Paul Smith’s College introduces master’s degree program

Paul Smith’s College has announced the introduction of a Natural Resources Conservation master’s degree, a program designed for students to develop an advanced skillset focused on balancing the health and stability of soil, water and biodiversity with the demands of a rapidly-growing global human population.

The program launch marks the college’s most significant advancement since 1998 when the institution began offering bachelor’s degrees. The addition of this program will enrich Paul Smith’s curriculum and further advance its educational mission for students from the Adirondacks and around the globe.

“Paul Smith’s College is widely known for educating and shaping practical doers who have action-oriented visions for their careers and the world,” said Dr. Eric Holmlund, director of graduate studies. “This exciting new program makes Paul Smith’s College’s winning educational formula available to those seeking to transform an existing career or to launch a new one.”

Students will be able to focus their work by choosing among three concentrations: Forest Resource Management, Aquatic Resource Management, or Sustainable Communities. The program, which can be completed in as few as 12 months, has been designed with adult learners in mind. Coursework is delivered online and supplemented by three short, immersive residencies on and around the Paul Smith’s campus.

Recent graduates, military veterans, and full-time professionals can all achieve an advanced degree without sacrificing their ability to earn an income, including opportunities to work with real clients or embed their final project with their current workplace. Job growth in fields associated with the program is forecasted to grow 16 percent in the coming decade, highlighting the competitive demand for qualified environmental professionals.

“In an increasingly complex world, having natural resource professionals who are both broadly and deeply trained is essential,” said Dr. Brett McLeod, chair of the forestry department. “This program is designed to attract doers – people who aren’t afraid to get their boots dirty or tackle the challenging environmental, social, and economic dimensions of natural resource conservation.”

Paul Smith’s will host a Natural Resources Conservation open house on Wednesday, Oct. 23, at 1:25 p.m. in the Joan Weill Student Center Pine Room. For more information on the master’s program, please contact Holmlund at eholmlund@paulsmiths.edu.

About Paul Smith’s College
At Paul Smith’s College, it’s about the experience. We are the only four-year institution of higher education in the Adirondacks. Our programs – in fields including hospitality, culinary arts, forestry, natural resources, entrepreneurship and the sciences – draw on industries and resources available in our own backyard while preparing students for successful careers anywhere. For more information, visit paulsmiths.edu.