About
Details at a Glance
School Type
Public
Application Fee
$75
Average In-State Tuition
$41,005
Average Out-of-State Tuition
$41,500
Financial Aid Available
Yes
Our Program
Serving students since 2010, the Center for Leadership in Global Sustainability is housed within Virginia Tech’s College of Natural Resources and Environment and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. Virginia Tech’s educational capabilities are globally respected, and students are ensured a quality educational experience with our fully accredited university.
The Master of Natural Resources (MNR) degree is designed for working professionals aiming to advance their careers or shift to leadership roles in the environmental and sustainability fields or functions.
Our interdisciplinary graduate education programs equip current and aspiring environmental and sustainability professionals with the competencies, connections, and confidence to become more effective leaders, now and in the future.
Subjects of Study:
Climate Change and Resiliency
Energy Systems
Food and Agriculture
Water and Watersheds
Poverty and Development
Urbanization and Sustainable Cities
Circular Economy and Sustainable Business
Market and Governance Transformations
Global Flows and Supply Chains
Biodiversity and Ecosystems
Delivered through two flexible programs—Executive (in-person/online hybrid) and Online—our innovative instruction allows you to immediately apply what you learn to real-world challenges.
Flexible Formats:
Diverse undergrad majors welcomed
Graduate in as few as 12 months
30-credit, non-thesis degree
10-day overseas Global Study
No GRE required
Environmental science background is not required
Admission decisions are based on both academic and professional experience
No additional cost for out-of-state or international students
Executive program meets one weekend a month in the Washington, D.C. metro area
A graduate degree from a widely respected and fully accredited university like Virginia Tech can lead to new rewarding career opportunities, whether you are looking to step up or pivot. To help chart career trajectories, all of our students receive personalized career coaching.
Admissions
Application Fee
$75
Requirements
- TOEFL
- Certified Academic Transcripts
- 2 Letters of Recommendation
- Requirements for admission include: Undergraduate degree (minimum GPA of 3.0*) Virginia Tech Application for Admission $75 non-refundable application fee Prior professional experience Current resume / CV Two professional recommendations Official copies of relevant academic transcripts No GRE required; TOEFL may be required for international students per Virginia Tech Graduate School requirements. *If your GPA is below 3.0, but you have performed at a B-level of higher in other graduate courses, your application will be considered.
Additional Requirements
Financial Aid
Most students opt for the Federal Stafford Loans to cover the costs of attending the program. Contact Emily Talley, our academic advisor, at emtalley@vt.edu to discuss further.
Employer Support
We encourage our applicants to involve their employer’s management and human resources decision-makers early on in the application process. This allows employers to understand an applicant’s motivation for pursuing the MNR degree and appreciate the benefits of having their employees participate in the program.
Application Deadline
Executive MNR admissions are processed on a rolling basis. The application process takes approximately two to three weeks. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible, as annual cohorts have only a limited number of students and tend to fill up quickly.
Executive MNR Early Admission Scholarships:
$2,000 for qualified applications submitted by May 1
$1,000 for qualified applications submitted by August 1
Online MNR program accepts applications for Fall, Spring, and Summer terms. Deadlines are as follows, but we encourage students to apply as early as possible once they have made their decision:
Term Deadline
Fall August 1
Spring January 1
Summer May 1
Student Body
Total Students
35 Students
Female
63% Female
Male
37% Male
Inclusion
- Approximately half of our students are “career advancers,” meaning they have an academic and/or professional background in this field and are looking to use their Master’s degree to help improve their job performance or advance on a particular career path. The other half of our students are “career changers,” meaning they may not have any academic or professional experience in the field and are looking to make a significant career transition. We work with each student to help them accomplish their own academic and career goals.
- Average Age: 36 and Age Range: 25-51
- Sector of primary professional experience: Business: 40% Government: 30% Civil Society : 30%
- Geography Virginia: 20%; Out-of-State: 80% Note: 40% of students commute to D.C. for monthly meetings by plane
What Our Students Say
“In the program, my cohort was so diverse, both in backgrounds and geographies, that I learned a lot about where people are coming from and what they have at stake. The range of issues we covered in the courses showed me that sustainability can be applied everywhere.”
KARLEE SIEPIERSKI, Master of Natural Resources ‘16“I was looking to move my career from a mid-level government employee to an executive position. A year and a half after graduating, I am now the executive director of a non-profit.”
KATE FRITZ, Master of Natural Resources ‘12“They're really teaching you the skills you need to be a leader in your field and to understand decisions that other leaders are making.”
VIRGINIA FOSTER, Master of Natural Resources ‘13
“In the program, my cohort was so diverse, both in backgrounds and geographies, that I learned a lot about where people are coming from and what they have at stake. The range of issues we covered in the courses showed me that sustainability can be applied everywhere.”
“I was looking to move my career from a mid-level government employee to an executive position. A year and a half after graduating, I am now the executive director of a non-profit.”
“They're really teaching you the skills you need to be a leader in your field and to understand decisions that other leaders are making.”
Tuition & Financial Aid
Average In-State Tuition
$41,005Average Out-of-State Tuition
$41,500
Additional Information
- Financial Aid Available
- Executive MNR: Total program cost is $41,500 for all students, including a $500 non-refundable deposit to confirm a place in the cohort. Online MNR: $900 tuition per credit hour. The Virginia Tech College of Natural Resources & Environment (CNRE) has a special rate for graduate students in the Online MNR.
Location & Contact
Phone
Email
