The Master of Applied Science degree is designed for those whose educational objective is to pursue a professional degree in agriculture, food, and natural resources at the master's level.

Description

The Master of Applied Science degree is designed for those whose educational objective is to pursue a professional degree in agriculture, food, community development and natural resources at the master's level. The Master of Applied Science is a flexible and personalized practitioner degree program for individuals directly involved in agriculture, food, community development and natural resource-related industries and working agricultural, community development and natural resource professionals and science educators needing advanced education. The program is available to both residential and distance students.

Students may choose to design a program tailored to their individual needs or choose a specialization from the list below. A specialization is a focused collection of courses within one or more major programs. Students may declare a specialization when applying for admission to the MAS or when establishing a plan of study.

For more information, visit https://appliedscience.unl.edu/master-applied-science-degree.

Specializations

1. Beef Cattle Production

   • On Campus Online

   The Beef Cattle Production specialization works synergistically with the Masters of Applied Science (MAS) program to offer students with an interest in beef cattle production, the opportunity to become more familiar with nutrition, meat science, genetics, and growth topics in an online program.

   For more information, visit https://casnr.unl.edu/applied-science-beef-cattle-production-specialization.

   Department

   Applied Science

2. Conservation Agriculture

   • On Campus

   The Conservation Agriculture specialization works synergistically with the MAS program to provide an educational experience for students who need post-baccalaureate systems-based training related to global models of ecosystem design, ecosystem services, and soil, water, and biodiversity conservation in the context of highly productive agricultural systems. If you wish to distinguish yourself in the workforce with an advanced degree, the Conservation Agriculture specialization may be for you. 

   For more information, visit https://appliedscience.unl.edu/conservation-agriculture-specialization.

   Specialization Core (9 Credits)

   Course Number	Title	Credits
   NRES 801	Topics in Applied Ecology	2
   NRES/AGRO/WATS 884	Water Resources Seminar	1
   NRES 829	Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Management	3
   Select one of the following systems science courses:
   NRES 862	Conservation Biology	3
   AGRO 835	Agroecology	3
   AGRO 840	Great Plains Ecosystem	3
   NRES 814	Natural Resource Systems **	3
   NRES 810	Landscape Ecology	3
   NRES 817	Agroforestry Systems in Sustainable Agriculture	3
   Total		9

   Additional Specialization Courses (9 Credits)

   Course Number	Title	Credits
   Select TWO of the following environmental design or environmental management courses:
   AGEN 841	Animal Waste Management	3
   AGRO 849	Watershed Management in Grasslands	3
   AGRO 852	Grazing Ecology and Management **	3
   AGRO 875	Water Quality Strategy	3
   AGRO 889	Urbanization of Rural Landscapes	3
   BSEN 822	Pollution Prevention: Principles and Practices	3
   BSEN/NRES 868	Wetlands	3
   NRES 826	Invasive Plants	3
   NRES 833	Wildlife Management Techniques	3
   NRES 837	Adaptive Natural Resource Management	3
   NRES 838	Grassland Conservation: Planning and Management	3
   NRES 857	Green Space and Urban Forest Management	3
   NRES 870	Lake and Reservoir Restoration	3
   NRES 965	Managed Aquatic Systems	3
   Complete a project on a topic that integrates conservation and agriculture:
   NRES/AGRI/AGRO 897	Master of Applied Science Project	3
   Total		9

   Department

   Applied Science

3. Environmental Education

   • On Campus

   The EE specialization provides post-baccalaureate training related to pedagogical methods in nonformal and formal education settings related to environmental education and conservation education. The advanced training is designed to provide a distinctive edge in the workforce and advancing careers.

   For more information, visit https://casnr.unl.edu/environmental-education-specialization.

   Department

   Applied Science

4. Environmental Studies

   • On Campus Online

   Environmental Studies specialization provides graduate students a broad, interdisciplinary environmental perspective through coursework in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities, allowing graduate students an opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to understand the multiple dimensions of today’s environmental problems.

   Students will develop a broad, interdisciplinary environmental perspective through the courses in the Environmental Studies specialization. 

   Department

   Applied Science

5. Science for Educators

   • On Campus Online

   The Science for Educators Specialization works synergistically with the Masters of Applied Science (MAS) program is designed to enhance educators' science content knowledge, demonstrate pedagogy that drives learning experiences and support educators to create an applicable, standards-based curriculum. The Science for Educators Specialization, MAS program emphasizes science content inquiry, integration and application.

   For more information, visit https://casnr.unl.edu/applied-science-science-educators-specialization.

   Department

   Applied Science

6. Community Development

   • Online

   The online Community Development Specialization equips students with the tools and experiences to contribute to positive changes in communities and regions. The coursework is designed to teach critical and creative thinking, ethical consideration and the value of careful planning for all stakeholders.

   For more information, visit https://casnr.unl.edu/applied-science-community-development-specialization.

   Department

   Applied Science

Graduate Admission Requirements

• Application for Admission with $50 non-refundable application fee.
• One set of transcripts.
• If International: upload copies of all college- or university-level transcripts or mark sheets (records of courses and marks earned), with certificates, diplomas, and degrees plus certified English translations.

  * Official documents are required from all students who are admitted and enroll. Photocopies of certified records are not acceptable. International students enrolled in other U.S. institutions may have certified copies of all foreign records sent directly to the Office of Graduate Studies by their current school’s registrar office.

• If the student’s native language is not English, verification of English proficiency is required.

  * When sending TOEFL scores, our institution code is 6877 and a department code is not needed

• If applicant is not a US citizen and expects an F or J visa: financial information.
• Applicants must also fulfill any additional requirements the department specifies at the time of application.

Major Admission Requirements

• Undergraduate degree in life sciences or related area, such as biological or physical science, and experience in applied science
• 3.00 GPA or above on a 4.0 scale
• A written personal statement explaining why you want to pursue a Master of Applied Science degree. Please describe how obtaining this degree will help your personal, career, and/or professional goals. Describe your level of commitment to the successful completion of this degree.
• Three letters of recommendation
• NOTE: If you reside in the state(s) KY, please contact a program advisor before applying.