Natural Resources Conflict Resolution Program

The University of Montana Center for Collaborative Stewardship directs an interdisciplinary Natural Resource Conflict Resolution Program – the only graduate-level program in the nation specifically designed to provide students a working knowledge of the theoretical and practical aspects of preventing and resolving disputes related to the integration of social, economic, and environmental interests. The program is co-sponsored byThe University of Montana Graduate School, School of Business Administration, College of Forestry and Conservation, School of Law, and College of Arts and Sciences.

NRCR Home Page

Please visit the NRCR Website for more information such as how to apply, curriculum requirements, practicum descriptions, etc.

Contact Information

For questions related to the Natural Resources Conflict Resolution Program, please contact:

Matthew McKinney, Ph.D.
Public Policy Research Institute
The University of Montana
516 N. Park Avenue
Helena, MT 59601
406-457-8475

Required Courses - 9 credits

• LAW 641/MBA 645/PSC 595 - Negotiations (3 credits)
• FOR 513/EVST 513/LAW 613  - Natural Resources Dispute Resolution (3 credits)
• EVST 579FOR 579/LAW 679 - Advanced Natural Resources Conflict Resolution or Equivalent practical experience

The ideal sequence for the required courses is as follows:

• First year, fall semester - Negotiation
• First year, spring semester - Natural Resources Dispute Resolution 
• Second year, fall semester - Advanced NRCR

Elective Courses - 9 credits

The purpose of taking 9 credits of elective courses is to round-out and support the certificate in Natural Resources Conflict Resolution. The nine-credits must be taken from at least two different departments or colleges. The following list of courses is only suggested, not required. In selecting elective courses, students should consider past course work and practical experience, and seek to build some capacity in each of the four primary disciplines presented below.
Please see the NCRC handbook for a list of suggested electives.

Natural Resources Policy and Administration

• FOR 422 - Natural Resources Policy and Administration (3 credits)
• FOR 424/SOC 424  - Social Forestry 3 (credits)
• FOR 622 - Advanced Problems in Environmental Policy (3 credits)
• PSC 501 - Public Administration (3 credits)
• PSC 503 - Policy Analysis (3 credits)
• PSC 504 - Organization Theory (3 credits)
• PSC 523 - Administrative Law (3 credits)

Natural Resources and Environmental Law

• EVST 502 - Environmental Law for Non Lawyers (3 credits)
• EVST 563/LAW 650 - Environmental Law I (3 credits)
• EVST 564/LAW 649 - Environmental Law II (3 credits)
• EVST 561/GEOG 561/LAW 687 - Land Use Planning (3 credits)
• EVST 565/LAW 654 - Public Land and Resources Law (3 credits)
• EVST 566/LAW 619 - Advanced Public Land and Resources Law (2 credits)
• EVST 567/LAW 663 - Water Law (2 credits)
• LAW 648 - Federal Indian Law (3 credits)

Environmental Science (need to add other options)

• ECON 440/EVST 440 - Environmental Economics (3 credits)
• EVST 501 - Scientific Approaches to Environmental Problems (3 credits)
• EVST 560 - Environmental Impact Analysis (3 credits)
• GEOG 560 - Planning Theory (3 credits)

Public Participation and Conflict Resolution

• LAW 614 - Alternative Dispute Resolution(3 credits)
• EVST 531 - Citizen Participation in Environmental Decision-making (3 credits)
• COMM 412 - Communication and Conflict (3 credits)
• COMM 575/EVST 575 - Rhetoric and Environmental Controversy (3 credits)
• COMM 595 - Communication Across the Sciences (3 credits)
• PSC 550 - Political Theory (3 credits)

Special Topics

• EVST 542 - Transboundary Environmental Issues (3 credits)
• CFC 571 - International Resource Management (3 credits)
• HIST 564 - U.S. Environmental History (3 credits)
• HIST 566 - The American West (3 credits)