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Programs of Study, 1997-1999
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Head of Department: G.L. Rolfe
Correspondence and Information: Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, W-503 Turner Hall, 1102 South Goodwin Av., Urbana, IL 61801; (217) 333-2770; Fax: (217) 244-3219.
E-mail: nres@uiuc.edu. URL: http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/~nres/
GRADUATE FACULTY
Professors: C. W. Boast, S. L. Brown, P. Chow, M. B. David, J. O. Dawson, A. G. Endress, G. Z. Gertner, F. A. Giles, J. J. Hassett, M. E. Irwin, R. L. Jones, J. A. Juvik, S. S. Korban, R. A. Larson, R. L. Mulvaney, J. J. Nicholaides, T. R. Peck, M. Raheel, C. A. Rebeiz, G. L. Rolfe, R. M. Skirvin, M. A. L. Smith, W. E. Splittstoesser, L. A. Spomer, J. W. Stucki, D. J. Williams.
Associate Professors: J.E. Appleby; B. E. Branham, M. A. Cole, R. G. Darmody, T. R. Ellsworth, T. W. Fermanian, G. J. Kling, J. B. Masiunas, G. A. Mendoza, K. R. Olson, D. W. Onstad, F. W. Simmons, J. M. Swiader, J. Vining, R. E. Warner, H. T. Wilkinson.
Assistant Professors: M. Alario, R. J. Brazee, J. D. Chinea-Rivera, R. J. Hudson, L. J. Jackson, M. Kushad, G. F. McIsaac, G. Mitiku, N. J. Smith-Sebasto, W. C. Sullivan, M. M. Wander, K. A. Williams.
Adjunct Faculty: C. E. Eastman, A. Hill, S. R. Hill, C. A. Phillips, R. L. Phipps, D. J. Tazik, T. R. Vandeelen, D. C. White, E. R. Zaborski.
Department Affiliates: E. J. Armbrust, M. R. Berenbaum, J. D. Brawn, J. M. Cheeseman, J. L. Crane, E. H. Delucia, L. L. Getz, B. M. Hannon, R. A. Herendeen, E. E. Herricks, E. J. Heske, M. G. Huck, M. R. Jeffords, S. L. Kohler, D. A. Kovacic, W. E. LaBerge, R. P. Larkin, G. A. Levin, E. Levine, J. V. Maddox, C. D. McDonald, R. J. Novak, B. A. Orland, L. M. Page, K. N. Paige, A. E. Reisner, S. M. Ries, K. R. Robertson, S. K. Robinson, W. R. Roy, W. G. Ruesink, D. W. Schneider, G. K. Sims, D. A. Soluk, D. J. Voegtlin, S. B. Von Bodman, D. H. Wahl, D. W. Webb, R. A. Weinzierl, C. M. Weller, R. N. Wiedenmann, D. R. Williams.
GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAM
The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences is a broad and diverse department offering flexible M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. The mission of the department is to establish and implement research and educational programs that enhance environmental stewardship in the management and use of natural, agricultural, and urban systems in a socially responsible manner. Composed of approximately 50 faculty, 60 affiliates and 110 graduate students with a large supporting staff, the department includes the following major areas of research and teaching: agricultural entomology, forestry, horticulture, and soil science. This variety of disciplines provides a systems-level perspective that few departments can offer. Further illustrating the breadth of natural resoursces and environmental sciences, additional research areas include but are not limited to: aquatic chemistry, environmental education, humans and the environment, integrated pest management, natural resource economics, restoration ecology, quantitative analysis, textile chemistry and physics, turfgrass, wildlife ecology, and wood science.
ADMISSION
Applicants must have a grade average of 3.0 (4.0=A) calculated on the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate course work. This includes the entire semester in which the 60th hour occurs. Applicants on a quarter system are evaluated on their last two years or 90 quarter hours. Applicants should have adequate preparation in the fundamental sciences and courses appropriate to their proposed field of study in natural resources and environmental sciences. Applicants without the necessary prerequisites may be accepted conditionally and the undergraduate courses must be completed before the degree will be awarded. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required of all students. There is no minimum score for admission, and the results will be examined along with GPA, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, and other information in the application package. Students whose native language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences requires a minimum score of 550 on this test. Applicants who are not U.S. citizens must also submit evidence that they have sufficient financial support for their entire program of study. Prospective graduate students are urged to apply for admission to the degree program as early as possible, preferably six to ten months before the beginning of the semester in which they expect to enroll. For fall admission, a deadline of March 1 is used for review of students for financial assistance. Although applications can be submitted later, the chance for financial support may be decreased. Strong letters of reference, evident motivation to undertake graduate study, and good preparation in basic science courses enhance an applicant's credentials.
MASTER OF SCIENCE
Two options are open to students who wish to pursue a master of science degree in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences. In both options the student must complete NRES 494-Professional Orientation in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences and enroll and present a seminar. These courses do not count towards the eight units required for the M.S. Plan A (thesis option) requires that the student complete a minimum of eight units (one unit = four semester hours) of graduate course work, three units of which are 400-level courses. This course work shall include one to three units of research experience (Forestry, Agronomy or Horticulture 499), which culminates in the completion and oral defense of a thesis. Plan A is required of all research assistants.
Plan B (non-thesis) option is permitted under certain conditions. Any requests for this option is considered on its individual merit by the Graduate Committee of the department. This option is often a terminal degree program for those students who do not plan to pursue a career in research or for those who wish to change areas of specialization after the M.S. degree. The plan B option may also be appropriate in special cases where a student executes a major special project equivalent to a M.S. thesis, but that does not lend itself to the thesis format. A Plan B student must satisfactorily complete a minimum of eight units of graduate course work, 3 units of which shall be 400-level courses (one unit = four semester hours). The student must also prepare and submit a critical review of a special subject in his or her chosen area of interest and defend it orally. In addition, the student must perform satisfactorily on a department comprehensive written examination.
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
For the Ph.D. program, eight units of course work and eight units of research experience (Forestry, Agronomy or Horticulture 499) beyond a M.S. degree is required (one unit = four semester hours). The student must, in addition, complete NRES 494-Professional Orientation in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences and enroll and present two seminars, one of which covers the thesis research. Students working toward the Ph.D. degree are required to pass a general examination (called a preliminary examination) before admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree. Also, students must successfully complete a final oral examination (thesis defense). In most cases, students earn a M.S. before starting work on a Ph.D. However, in certain cases, it is possible to take the course work required for the M.S. as part of a Ph.D. program. Details of the B.S. to Ph.D. programs are available from the graduate coordinator.
SPECIALIZATION IN GENETICS
The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences offers an area of specialization in genetics. The program is flexible and provides the student with proficiency in several areas of genetics, including molecular genetics, developmental genetics, and evolutionary and population genetics. Students electing this area should have completed course work in calculus, computer sciences, basic genetics, and biochemistry. The program of study for each student in the specialization is decided individually. Interested students should direct inquiries and applications to the department.
SPECIALIZATION IN NATURAL RESOURCE ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences offers a specialization in natural resource ecology and conservation biology. This Ph.D. program is flexible and provides students with proficiency in several core content areas. The program of study requires all students to satisfy requirements in specified core content areas before developing an individual specialization. Interested students should direct inquiries and applications to the department.
SPECIALIZATION IN PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences also participates in the multidepartmental, interdisciplinary program in plant physiology and molecular biology. The program is flexible and provides the student with proficiency in several areas of plant physiology and molecular biology. Interested students should direct inquiries and applications to the program coordinator in the School of Life Sciences.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Major areas of faculty research include: agribusiness; arboriculture/urban forestry/landscape management/silviculture; biotechnology/genetic engineering; expert systems/modeling/AI/statistics; fish and wildlife ecology; floriculture/greenhouse management/ornamental horticulture; food crops; forest products/wood science; genetics and plant breeding/molecular biology; natural resource ecology/agroecology/applied ecology; natural resource education/communications; natural resource management/policy/economics; plant nutrition/controlled environment agriculture; plant physiology and biochemistry; plant propagation/tissue culture; plant-people interactions; plant-pest interactions/pest ecology; soil chemistry, fertility, and mineralogy; soil ecology, biochemistry, and microbiology; soil genesis, classification, and conservation; soil physics; soil-environmental quality; textile science/fiber science; turfgrass science; and water quality/hydrology/watershed management.
FINANCIAL AID
Several sources of financial aid are available within the department: research assistantships, supported by federal and grant funds made available to the natural resources and environmental sciences faculty; teaching assistantships; University of Illinois fellowships; College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences Jonathan Baldwin Turner fellowships; and waivers of tuition and fees. Appointments as research and teaching assistants and fellows provide a stipend and waive tuition and most of the fees.
Financial aid is granted on a competitive basis. Applicants are judged for academic potential based on past performance, experience, motivation, and dedication to the designated area of interest, and where applicable, the potential to satisfy the objectives of a donor. Fellowships have minimum GPA and GRE score requirements. Information about the current availability of financial aid can be obtained from the graduate coordinator or, in the case of research assistantships, directly from faculty members working in the area of interest.
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