The Human Dimensions program builds a strong scientific base for understanding and affecting people’s thought and behavior toward natural and managed environments, with the goal of improving stewardship of ecosystems and natural resources. Environmental managers and researchers increasingly need to understand the human element – human behaviors, attitudes and needs – and incorporate these into natural resources planning. They also may be called on to facilitate collaboration between groups, help resolve conflicts, create policies, serve as educators and advocate for environmental issues. This specialization offers both natural resources and social science courses to provide a well-rounded curriculum focused on human-environment interactions.

Participating faculty in other units, such as Agricultural Economics, Anthropology and Geography, Community and Regional Planning, Psychology, and Law, offer a range of natural resource and social science study, allowing students to design individualized programs.

View a brief list of Human Dimensions projects involving faculty and graduate students.

Drought Monitor

Drought Monitor prepared in part by the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC)

The School of Natural Resources is housed in the newly renovated Hardin Hall on UNL’s beautiful East Campus. The new building has excellent laboratory, office, and classroom facilities to support research, teaching and outreach regarding the human dimensions of natural resources. The University of Nebraska is also home to several centers that provide students opportunities to gain practical experience in a variety of climate, water and other natural resource subjects:

  • National Drought Mitigation Center
  • High Plains Regional Climate Center
  • Great Plains Regional Center for Global Environmental Change
  • Center for Advanced Land Management Information Technologies
  • Water Center
  • Public Policy Center
Faculty Point-of-Contact

If you are interested in the Human Dimensions graduate specialization, please feel free to contact the following SNR faculty member:

Dr. Mark Burbach

Advising Faculty
Collaborating Faculty Department
J. David Aiken Agricultural Economics
Gary D. Lynne Agricultural Economics
Gina Matkin Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications
Lisa Pennisi Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications
Gordon Scholz Community and Regional Planning
Raymond J. Supalla Agricultural Economics
Alan J. Tomkins Law/Psychology
Sandra B. Zelmer College of Law

Areas of Study

  • Agroecology
  • Climate Variability & Change
  • Community and Regional Planning
  • Drought Planning and Management
  • Environmental and Ecological Economics
  • Environmental Leadership
  • Environmental and Natural Resources Policy
  • Forest Ecology
  • Fisheries and Wildlife
  • Natural Resources and Environmental Law
  • Recreation and Park Planning

Examples of Thesis and Dissertations

The Effect of Regulation on Household Solid Waste Management in Lincoln and Augsburg: A Comparative Study - Amir Vafa
  • Thesis Defense
  • 11/24/2009

Private household recycling is a significant aspect of consumerism in economically developed countries and the inevitable question of household waste management has gained more importance among municipalities in recent years. The present study examines the effect of regulation on household solid waste management. Within a comparative, qualitative framework, the study explores and evaluates the pro-regulatory effects in Germany and the anti-regulatory policies in the United States by means of comparing two similar communities, Lincoln, Nebraska and Augsburg, Germany. By examining the present legislations, official documents, legal and operational procedures, and other relevant artifacts, laws and regulations the degree of their success are analyzed. The second major element of the study is consumerism, as a phenomenon inherent to industrialized societies. After examining the relationship between regulations and consumption, the results show that a pro-regulatory policy, in the case of Germany, is more sustainable. The results of this study may be valuable for future research, municipal policy makers, recycling program managers, and other interested stakeholders.

Admission Requirements

There are no specific requirements beyond those necessary for admission into the School of Natural Resources graduate program. Once admitted, students are eligible for competitive graduate research and teaching assistantships. Fellowships can help offset the cost of out-of-state tuition. Several UNL centers offer employment opportunities for graduate students.

All potential SNR M.S. graduate students must meet the following minimum requirements or provide the requested information:

  • A bachelor’s degree with a background that includes at least one course in each of the following disciplines with a minimum of eight courses total:
    • Mathematics (must include one semester of Calculus)
    • Physics
    • Chemistry
    • Life Sciences (Agronomy, Biology, Ecology, Forestry, Wetlands, etc.)
    • Earth Sciences (Geology, Meteorology, Oceanography, Soils, etc.)
  • GRE with minimum recommended scores of 1120 for Verbal and Quantitative copmbined and 4.0 for Analytical Writing.
  • TOEFL score of 550 paper-, 213 computer- or 79 web-based (applies only to international applicants for whom English is not the first language)
  • GPA of 3.0 (on a 4-point system)
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Statement of purpose

Program Requirements

Document with complete program requirements

A greater emphasis on interdisciplinary and integrated research and the importance of understanding human behavior in the conservation, management and restoration of natural resources, ecosystems and the environment is leading to increased opportunities in business, government and non-governmental organizations at all levels.

Natural Resource
Sciences Program
Specializations