The Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources
In the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources (RSENR), excitement for discovery and a commitment to life-long learning are central. The Rubenstein School's emphasis on the integration of natural science, social science, and cultural and political perspectives reflects the interdisciplinary context in which ecosystem management, resource planning, and environmental concerns must be addressed. The School believes there is a strong interplay between teaching and scholarship and each is vital to the other.
The Rubenstein School seeks to cultivate an appreciation and enhanced understanding of ecological and social processes. The School aims to generate and disseminate knowledge and to foster learning and skill building that allows students, colleagues, and citizens to become innovative, environmentally responsible, and accountable leaders.
The Rubenstein School is committed to advancing equity and justice and to creating a community that is diverse and inclusive. Individual and professional responsibility, as well as scholastic excellence, are emphasized within the school’s supportive atmosphere. The School has a team of Professional Advisors and Faculty that work directly with students, providing guidance and helping them to clarify and achieve their goals. The School's academic and extracurricular programs prepare students for a range of career opportunities in the environmental field as well as pathways to pursue advanced study.
The Office of the Dean of the School is located in the George D. Aiken Center for Natural Resources.
Experiential Learning
The Rubenstein Student Services Office operates a robust Experiential Learning Program for students that helps them to build skills and provide a diversity of learning opportunities. Reflective career development, course work, and co-curricular activities are integrated to foster competencies that will make RSENR graduates highly competitive professionals and engaged, effective citizens. We take a holistic approach to career preparation by encouraging and supporting participation in community-based projects, internships, applied research, and off-campus study. Student development is facilitated through support of faculty and community partners as they create and implement community-based courses and research projects. At the heart of our work is a demonstrated commitment to student and faculty development and collaborative problem-solving between school, the university, and the local, national, and international communities. The RSENR Student Services team works directly with the Office of Community-Engaged Learning (CELO), UVM Office of Engagement, and the UVM Career Center, and collaborates regularly with other academic units at UVM.
The field-based curriculum in RSENR is centered on Vermont’s natural landscapes – its mountains, lakes, fields, and forests - to provide students hands-on experience studying ecology and ecosystem processes. In addition, RSENR offers a variety of intensive field courses during vacation breaks and summer session that provide students special opportunities to study outside of Vermont. Past field explorations have included: introduction to ecotourism and environmental interpretation in Costa Rica, experience with regional examples of sustainable forest management and practices, and the study of aquatic ecology in Lake Champlain from the deck of UVM’s new research vessel.
Computing Resources
The Aiken Computer Teaching Lab (Aiken 101) provides students with access to key software and technologies utilized in environmental disciplines. In addition, all undergraduate students are required to have a laptop computer that meets the minimum specifications (https://www.uvm.edu/it/students). Students are not required to purchase a new laptop if they have an existing laptop that meets the established specifications. If students need to purchase a laptop, they are not required to purchase it through UVM.
Ecological Economics CGS
Leadership for Sustainability M.P.S.
Natural Resources M.S.
Natural Resources Ph.D.
Natural Resources: Master of Environmental Law and Policy/Master of Science in Natural Resources (MELP/MSNR)
Transdisciplinary Leadership & Creativity for Sustainability Ph.D
See the online Graduate Catalogue for more information
Degree Requirements
Students must be matriculated in the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources and in residence at the University of Vermont during the period in which they earn 30 of the last 45 credits applied toward the degree. Students must earn a cumulative grade-point average of 2.00 or above. Students must complete a program of study which includes:
- University Degree Requirements for Undergraduates
- Catamount Core Curriculum requirements
- Rubenstein Core Curriculum Requirements
- Major Requirements
Core Curriculum
The school’s core curriculum provides a common experience for all students. The innovative eight-course sequence creates an integrated foundation upon which the individual majors in the school are constructed. Core courses focus on the underlying fundamentals from which natural resources disciplines have evolved and the application of these fundamentals to problems or issues in the natural world and society. The core courses also promote development of critical thinking, communication, problem solving, and analytical skills. Faculty from all undergraduate programs teach in the core. The RSENR core curriculum represents knowledge, skills, and values that are central to the study of natural resources and the environment.
Eight courses are required (25 credits):
| NR 1010 | Natural Hist & Human Ecology 1 1, 3 | 4 |
| NR 1020 | Natural Hist & Human Ecology 2 1, 3 | 4 |
| NR 1050 | Critical Reflection & Dialogue | 1 |
| NR 1060 | Race & Culture in NR 2, 3 | 3 |
| NR 2030 | Ecology, Ecosystems & Environ 3 | 3 |
| NR 2040 | Social Proc & the Environment 3 | 3 |
| NR 3050 | Ecosys Mgt:Intg Sci,Soc&Pol 3 | 3 |
| NR 4060 | Env Prob Sol & Impact Assessmt 3 | 4 |
- 1
Internal and external transfer students to RSENR substitute NR 1090, Social-ecological Systems for NR 1010 and NR 1020.
- 2
Internal and external transfer students to RSENR may take any 3-credit Category D1 course from the University Approved Diversity courses to substitute for NR 1060, and any 3-credit Category D1 or D2 course to complete the Catamount Core requirement.
- 3
RSENR Core Curriculum requirements also fulfill Catamount Core Requirements.
NR 1010 and NR 1020 provide an introduction to the study of natural resources and the environment from both natural and social science standpoints. The intermediate courses in the sequence, NR 2030 and NR 2040, emphasize ecosystems and social systems, respectively. NR 3050 and NR 4060 focus directly on integrated and holistic management. In NR 3050, students integrate natural and social science to understand environmental management principles and policies. In NR 4060, the capstone course taken during their senior year, students are challenged to synthesize and apply the interdisciplinary knowledge, skills, and values they have learned to contemporary natural resources and environmental issues. NR 1050 and NR 1060 explore how social justice and environmental issues are intertwined, and help students become culturally competent in an increasingly diverse world.
Undecided Majors
Students interested in studying the environment and natural resources, but who wish to postpone their decision on a specific major, enroll in Undecided-Environment and Natural Resources.