Type of Degree

M.S.

School or College

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Program Format

On-campus, Full-time

Since 1983, the Field Naturalist Program has recruited field scientists, ecologists, naturalists, planners, lawyers, educators, engineers, and others who have the moxie to break new environmental ground.

Program Overview

The Field Naturalist Program is a unique field-based experience that develops the potential of future conservation leaders by emphasizing scientific integration, oral and written communication, and environmental problem solving. Students receive a solid grounding in field-related sciences and are trained to integrate scientific disciplines into a coherent whole at the landscape level. Students also develop competence in evaluating field sites from a number of perspectives and/or criteria, translating scientific insights into ecologically sound decisions, and communicating effectively to a wide range of audiences.

Hallmarks of the Master of Science program are cross-disciplinary science in the field, problem-solving, and effective communication. Instruction is more apprenticeship than conventional schooling. Students complete a master's project in service to a sponsoring environmental organization — they leave the program with on-the-ground conservation experience.

Our graduates are sought-after leaders in stewardship, conservation, policy, ecological planning, and place-based education. Whether they work in boardrooms, backyards, or bogs, Field Naturalists stand out as holistic problem-solvers. Over 90 percent of alumni have careers in the environmental field, and nearly half go on to direct programs for The Nature Conservancy, federal and state agencies, and other such leading organizations.

 

Field Naturalist students surrounded by forest and grasses

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.

Simply understanding the landscape is not enough, however. Students 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 in consultation with a partnering conservation organization such as a land trust, federal or state agency, or municipal parks department. Each project meets a demonstrated need of the organization, ensuring that the work will be used. Field research spans the summer of the first academic year. By the end of the two-year program, each student will have produced a professional report for the sponsoring partner and a popular article or journal publication.

Put a field naturalist to work for your organization


Help the program thrive for 40 more years!

In light of shifts in university funding, the Field Naturalist Program has launched an ambitious fundraising campaign that will provide the financial support our students need to complete their degrees and put their talents to work for conservation. Generations of future FNs are counting on your help!

Learn more about our campaign

Deadlines

Application Deadline:
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 by March.

Application Materials:
Application materials and information can be found on the 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.

NOTE ON REFERENCES: UVM's graduate admissions software does not allow us to see any part of your application until all materials have been submitted, including letters of reference. Please make sure your references understand that they need to submit by the January 15 deadline. If they submit soon after that date, we will still consider your application on equal footing, but if too much time passes, we may need to proceed with our fast-paced application review without yours in the pile. We will get in touch with you if this is imminent. Consider having an "emergency" reference in mind in case one falls through.

Admissions

Requirements for Admission to Graduate Studies for the Degree of Master of Science, Field Naturalist Option

  • 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 natural sciences
  • At least 3 years of job, professional, or life experience after college

Credits

Master's degrees require a minimum of 30 credits, at least 6 credits of which must be comprised of 6000-level coursework; some programs require more. A minimum grade point average of 3.00 must be achieved. A minimum of 15 graded credits used in compilation of the graduate GPA must be taken in residence at UVM following matriculation into the master's program. Consult individual program descriptions for specific credit requirements. In programs that require a thesis, the number of credits earned in thesis research may vary by program between 6 (minimum) and 15 (maximum). Thesis credit is included as part of the 30-hour minimum. With the prior approval of their program and the Graduate College, students may apply 3 credits of 3000- or 4000-level coursework toward their graduate program. The student's advisor must petition the Graduate College for approval before the student enrolls in the course. Consult individual programs for further limitations. Under no circumstances will a course numbered below 3000 be applicable to a master's program.

Minimum Residence Requirements

Candidates for the master's degree must satisfactorily complete 21 credits in residence. The residency requirement is completed by courses that

  1. are taken for graduate credit through the University of Vermont, and
  2. are taken after the student has been admitted to the Graduate College.

Some programs may require more than the above minimum hours in residence. Consult with the individual program.

Comprehensive Examination

All master's degree students are required to pass a written and/or oral comprehensive examination in their field of specialization. If both formats are used, satisfactory completion of the written examination is prerequisite to standing for the oral examination. 1 re-examination only is permitted for any failed comprehensive examination. The comprehensive examination is not the same as the oral thesis defense, and must be passed satisfactorily before defending the thesis. Consult individual program descriptions for specific information.

There is no fee for the master's comprehensive examination. The student's program director or advisor must notify the Graduate College of the outcome of the examination. The result and date of the examination is recorded as a notation on the academic transcript.

Research and Thesis

If a thesis is required, the candidate for the master's degree undertakes a problem of original research under the supervision of a faculty member in the department of specialization. At the conclusion of the research, the student must present and defend successfully a thesis which embodies the results of the work and demonstrates the capability for independent research.

Thesis Defense Forms

A Public Notice of the defense is required at least 3 weeks prior to the scheduled defense in order for the student to defend. The Intent to Graduate form must be submitted to the candidate's department/program and the Graduate College by the published deadline for the graduation cycle. The Defense Committee form is due as soon as the student's committee is formed, or by the published due date of the Intent to Graduate form at the latest.

Thesis Format

Students are required by the Graduate College to use a computer software program appropriate to the discipline to create the Table of Contents and the Lists of Tables and Figures from the thesis text headings.

The thesis must be prepared and submitted in compliance with the "Guidelines for Writing a Thesis or Dissertation" available from the Graduate College website. A formatted copy of the thesis must be submitted to the Graduate College for a Format/Record Check at least 3 weeks prior to the scheduled defense. Students must also provide defendable copies of the thesis to members of their thesis defense examination committee at least 2 weeks before the scheduled examination. Individual departments may require earlier deadlines.

Students must notify the Graduate College of the thesis defense at least 3 weeks prior to defending their thesis.

The oral defense of a thesis may be scheduled only after successful completion of the comprehensive examination and the submission of an original copy of the thesis to the Graduate College for a Format/Record Check.

Thesis Defense Examination Committee

The thesis defense examination committee consists of at least 3 University of Vermont faculty members, at least 2 of whom must be regular members of the graduate faculty. If a student has co-advisors, they count  as 1 committee member. Ordinarily, 2 committee members will be from the candidate's program, including the thesis advisor. The third member, who acts as chair of the committee, must be a member of the graduate faculty, must be from a different program and department (including any secondary or adjunct appointments) than the candidate and advisor, and must be approved by the Graduate College. For University-wide interdisciplinary programs, and/or programs that incorporate faculty from multiple departments, the chair must be outside the department of the candidate's advisor.  The thesis defense examination committee and the graduate studies committee do not have to be the same.

The chair of the thesis defense examination committee has the responsibility for ensuring proper conduct of the examination, appropriate documentation of the results, and that the signatures of endorsement are added to the Defense Examination Record following a successful defense.

The acceptability of the thesis is determined by the thesis defense examination committee. The result and date of the examination is recorded as a notation on the academic transcript. If a student's defense examination performance is not satisfactory, then only one re-examination is permitted.

After a successful thesis defense, candidates must electronically upload the corrected thesis to ETD Administrator for approval by the Graduate College within the time period specified by the thesis defense examination committee and/or the Graduate College.

Additional Requirements for the Master of Arts in Teaching

The M.A.T. degree in Curriculum and Instruction is designed for students seeking initial licensure for middle school or high school teaching. Students enrolled in the M.A.T. in Secondary Education are required to complete a 31-credit program in education course work and an internship that will prepare them to teach in grades 7-12. In addition, some students may be required to complete additional content related course work to fulfill content requirements for State of Vermont licensure. Students enrolled in the M.A.T. in Middle Level Teacher Education are required to complete a 30-credit program in education course work with an additional subject methods course to prepare them to teach math, English/Language Arts, Social Studies or Science in grades 5-9. Students seeking more than one content area endorsement will be required to complete additional methods courses.

Additional Requirement for the Master of Science for Teachers

Applicants for the Master of Science for Teachers must be licensed teachers. Students in a Master of Science for Teachers program may apply more than one 3-credit, undergraduate level course toward their degree. Consult specific department listings for additional requirements and policies related to this degree program.

Qualifications
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

 

Costs and Funding

We assemble a package of assistance that includes a teaching assistantship with six credits of tuition remission (guaranteed for one semester except in rare cases of low financial need, and sometimes available for more than one), small (four-figure) scholarships, and fellowship aid on a similarly modest scale. We also reduce tuition to in-state rates for out-of-state students. This assistance is, unfortunately, not full support, so students do have to find funds outside of the program for remaining tuition, fees, and living expenses. 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

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 was held on Friday, November 22, 2024. If you wish to watch a recording, we can send you the file. Email us with questions or to request the file.