Natural resources | Fire ecology and management option

The Master of Natural Resources in fire ecology and management is a 30-credit, non-thesis, course-based graduate degree designed to provide advanced, applied training in wildfire science and natural resources management. The curriculum combines core fire science coursework with flexible electives and hands-on learning opportunities that allow you to tailor the program to your professional goals.

• View the degree map.
• View the CNR Graduate Student and Faculty Handbook.
• Explore courses in the University Catalog.
• Frequently asked questions.

Fast facts:  

• 30 course-based semester credits, non-thesis program designed for working professionals.
• Students may complete the degree in just three semesters.
• Up to 12 applicable credits can be transferred into the program.
• Can be completed entirely online or in-person.
• No GRE required.
• Program is for starting or advancing careers in fire ecology.
• Eligible for federal financial aid.
• Apply year-round.

Core coursework includes:

• 14 core credits
  • Fuels inventory and monitoring.
  • Fire ecology.
  • Science synthesis and communication.
  • Advanced fire behavior.
  • Wildland fire policy.
• Two courses in tools and technology.
• One course in ecology and management.
• Two courses in policy, planning, and society.

Students develop a final comprehensive portfolio demonstrating applied knowledge, professional growth and career-ready skills.  

The program offers more than 60 online natural resources courses and includes opportunities to complete a concurrent Fire Ecology and Management Technology Certificate. Graduates are also qualified to apply for certification as a Wildland Fire Ecologist through the Association for Fire Ecology. 

2026-27 M.N.R. program costs

All online M.N.R. students pay the same flat $649 per-credit rate regardless of residency status, enrollment level or academic term for this 30 credit degree. An additional $35 per-credit web-based course fee also applies.

• Online cost per credit: $649 + $35 per-credit web-based course fee

This rate includes tuition for M.N.R. course enrollment. Some courses may require additional fees.

Students enrolled in the on-campus M.N.R. program pay standard University of Idaho graduate tuition and fees based on residency status, enrollment level and academic term.

Employer tuition assistance  

Many employers, including state and federal agencies, offer tuition assistance, training funds, or professional development support. Check with your supervisor, training coordinator, or human resources office to learn what your organization provides.

Program contact:

Have questions about the program, research opportunities or the graduate student experience? Connect with our program team for personalized assistance about curriculum, faculty guidance and application requirements.

College of Natural Resources Graduate Studies Office: 
cnr-grad-studies@uidaho.edu
208-885-1505

For questions related to admissions, application materials, transcripts or enrollment steps, contact Graduate Admissions:

Graduate Admissions:
graduateadmissions@uidaho.edu
208-885-4001

Interested in research areas? Explore faculty expertise, research interests on the department’s faculty page.

Find fire ecology and management program faculty

Applicants for the Master of Natural Resources in fire ecology and management must meet the following admission requirements:

Program availability

• Concentration: Non-thesis
• Semester intake: Fall, spring and summer.
  • Eligible for expedited admission for U of I undergraduates.
  • Open to international applicants.
  • International students on F-1 or J-1 must complete degree within two years.
• Rolling admissions for three terms: spring, summer, and fall.
• Priority Deadlines: The MNR program has rolling admissions – priority deadlines are as follows:
  • Summer semester – April 1
  • Fall semester — April 1
  • Spring semester — Nov. 1
• View the academic calendar to see start and end dates.

University Requirements

• Education level: Education level: Bachelor's degree from an accredited or recognized institution (earned or expected before the start of the graduate program).
  • Transcripts for all post-secondary education will be required. Unofficial transcripts may be used for initial admission review. Official transcripts sent by the issuing institution(s) will be required if admitted. View more information on the Graduate Admissions page.  
• GPA: 3.0 (Applicants with a lower undergraduate GPA who have relevant professional experience in the field, have already earned a graduate degree, or have completed graduate-level credits may still be considered for admission with approval from the academic program.)
• GRE: Not required
• Letters of recommendation: Two
• Resume  
• Statement of Purpose  
• Valid picture ID (required to verify students’ identity and will be kept confidential).
• English proficiency (for applicants whose education was completed in countries where English is not an official language).  
  • Accepted tests: TOEFL: 4.5, IELTS: 6.5, Duolingo: 115, PTE-A: 58. Learn what qualifies as proof of English proficiency.  
• Application fee: $50

Application and admission process

Applications are submitted online and are specific to the program and term selected. Applicants seeking admission to multiple programs must submit a separate application for each program.

Before submitting an application, applicants must provide personal and academic information from all post-secondary institutions attended, recommender information, required program-specific materials, and their intended program and start term.

Applications are reviewed for admission by the academic program. Only complete applications, including required letters of recommendation and payment of the application fee, will be forwarded for evaluation and admission decision. Applicants are strongly encouraged to complete their applications early to allow sufficient time for a thorough review.

International students seeking F-1 or J-1 visas must provide financial documentation demonstrating their ability to cover the cost of attendance. This documentation is required only after admission. 

Visit Graduate Admissions to learn more and start your application. 

Graduates of the program pursue a wide range of careers across the natural resources and environmental sectors. More than 90% of graduates are employed after completing the degree, with many securing full-time roles in federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as nonprofits, utilities, and private industry. Common career paths include environmental planning and sustainability management, conservation and natural resource management, forestry and fire, GIS and data analytics, education and outreach, and environmental engineering. Alumni are working in positions such as environmental planners, program managers, wildland firefighters, GIS analysts, conservation officers, and environmental health and safety engineers. These outcomes demonstrate the program’s strong alignment with in-demand, applied careers.

Students are well-supported in launching and advancing their careers, in part through the strength of the M.N.R. program’s global network of peers and colleagues. More than half of students are employed while completing their degree, bringing diverse professional experiences from across agencies, organizations, and industries into the classroom. This creates a dynamic learning environment where classmates also serve as collaborators, professional contacts, and long-term connections in the field.

In addition to this built-in network, students are supported by Career Services, faculty mentors, and broader professional networks that provide guidance, industry insight, and support in identifying job opportunities. Resources such as job boards, networking events, and applied learning experiences help students build practical skills while expanding their professional community. Together, these connections position graduates for successful transitions into the workforce and continued career growth in environmental and natural resources fields. 

Regardless of whether courses are in-person or online, all courses within the program are bound to the start and end dates of the semester it is being offered. Fall (mid-August – mid-December) and spring (January – mid-May) semesters are 16 weeks long (excluding breaks such as Thanksgiving and spring break). There are less than a handful of courses that are 8 weeks long during these semesters. Summer courses are typically 8–12 weeks long.  

Most online courses are asynchronous, meaning you can log into the learning platform to view course materials on their own time. Depending on the course and instructor, assignments can have specific due dates throughout the semester or require all work to be completed by the end of the semester. Course delivery varies by instructor and subject. You may learn through recorded lectures, narrated presentations, readings, case studies, discussions, and applied projects. Most courses are asynchronous with weekly deadlines, so you can fit coursework around work and life, and every course is taught by University of Idaho faculty or instructor with relevant professional experience. A handful of online courses are synchronous and require students to join class via Zoom at specified times just as if you were attending classes in person. However, you should be able to complete the degree by choosing only asynchronous courses that do not have a set meeting time. 

The curriculum is very flexible and allows you to take as many courses as you are comfortable with per semester. Some students are full-time and take 9 or more credits, equivalent to 3 or more classes per semester. However, most of our students work full-time and typically take 1 or 2 courses a semester (between 2 and 6 credits). Depending on how many courses you decide to take each semester and your transfer credits, the program can be completed in 1–3 years. 

Currently, there is no official process you are required to follow if you need to take a temporary step back from your studies. You can take a semester off as needed, then register for the next semester as usual without repercussions. If you take at least one credit in a two-year period, you will remain an active student and will be able to register for courses.  

To remain an active student, you must enroll in at least one credit within a two-year period. For example, if your last enrollment was in Fall 2026, you would need to register for at least one credit before Fall 2028. If you do not enroll within that two-year window, your status will become inactive, and you will need to apply for readmission to continue your program. 

The general rule for fall and spring semesters (16 weeks) is you can expect to spend about 3 hours per credit per week on schoolwork. So, a 3-credit course would require about 9 hours of course work per week. During the summer semesters, classes are typically 8 – 12 weeks in length. For example, an 8-week course would require about 6 hours per credit per week, and a 12-week course would require about 4.5 hours per credit per week. Increase the amount of time each week for courses outside your discipline experience. 

Students in the M.N.R. program options do not need to submit study plans unless they are transferring director-approved credits from another institution. If transferring credits, plans should include as close to 30 credits being used for the degree without going under, even if you take more than 30 credits (such as students in certificate programs). 

We recommend applicants with a GPA lower than 3.0 to address it in their statement of purpose in addition to the normal topics (introduction, academic and career goals, how the program can help achieve those goals, etc.) We encourage you to explain why your GPA was low, what was learned from the experience and how you plan to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA throughout the graduate program. Great letters of recommendation are beneficial. University of Idaho allows for provisional admission, which requires you to complete a specific course(s) by a specified time. In some situations, the applicant is asked to take M.N.R. courses as a degree-seeking student prior to starting the program. If you do well in the courses, you can reapply to the M.N.R. program and transfer the credits taken as a non-degree seeking student into program. 

The only requirement for applying is a bachelor's degree of any kind and at least a 3.0 GPA.  

As a graduate student, it is assumed your bachelor’s degree meets all prerequisite requirements. It is expected you will self-assess your capacity to succeed in courses before the deadline to drop each session. Some instructors may require you to have some experience with a specific topic to take one of their courses. This will be addressed on a case-by-case basis after admission into the program. Introductory level courses in biology, ecology, and/or statistics would help with understanding, but they are not required to apply. 

Many students come from backgrounds unrelated to natural resources such as accounting, history, language studies, etc., and are successful in the program. The only requirement for applying is a bachelor's degree of any kind and at least a 3.0 GPA.  

Before enrolling in each course, you are responsible for making sure you have the background needed to be successful. Some courses may require prior experience with a specific topic. These requirements are determined on a case-by-case basis after you are admitted to the program. Introductory courses in biology, ecology or statistics can provide a helpful foundation, but they are not required to apply.

If you’re concerned about your preparedness for the degree, you may consider:

1. Taking introductory courses in biology, ecology, and/or statistics either at University of Idaho or another college, such as a community college. These courses do not need to be for credit. The goal is to ensure you have the proper background knowledge rather than course credit.  
2. Apply as a non-degree seeking student. The non-degree seeking application is quick and easy. Applicants typically receive a response within a couple of weeks. If you choose to take courses as a non-degree seeking student, you could take undergraduate level courses in biology, ecology, and/or statistics or take graduate level courses that could apply to the M.N.R. degree, or both. If you take graduate courses that are on the curriculum of the M.N.R., those courses could later be applied to the degree if you earned a letter grade B or better. A maximum of 12 non-degree seeking credits (roughly four courses) can be applied to the M.N.R. degree.  

It is possible to apply as a non-degree seeking student and later transfer non-degree seeking credits into the M.N.R. program. You may transfer a maximum of 12 credits (roughly four courses) into a master’s degree. These courses must be on the M.N.R. curriculum and earned with a grade B or better. The non-degree seeking student application is an option in the U of I application for admission. The non-degree seeking application is located under the undergraduate degree options. If you’re accepted, advisors can help you choose courses as a non-degree student that can later transfer into the M.N.R. program. Reach out cnr-grad-studies@uidaho.edu once you’ve been accepted as a non-degree seeking student. 

University of Idaho allows a maximum of 12 transfer credits to be applied towards a master’s degree. The credits must meet the following criteria:

1. Must be at the graduate level (no undergraduate credits are transferable).
2. Must be directly applicable to the curriculum.
3. Earned with a C or better.
4. Approved by the M.N.R. Director.
5. Cannot be conferred within a bachelor’s degree.
6. A maximum of six credits can be shared between the completed graduate degree and M.N.R. degree.

Find transfer credit policy information.

If you’d like to find out whether your transfer credits can be applied to the M.N.R. before you apply, email cnr-grad-studies@uidaho.edu a list of courses you would like to transfer, an unofficial transcript and a syllabus for each course. If a syllabus is not available, you can provide a link to the course description on the university’s website instead. 

The M.N.R. program and College of Natural Resources do not provide scholarships for this degree. Teaching and research assistantships are intended primarily for students pursuing research degrees, such as thesis-based master’s degrees and Ph.D.s, so assistantship funding is uncommon for M.N.R. students. Most M.N.R. students fund their education through employer education reimbursement programs, student financial aid or personal funds.  

University of Idaho’s Scholarship Universe platform connects students with scholarship opportunities based on information from their application. You can access Scholarship Universe after you are accepted into the program. The platform matches you with scholarships you may qualify for, and you can apply for multiple scholarships. Most awards range from $500 to $1,000.

For questions about Scholarship Universe or financial aid, contact Student Financial Aid Services at finaid@uidaho.edu or 208-885-6312. 

Both the non-thesis, M.S. in environmental science and the Master of Natural Resources (MNR) programs are course based (non-thesis) degrees that can be completed entirely online. Both degree programs are designed to help individuals with career advancement or career change. Each degree has flexible curricula that allow you to study what most interests you and to progress through the program at your own pace.  

While there is crossover between courses in each program, the biggest difference lies in how the curricula are structured and the interdisciplinary focus. The M.S. in environmental science is a campus-wide interdisciplinary curriculum and the M.N.R. is focused on natural resource management. The final non-thesis requirements are different.  

The M.N.R. has four online options focused on broad aspects of natural resources. The broadest option is Integrated Natural Resources. The Master of Natural Resources is more focused on natural resource management than the M.S. in environmental science. 

• Integrated natural resources.  
• Fire ecology and management.
• Fish and wildlife science and management.
• Restoration ecology and habitat management.

For these four M.N.R. options, the final portfolio will be completed in your final semester and is a reflective summary of your educational experience in alignment with the five M.N.R. learning outcomes. In your final portfolio, you’ll demonstrate each student learning objective with an assignment you completed. For each objective, you’ll explain the assignment and how it demonstrates your learning.

All four M.N.R. options listed above are available online or on the Moscow campus. The Environmental Education and Science Communication option (EESC) is a residential program that is only available at the U of I McCall Field Campus.

The general curriculum for the M.S. in environmental science is:

• Depth requirement: complete a minimum of 15 credits in one of the three option areas: biological science, physical science or social science.
• Breadth requirement: complete a minimum of three credits in each of the other two option areas listed above.
• Complete one 3-credit course (5000 level) in research methods or statistics.
• Complete two credits of seminar (ENVS 5010).
• Complete three credits of non-thesis research (ENVS 5990) which is used to complete a final project. The final project is meant to focus on real-world application and can take several different forms – literature review, proposal to implement a new policy/program, report critiquing current regulations/practices and suggestions on how to fix it, data analysis, etc.  

Contact the CNR Graduate Studies Office for more information cnr-grad-studies@uidaho.edu.

Non-thesis programs, such as the M.N.R., are course-based and geared towards industry professionals, such as those interested in career advancement or a change in career. Non-thesis degrees are considered terminal degrees for professionals as they do not develop research skills leading to a Ph.D. Non-thesis M.N.R. programs are available online and do not require a faculty mentor prior to admission.  

Thesis programs are research-based programs. They require the support of a faculty mentor prior to admission and are designed for students looking to develop research skills or advancing to a Ph.D. Given the mentorship and research involved in thesis degrees, the availability of an online thesis option is determined by the supervising faculty member. 

The M.N.R. degree is a course-based program that does not require the development of independent research skills. Because of this, it is considered a professional (terminal) degree. It is rare for students to go on to a Ph.D. program after completing a non-thesis program such as the M.N.R. Typically, to be accepted into a Natural Resources related Ph.D. program, one would need to complete a Master of Science (M.S.) thesis degree, which is a research-based program. 

The M.N.R. degree is a non-thesis program, meaning it is a course-based program that does not include conducting research. Online coursework is possible for some M.S. thesis and Ph.D. programs, but completing a research-based degree fully online is uncommon. The research component requires close mentorship from a faculty advisor who is willing to support a student conducting research away from campus. Research also may require access to university resources, such as computing systems, laboratories and in-person collaboration. These resources are based primarily on the Moscow campus, with some available at remote locations such as Coeur d’Alene, Boise and Idaho Falls. 

Transfer credits may be accepted with approval. Students are limited to 12 total transfer credits. Limit six transfer credits conferred in a previous master’s degree. Courses conferred in undergraduate degrees are ineligible for transfer.  

All transfer credit requests must:

• Be graduate-level coursework.
• Be earned with a grade of B or higher.

To receive director level approval, email your request to cnr-grad-studies@uidaho.edu and include the following:

• Course prefix, number, and title.
• Number of credits.
• Awarding institution.
• A syllabus or link to the course catalog description.
• The specific curriculum requirement you would like the course to replace. 
  Include a brief explanation of:
  • How the course aligns with that requirement.
  • How the course supports your academic and career goals.

Our office will review your request and follow up with next steps or a decision.