Degrees & Majors
Choose your academic path
It’s a great feeling when you know what you want to study. Some people seem to have always known what their academic path will be; others take more time and exploration to find the perfect major. Regardless of how straight or winding your road to academic success may be, we’ll help you stick to it and get the most out of your academic journey.
Prospective first-year and transfer students
We encourage you to explore the majors that interest you in CNRE. Learn more about what you’ll study and why you should consider pursuing each major at Virginia Tech. If you have questions, contact our director of recruitment or sign up for an interest session as part of your campus visit.
Current Virginia Tech students exploring a new major
Our college is often discovered by students who are already enrolled in another major at Virginia Tech. Maybe you too are looking for a new major to call home? If you are a current Virginia Tech student, please contact our assistant director of recruitment to learn more about switching into a CNRE major.
Explore CNRE majors
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Environmental conservation and society , homeStudy life and social sciences, and learn how to protect the environment while planning and leading outdoor recreational activities, educating the public and getting them excited about conservation, or leading sustainability initiatives.
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Environmental data science , homeStudy the application of big data and information science to sustainability and conservation efforts related to forestry, watersheds, climate, and human-environment interaction. Learn about geospatial technology, mathematical and statistical modeling, remote sensing, and database management.
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Environmental resources management , homeStudy all aspects of managing environmental resources and improving their quality to address global challenges. Learn about managing protected areas, influencing economic policy, and enhancing forest and soil productivity.
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Fish conservation , homeStudy the sustainable management of aquatic animals and ecosystems, including shellfish, endangered species, sport fish, and aquaculture systems.
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Forestry , homeStudy various aspects of the sustainable management, protection, and utilization of wildland and urban forests for their commercial, environmental, and social values.
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Geography , homeStudy the patterns and processes connecting places and regions across the globe. Learn about societies and cultures, environmental systems, human-environment relationships, international development, and geospatial science, while utilizing cutting-edge technology.
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Meteorology , homeStudy weather forecasting and atmospheric sciences with a significant focus on using geospatial technology to study how landforms affect weather patterns. Learn to predict severe weather and assess its impacts on both humans and the environment.
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Packaging systems and design , homeStudy the science behind the third largest industry in the world: packaging. Learn about the design, transportation, storage, and delivery of products with an emphasis on “green” packaging and the recycling and reuse of materials.
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Sustainable biomaterials , homeStudy how to best utilize renewable resources like wood and other biomaterials to create “greener” products with less environmental impact. This discipline applies science, technology, engineering, and business to sustainable natural resources.
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Water: resources, policy, and management , homeStudy how we utilize and protect the most important natural resource of all: water. Learn about water science and policy, while acquiring the interdisciplinary training and knowledge needed to address current and future water quality and access challenges.
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Wildlife conservation , homeStudy the sustainable management of terrestrial species and their habitats, including game and nongame birds and mammals, as well as reptiles and amphibians.
Graduate programs
The College of Natural Resources and Environment offers several different types of master’s degrees as well as doctoral programs. We encourage you to research your options carefully and to get in touch with the contact person in your department as soon as you decide that you are interested in pursuing a graduate degree. More information for prospective graduate students, including information on degree programs and the application process, is also available on Virginia Tech’s Graduate School site.
If you have questions or need more specific information about graduate programs, here are the contacts by department and center:
- Fish and Wildlife Conservation: Marcella Kelly, associate department head for graduate affairs/graduate program director and professor, 540-231-1734 or makelly2@vt.edu
- Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation: Joe Knight, department head and professor, 540-232-2052 or jfknight@vt.edu, or Brian Strahm, graduate program director and professor, 540-231-8627 or brian.strahm@vt.edu
- Geography: Andrew Ellis, director of graduate studies and professor, 540-231-8049 or awellis@vt.edu
- Sustainable Biomaterials: Bob Bush, graduate program director and professor, 540-231-8834 or rbush@vt.edu, or Trish Colley, graduate program coordinator, 540-231-8853 or colleyp@vt.edu
Center for Leadership in Global Sustainability: Kieran Lindsey, program director, Online Master of Natural Resources, 314-605-8820 or klindsey@vt.edu, or David P. Robertson, program director, Executive Master of Natural Resources, 434-258-2236 or davidrobertson@vt.edu
Degrees offered:
- Master of Science in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences
- Doctor of Philosophy in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences
Contact: Marcella Kelly, associate department head for graduate affairs/graduate program director and professor, 540—231—1734 or makelly2@vt.edu
Degrees offered:
- Master of Forestry, non-thesis option
- Master of Science in Forestry
- Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry
Contacts: Joe Knight, department head and professor, 540-232-2052 or jfknight@vt.edu, or Brian Strahm, graduate program director and professor, 540-231-8627 or brian.strahm@vt.edu
Degrees offered:
- Master of Science in Geography
- Doctor of Philosophy in Geospatial and Environmental Analysis
- Graduate Certificate in Geospatial Information Technology
Contact: Andrew Ellis, director of graduate studies and professor, 540-231-8049 or awellis@vt.edu
Degrees offered:
- Master of Forestry, non-thesis option
- Master of Science in Forestry and Forest Products
- Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry and Forest Products
Contact: Bob Bush, graduate program director and professor, 540-231-8834 or rbush@vt.edu, or Trish Colley, graduate program coordinator, 540-231-8853 or colleyp@vt.edu
Degrees offered:
- Master of Natural Resources (online)
- Executive Master of Natural Resources (hybrid)
Contacts: Kieran Lindsey, Program Director, Online Master of Natural Resources, 314-605-8820 or klindsey@vt.edu, or David P. Robertson, Program Director, Executive Master of Natural Resources, 434-258-2236 or davidrobertson@vt.edu
As part of the Tech Talent Pipeline initiative, the new Master of Engineering in computer science is offered primarily through the Innovation Campus in Alexandria, Virginia, and focuses on software development with an emphasis on entrepreneurial, team-based learning. Supplying strong technical training, the track is best suited for students entering the computing profession. It seeks to bring a wider group of people into the computing field at the graduate level.
Students will be able to choose to participate in the program on a part-time, full-time, or full-time accelerated basis. Full-time students could reasonably earn the Master of Engineering in computer science degree in about three semesters. Students must complete coursework and a final capstone project but do not have to complete a thesis to earn this degree.
Tracks
- Software Development and Applications
- Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence
- Computer Security
- Human-Computer Interaction (Blacksburg campus only)