Accelerated Master's Program in Natural Resources

Program Overview

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 up to 9 credits in their junior/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.

Admissions

• We recommend connecting with your undergraduate academic advisor & RSENR graduate program coordinator as first steps in considering this program.
• To be accepted to the program, students must have secured support from a RSENR graduate faculty advisor. 
• Students may apply for the AMP program through the UVM Graduate College Intent Form. 
• The AMP is only open to currently enrolled UVM undergraduate students.
• Students must have an undergraduate GPA of 3.00 or higher.
• The up to 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. These may be courses you’ve taken already, or courses you plan to take. All courses must be 5000 or 6000 level and cannot be independent study, internships, research, or practicum credits.
• Any graduate-level courses you take before earning your bachelor’s must fulfill requirements for your undergraduate degree to maintain eligibility for federal and UVM grants, Federal Direct Loans, and merit scholarships.  

Costs and Funding

Tuition

• Students may use available undergraduate financial aid to pay for your AMP program, but only before you’ve completed your bachelor’s degree. 
• 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 will pay UVM's 30% discounted tuition rate 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. 
• Still have questions about paying for the AMP? Reach out to Student Financial Services and learn about graduate funding options here.  

More

Contact the Rubenstein School Graduate Program Coordinator at rsenrgc@uvm.edu or 802-656-2511.

Learn about finding a faculty advisor, preparing an application, and other programs in the Rubenstein School