Requirements of M.S. Plan B Degree 

We are no longer accepting students into this program. Please apply to our MEM Program

M.S. Plan B is a course-driven professional degree that requires a total of 36 credits. Students are required to declare a concentration from one of four possible concentration areas (see below). Courses include the Primary Master's Core (9 credits), research methods (3 credits), a minimum of 9 elective credits from the chosen concentration area, a minimum of 3 elective credits from each of the other three concentration areas, and a 6 credit capstone experience.

Honu, sea turtle

Primary Master's Core (9 credits)

  • NREM 600 Evaluation of Natural Resources Management (4)
  • NREM 601 Economic Analysis of Natural Resource Management (4)
  • NREM 701 Research Seminar in NREM (1)

Research Methods (3 credits)

  • Course in research methods (3); 400-level or above

M.S. Plan B Concentration Areas (total 18 credits)

M.S. Plan B students will select a concentration area from one of four options: (a) Geospatial Analysis & Modeling, (b) Environmental Policy & Economics, (c) Applied Terrestrial Ecology, and (d) Land & Water Resource Management. They are required to take a minimum of 9 credits from their concentration area and 3 credits from each of the other areas. Of the 18 credits required: (i) at least 12 credits must be NREM courses; and (ii) a maximum of 12 credits of 400-level courses are allowed – however, the 12 credits will reduce to 9 credits if a 400-level course is taken to fulfill the research methods requirement. Course substitutions will be considered via a petition by a faculty advisor to the curriculum committee.

This is an updated list for M.S. Plan B concentration areas.

For additional course applicability criteria, refer to:

http://manoa.hawaii.edu/graduate/content/course-applicability.


M.S. Plan B Capstone Experience (6 credits)

The capstone provides students with an integrative experience in natural resources and environmental management. The capstone experience will vary from student to student, but typically will involve: (i) an internship/ coop/ special field experience; (ii) an investigation of a special topic; and/or (iii) development of a project, directed readings/study, or a research project. Each student is expected to take the primary role in identifying and organizing their capstone experience.  Each student will be required to give a public proposal and defense presentation, and provide a written proposal and final document on their capstone experience.

The capstone experience consists of: (i) NREM 695 (1 cr), to be taken when the student is preparing their proposal; and (ii) NREM 696 (3 cr) and NREM 699 (2 cr; register with faculty advisor), to be taken when the student has completed their capstone experience and is writing up their final document.  All capstone experiences require approval from the M.S. Plan B Capstone Panel, which consists of the faculty advisor, the NREM 695 course instructor, and an at-large Panel member.



M.S. Plan B Forms

FORM I

FORM II

FORM III