Final Project

• The MNR program requires 2-3 credits of NR 599 Non-thesis Research, which will be applied towards the Final Project requirement. Two credits reflect the expectation that students will spend approximately 80 hours of effort over the course of 1 semester. The NR 599 course must be passed with a grade of “B” or higher for students to graduate from the program. The Non-thesis Research is intended to be a capstone experience where information and skills built during the student’s tenure at the University of Idaho are brought together in a synthesizing experience. For students in the EESC track, please refer to guidelines from MOSS.
• Option 1: Comprehensive Portfolio. Students will select assignments from their coursework that demonstrate achievement of each of the MNR SLOs shown below. Each SLO will be the title of a chapter, which will include the actual assignment along with a 1-page description of how the assignment helped the student achieve that specific SLO. Each SLO must have a uniquely representative assignment. A minimum of four different UI courses must be drawn from.
• The Portfolio will include an introduction (1-3 pages describing the selection of assignments) and a Discussion, comprised of 3-5 pages describing how the MNR program and achievement of the SLOs has influenced the thinking, skills, and career trajectory of the student. The final portfolio will be due to the Director 1.5 months prior to the end of the semester (or June 20th of the summer semester) and must include a note from the adviser that it has been reviewed prior to being submitted to the Director. It will be evaluated by a committee and assessment will be provided to the student prior to graduation.
• Option 2: Project. A project should be designed working closely with your advisor: the topic you choose should help you build skills related to your career goals. If you are a working professional in a related field, one option is to align your project with activities at work. Another option is to choose a topic you learned about in a class or through personal experience and would like to explore further. Final Projects can range from a case study evaluation of a natural resource management issue, giving a research-based presentation at a conference, developing outreach materials, writing a research synthesis or a set of fact sheets, working with a NGO or other stakeholders to develop a policy statement, analyzing data to produce publishable research notes, creating informational modules or training lectures, or other products.
• The first Project deliverable is the proposal, which should be developed by the student and evaluated by the Advisor early in the final semester.
• At the end of the semester in which the student is graduating, a presentation of the Project is required. This can be done from any location via live stream. The presentation will include an assessment of and reflection on the Student Learning Outcomes from the program, as related to the student’s overall program of study. The reflection should address how the MNR program and achievement of the SLOs has influenced the thinking, skills, and career trajectory of the student.

MNR Student Learning Outcomes: