The two master's degrees offered by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment are designed for students desiring careers in resources management and students planning doctoral work, as well as those wishing to be better-informed citizens. The courses and curriculum for the two degrees were developed in cooperation with groups and agencies that work professionally with resource management in Alaska. These agencies, including the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service contribute significantly to the programs by providing guest lecturers and internship and research opportunities for students.<br><br>Because of the diversity and broad scope of the field, each degree is customized according to the student's interests and the advisory committee's recommendations. Student research projects and theses have typically been in the fields of forest management, land use planning, soil management, natural resource policy, range management, parks and recreation management, horticulture, agronomy, animal science, climate change and GIS.