengthened by students, faculty, staff, and community partners with diverse backgrounds and experiences, in all senses of the word. Of particular note, we are striving to expand our circle of mentors with an eye toward broader representation of all those involved in the environmental field. It is our priority that all feel welcome in our program and we encourage prospective students to reach out to us to learn more.

Do students choose their own advisor?

Our program director advises all incoming Field Naturalists. In the second semester, working with program faculty and taking the sponsored project work into account, students choose their own advisor.

How do students find their sponsored projects?

The program solicits potential projects from various sponsors each year. Generally, faculty work with students to choose from the available projects during the second semester. Occasionally, students seek out their own projects.

Can I do the program part-time?

The small, tight-knit cohort model is at the heart of our immersive program. For that reason, we do not allow part-time students, with two exceptions: UVM employees with access to tuition remission, and parents of young children or some other type of essential caregiver. Reach out to us to discuss your situation.