About this Program
The Master of Tribal Resource and Environmental Stewardship (MTRES) is an applied graduate degree designed in consultation with regional tribes to create future leaders and stewards of tribal natural resources. There is no other graduate-level degree program like this in the country. This degree program takes an integrated approach to the protection of natural resources through the lens of Indigenous environmental stewardship.
The Master of Tribal Resource and Environmental Stewardship curriculum is based upon the interrelationship of biological, physical, and cultural systems. You’ll examine the economics of tribal resource management, ecosystems and sustainability, and tribal sovereignty through the following courses: Foundations of Indigenous Environmental Systems and Worldviews (Bioregionalism), Principles of Tribal Sovereignty I &II, Tribal Natural Resource Program Management I & II, Integrated Ecosystems Stewardship I & II, Tribal Natural Resource Economics, Applied Capstone Project, and elective courses. The elective courses and the Capstone Project provide opportunities for personalized areas of focus.
Acquired Skills
By the end of the program, you’ll be ready to:
- Make innovative contributions to tribal leadership addressing the pressing concerns of Native nations and peoples
- Demonstrate fundamental skills and applicable knowledge within community-specific contexts for tribal natural resource program management and stewardship
- Analyze and explain the legal, cultural, and political contours of tribal sovereignty and tribal natural resource stewardship
- Apply knowledge and methodological, research and communication skills regarding the biological, chemical and physical processes vital to effective natural resource stewardship
Career Possibilities
- Natural Resource Program Manager
- Agricultural Tribal Liaison
- Director of Natural Resources
- Tribal Environmental Project Manager
- Conservation Ecologist
Admissions and Scholarships
- Wells Fargo Tribal Resource and Environmental Stewardship Scholarship awards five incoming students in the Master of Tribal Resource and Environmental Stewardship (MTRES) program $5,000 each ($2,500 per year).
- Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) Endowed Scholarship was established in 2008 through a generous gift from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. The SMSC scholarship program is designed to recruit and retain talented American Indian students with demonstrated financial need to the University of Minnesota.
- Minnesota Indian Scholarship Program provides postsecondary financial assistance to eligible Minnesota resident students who are of one-fourth or more Indian ancestry and demonstrate financial need for an award
To learn more about these and other available scholarships, visit the American Indian Studies Scholarships page.
Requirements
The MTRES program admits a new cohort of 15 students every fall.
- Preferred undergraduate GPA of 3.00
- A bachelor’s degree*
- Unofficial transcripts or academic records
- Two letters of recommendation
- A personal statement
*Under exceptional circumstances, students may be admitted to MTAG/MTRES without a Bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited institution. Applicants will make the case for such special admission in their personal statement. In addition, the admissions committee will consider the applicant’s job history and/or professional experience, any certifications or diplomas earned, and letters of recommendation. Note that at a minimum, applicants must have at least 10 years of significant, relevant experience working with tribal governments or tribal communities. The admissions committee will review all materials and make a recommendation to the Department of American Indian Studies. If approved by both entities, the Department will then request a policy exception from the UMD Graduate School Office, who will make the final decision.
Faculty Highlights
About Wendy F. Todd
About Doug Thompson
Learn more about this program from University Catalogs.
In addition to the general application instructions provided by the Graduate School, visit the MTRES program page for specific application instructions and deadlines related to the program. Also, visit program requirements for additional information.