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MASTER OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Change the world from wherever you are—with a graduate degree from Virginia Tech.

ARE YOU READY TO LEARN MORE?

Our Recruitment Lead (and MNR alumna), Lindsay Key (ltkey@vt.edu), can help you decide if the MNR degree is a good fit for your goals and interests.

CLICK HERE to email Lindsay for answers to your questions, request a brochure to learn about the program formats, ways to finance your degree, or to schedule an advising call!

Solving complex global environmental and sustainability challenges requires leaders who collaborate to drive transformative systems change.

MNR At A Glance

  • Flexible online courses
  • 10-day overseas Global Study**
  • Curriculum and career coaching customized to your goals
  • Focus areas for a greater emphasis on specific sustainability topics
  • A Graduate Certificate in Global Sustainability is part of the degree
  • No GRE is required
  • Environmental science background is not required
  • Financial aid is available
  • No additional cost for out-of-state or international students
  • Admission decisions are based on both academic and professional experience
  • Start in Fall, Spring, or Summer term

**Given the dynamic nature of travel at the moment, we are following Virginia Tech’s travel and study abroad policies to inform our decisions on destinations and timing.

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Why MNR?

  • A master’s degree with flexibility and work / life balance
    The MNR allows you to complete your 30 credit-hours online when and where it’s convenient for you, with most students completing their degree in two to three years.
  • Designed for digital delivery
    Our Master of Natural Resources program has been preparing sustainability leaders for over a decade, ever evolving to meet the needs of our students. The courses’ content and format are created for current and aspiring environmental and sustainability professionals who want to move from practitioner to leader, as well as those aspiring to enter the sustainability field.
  • Diverse backgrounds welcome
    The program does not require an education or work experience in environmental science. MNR students come from both the public and private sectors, offering you the chance to network with a wide range of academic backgrounds and work experiences.
  • Enhanced credentials
    All MNR alums receive a Graduate Certificate in Global Sustainability, emphasizing special training and experience in international sustainable development and particularly in environmental sustainability.
  • A global perspective
    In place of a thesis or a capstone course, you’ll complete a Global Study**; an overseas, team-based experience that allows you to apply sustainable development strategies from your coursework to a real-world project.
  • A fully accredited university
    Virginia Tech is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award doctoral, master’s, baccalaureate, and associate degrees.

Want more of an in-person component? Check out the Executive Master of Natural Resources (Hybrid).

Take the next steps

Contact Lindsay Key (ltkey@vt.edu) to receive a program brochure and schedule an academic advising appointment.

Work / Life / Grad School Balance

The Master of Natural Resources degree at Virginia Tech is designed for working professionals and adult learners—people with jobs, families, and other commitments that might take priority over school. Our alums apply their sustainability education at work in a variety of industries, including government, business, and nonprofits. Here is a sample list of the types of positions and organizations where you can find our graduates.

Business
Lead Scientist, Booz Allen Hamilton
Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility, Logistics and Procurement, Sumitomo Chemical America, Inc.
Manager - Environmental Science, Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc.
EHS Manager, Shaw Industries
Director, Infrastructure, Energy, and Environment, LMI
Sea Turtle Conservation Biologist, D.B. Ecological Services
Government
Sea Grant Program Officer, NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
Manager, Sustainable Energy Division, Prince George's County, MD
Environmental Analyst, Fairfax County, VA
Soil Conservationist, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Program Lead - Environmental Justice, National Environmental Policy Act, and Climate Change, U.S. Department of the Interior
Natural Resources Planner, Maryland Department of the Environment
Nonprofit
Stewardship Manager, Land Trust of Virginia
Environmental Educator, Friends of the Rappahannock
Director, Global Internal Compliance, Rainforest Alliance
Senior Vice President, Government Relations, The Conservation Fund
Urban Development Research Analyst II, World Resources Institute
Executive Vice President, Corporate Engagement, American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE)
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Green Skills Required by the Job Market

According to LinkedIn's new Global Green Skills Report 2022, nearly 10% of job postings requiring skills have explicitly required at least one green skill. Professionals with natural resource management, environmental, and sustainability graduate degrees gain a competitive advantage for such jobs.

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Graduate Outcomes

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