Student works with faculty in lab

If you’re a UVM undergraduate student interested in pursuing a master’s degree in Natural Resources, the Rubenstein School's Accelerated Master's Program (AMP) may be right for you.

The Rubenstein School offers an interdisciplinary approach to studying the environment and developing holistic solutions to complex environmental challenges. Rubenstein School Graduate Faculty expertise includes forestry, wildlife biology, recreation management, aquatic sciences, watershed management, environmental sciences, environmental philosophy, sociology, policy, planning, economics, conflict resolution, and more.

Why an AMP in Natural Resources?

The Rubenstein School AMP curriculum is identical to that of the Master of Science in Natural Resources. Students admitted to the program can receive their master’s degree on an accelerated timeline by counting 9 credits in their senior year towards both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees. An additional 21 graduate credits of coursework and research are required to complete the master’s degree for a total of 30 credits.

Eligibility

  • Students must apply for and be accepted to the AMP program through the standard UVM graduate application process.
  • The AMP is only open to currently enrolled UVM undergraduate students.
  • Students must have an undergraduate GPA of 3.00 or higher.
  • The 9 credits counted toward both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees must be graded (A-F grades) and approved for graduate credit as a part of the AMP application. The credits cannot be independent study, research, internship, or practicum credits.

AMP Tuition

  • Once an AMP student has completed their bachelor’s degree they matriculate into the graduate program, becoming a full-time graduate student. The Rubenstein School provides a 15% discount on tuition during the academic year once AMP students are full-time graduate students. This scholarship applies to the remaining required 21 graduate credits.
  • Students enrolled in the summer term receive a 30% discount on tuition once they are full-time graduate students. 
  • In all cases, students are classified as either in-state or out-of-state residents for tuition purposes under the University of Vermont’s Board of Trustees Residency Regulations.
  • Before matriculating into the graduate program, AMP students may not hold graduate assistantships. They may, however, be paid an hourly wage from a research grant and/or receive a scholarship from gift funds. Once they are a full-time graduate student, they are eligible for assistantship opportunities when available.

How to Apply

  1. Students generally apply the Fall semester of their junior year, preferably by November 1st, however applications are accepted year-round.
  2. Students must identify and have a commitment from a Rubenstein School Graduate Faculty member to serve as their Graduate Program Advisor.
  3. It is recommended that students work with their undergraduate advisor to map out the semesters and the courses they plan to take to fulfill both the bachelor’s degree and master’s degree portions of their final semesters.
  4. Honors College students should make an appointment to meet with their Honors advisor to plan out their remaining HCOL requirements.
  5. Students must obtain their undergraduate Dean’s office signature on the AMP Permission Form, available on the UVM AMP information page. 
  6. Students meet with the Graduate Program coordinator to express their intent to apply and to get the Graduate Program Director signature on the AMP Permission Form.
  7. Students obtain three letters of recommendation to submit with the application.
  8. Students submit application with their signed UVM AMP permission form to the Graduate College through the standard UVM graduate application process.

What We Consider

  • The commitment of a Rubenstein School Graduate Faculty member to serve as your main advisor.
  • A Statement of Purpose within the application explaining why the AMP is a good option for the student and demonstrating their ability to perform at the graduate level.
  • The substance of the three letters of recommendation.
  • The student’s UVM undergraduate transcript with a GPA of 3.00 or higher.