The primary objective of the Human Dimensions of Natural Resources (HD) Graduate Certificate is to equip professionals from diverse disciplinary backgrounds with a proficiency in social science methodology and skills that are essential for solving complex natural resource management challenges in our society. The certificate is administered by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management (PRTM) Graduate Program with primary support by the interdisciplinary multi-college Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology (FWCB) Graduate Program. This certificate is intended for students in interdisciplinary graduate programs at NCSU who tackle natural resource management issues, including relevant issues in cultural heritage areas. However, it is also open to students from outside interested in similar issues.

Admission Information

Current graduate students must submit an HD Graduate Certificate application (managed by the PRTM Graduate Program Associate, in association with the PRTM DGP) and obtain email approval from the HD Graduate Certificate coordinators in order to pursue the certificate. Once approved by the Certificate coordinators, the Director of Graduate Programs (DGP) in the students’ home department will grant final approval before students submit their Graduate Degree Audit.

Applicant Information

• Delivery Method: On-Campus
• Entrance Exam: None
• Interview Required: None

Application Deadlines

Plan Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required Courses		6
PRT 550	Human Behavior and the Environment
FW 511	Human Dimensions of Wildlife and Fisheries
Elective Courses		6
Select at least 6 credits from courses listed under "Elective Courses" approved in conjunction with the academic committee
Total Hours		12

Elective Courses

PRTM Graduate Programs

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
PRT 552	Field Experience in Nature-Based Recreation & Tourism Management
PRT 555	Environmental Impacts of Recreation and Tourism
PRT 560	Theory and Practice of Partnerships for Conservation and Community Sustainability
PRT 575	Children and Nature
PRT 700	Concepts and Theories of Leisure and Recreation
PRT 701	Research Methods in Parks, Recreation, & Tourism Management
PRT 705	Qualitative Research for Environmental and Social Transformation
PRT 706	Quantitative Inquiry for Healthy People and Places
PRT 730	Tourism, Community Health, and Sustainability
PRT 750	Foundations of Social Science Research

FWCB and FER Graduate Programs

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
FOR 509	Forest Resource Policy
FOR 515	Environmental and Resource Policy
FW 730	Ethics in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences

NR Graduate Programs

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NR 500	Natural Resource Management
NR 511	Managing Natural Resources in an Arena of Conflict
NR 512	Land Use Policy & Management
NR 548	Historical Environments
NR 560	Renewable Natural Resource Management and Policy
NR 571	Current Issues in Natural Resource Policy
NR 595	Special Topics in Natural Resources

College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHASS) Graduate Programs

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
ANT 516	Research Methods in Cultural Anthropology
ANT 550	Culture, Ecology, and Sustainable Living
ANT 575	Environmental Archaeology
COM 536	Seminar in Environmental Communication
COM 579	Climate Change Communication
HI 540	American Environmental History
HI 587	Cultural Resource Management
PA 507	The Public Policy Process
PA 515	Research Methods and Analysis
PA 526	Social Equity in the Public Sector
PA 527	Cultural Competence in the Public Sector
PA 550	Environmental Policy
PA 552	Science and Technology Policy
SOC 763	Environmental Sociology

Public Science Graduate Programs 

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
EMS 551	Learning in Informal Contexts: Theory to Practice
EMS 552	Learning in Informal Contexts: Evaluation
PSC/GOH 550	Fundamentals of Citizen Science and Other Participatory Research Methods

College of Design Graduate Programs

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
LAR 535	Environmental Social Equity and Design