Natural resources

MNR
Online
delivery
$609 Based on current tuition rates. No additional charge for nonresident students. Does not include course materials and associated fees and expenses.†
per credit
3
start terms

Take advantage of customizable curriculum that is based on natural and social sciences, and learn to balance environmental, economic, health and cultural interests within the work of resource management when you earn a Master of Natural Resources degree online from Oregon State University.

This interdisciplinary program is designed for natural resources professionals, and in it you will develop the analytical and problem-solving skills needed to provide workable solutions for complex natural resources challenges. You’ll also learn alongside world-class scientists from 12 departments within Oregon State’s renowned colleges of Agricultural Sciences; Forestry; Science; Liberal Arts; and Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences.

Skills you’ll gain in OSU’s online natural resources degree program

As a student in Oregon State’s online Master of Natural Resources program, you’ll gain the in-demand skills you need to stand out in the job market and level up your career. You’ll learn from expert Oregon State faculty who have real-world experience in various industries.

  • Sustainable site planning
  • Arboriculture
  • Wildlife habitat management
  • Remote sensing
  • GIS
  • Green infrastructure
  • Social science research
  • Science communication
  • Water resources policy
In a panoramic view of Morskie Oko, a lake in the Polish Tatra Mountains, the sun crests over a rocky peak behind the lake

Program details

Oregon State University's online MNR program is offered with a capstone project rather than a thesis. The coursework is designed for natural resources professionals who work in settings that require cross-disciplinary competency to find solutions to complex issues.

The online MNR degree program is offered by Oregon State’s College of Forestry.

Degree requirements

A total of 45 quarter credits are required to graduate with your online MNR degree. Degree requirements and curriculum details are available on Oregon State's academic catalog.

Sunset over a river in a green meadow with daisies and grass in the foreground.

Additional program features

You can choose an area of emphasis from the following Oregon State online graduate certificate programs, or you and your advisor can design your own area of focus based on your career goals.

Successful completion of a final oral examination is required for all master's degrees. You will defend your course of study and capstone project by coordinating with your Graduate Advisory Committee. The final oral examination can be done virtually, meaning you are never required to travel to the Oregon State campus.

Oregon State offers you a pathway to earn your online Master of Natural Resources degree through one of the online graduate certificates listed above. Pursuing a graduate certificates allows you to connect with faculty who can potentially serve as your MNR advisor, apply for a change of degree at no cost, smoothly transition into the MNR program, and meet the preferred requirement for natural resources-related work or volunteer experience

If you plan to use credits from a graduate certificate toward the online MNR degree, you should discuss transfer credit policies with an advisor in advance. Contact the online program coordinator for more details.

Get a jump-start on your online MNR degree while working toward your bachelor’s degree in natural resources. Through Oregon State’s Accelerated Master’s Platform, current undergraduate students can take graduate-level courses online that will be applied to their bachelor’s degree.

The credits you earn will be transferred to the online MNR program. Students enrolled in Oregon State’s online graduate courses will pay the graduate tuition and fees rate.

Before you apply to the online MNR program, explore the detailed admissions information including the application deadlines and how to submit required documents.

Having a major advisor is a requirement of acceptance to the MNR program, whether you apply directly or are transferring from a certificate program. Read our recommendations for choosing an advisor, who will serve as an academic mentor and will help guide you to completion of your MNR degree.

You can gain highly specialized skills that are in demand by employers — and do it with less of a time and financial commitment — when you earn a certificate or microcredential online with Oregon State. Choose from a wide variety of short-form offerings, from environmental management to urban forestry to organic agriculture.

MNR careers

By earning your online Master of Natural Resources degree from Oregon State University, you’ll develop the ability to navigate multiple natural resources disciplines and value systems. This will enable you to create workable solutions for complex regional, national and international natural resource challenges.

Job market outlook

Use the interactive tool on this page to discover employment trends, top occupations and salary details for professionals who have skills related to natural resources. Please be aware that completing a program related to the job market information shown here does not guarantee employment or a specific salary.