Apply online for the Fall 2026 Cohort! Application deadline: August 1 (no exceptions). (Each cohort capacity is limited to 15 students).
About This Program
The Master of Tribal Resource and Environmental Stewardship is an applied degree designed to meet the professional and leadership needs of tribal natural resources and environmental programs. Students will develop fundamental knowledge and skills for natural resources careers responsive to community needs and aspirations. Those who currently work or aspire to work in natural resources programs in tribal governance and related contexts will benefit from this program's emphasis on integrated approaches to the stewardship and protection of natural resources based upon Indigenous environmental systems and worldviews. The curriculum is based upon the interrelationship of biological, physical, and cultural systems. Required courses address program operations, sustainability, and integrated ecosystems studies. The elective course and the capstone project provide opportunities for personalized areas of focus.
Program delivery is designed to accommodate working professionals and support existing commitments to families and home communities.
MTRES Program Requirements
Accepting applications for Fall 2026, apply online today!
For more information, email [email protected], or you can text or call 218 726 7332.
MTRES Program Learning Outcomes
Through this program, students will develop the capacity to successfully...
- 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 Opportunities
With a degree in Tribal Resource and Environmental Stewardship, you could work as a:
- Natural Resource Program Manager
- Agricultural Tribal Liaison
- Director of Natural Resources
- Tribal Environmental Project Manager
- Conservation Ecologist
More Information
Graduate Student Handbook
The information in the Graduate Student Handbook is subject to change without notice. Contact the MTAG program for information about possible changes.
The handbook is not intended to substitute for the information carried by the University of Minnesota Duluth catalog, The University of Minnesota Graduate School Catalog, the University of Minnesota Graduate Assistant Employment Office, or the information available through the Graduate School's web sites, but rather should be viewed as a supplement to those sources.
Prospective Students - Admissions & Funding
Admission 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. The personal statement should give the committee a better picture of who you are and is an opportunity to share your personal qualities. You should describe what has prepared you and motivates you toward this degree and how you plan to apply the degree to your career. It can include a summary of your journey to graduate school, any obstacles you have encountered, and how you have overcome challenges. Be sure to proofread for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.
*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 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 both entities approve, the Department will request a policy exception from the UMD Graduate School Office, which will make the final decision.
AIS department policy regarding graduate transfer credits
We will accept up to nine transfer graduate credits from accredited universities (including the University of Minnesota); the other required credits must be unique to your current enrollment in MTAG or MTRES. Note that there is an exception for the post baccalaureate certificates from our department, which fully transfer into the MTAG or MTRES programs.
Funding
The University of Minnesota Duluth announces the establishment of the Wells Fargo American Indian Studies Scholarship. This scholarship is for 2026-2027 academic year. Ten students will receive $2500 scholarships which will be even distributed during Fall 2026 and Spring 2027.
Eligible applicants must be one of the following: an enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe; eligible for enrollment in a federally recognized tribe; recognized as a descendant of a federally recognized tribe; identified as American Indian by the Indian Education Act; or identified as Canadian Indian by the Indian Act RSC 1985, CI-5. Respondents need to be signed in to a Google Account to apply by deadline of May 1, 2026. If all of your documents are not submitted by May 1 at 11:59 pm, your application will not be eligible for review. Awardees will be selected and notified on or before May 15, 2026.
Additional scholarship opportunities are available.
Course Requirements
The MTRES program currently requires that students take 30 credits of required courses. A minimum graduate GPA of 2.800 is required for students to remain in good standing.
Preferred Course Sequence
Year 1, Fall
- TRES 5100 - Foundations of Indigenous Worlds: Worldviews, Knowledge Systems, and Stewardship (3 Cr.) — Offered only in Fall
- TRES 5101 - Tribal Natural Resource Program Management 1 (3 Cr.) — Offered only in Fall
- MTAG 5110 - Principles of Tribal Sovereignty I (3 Cr.) — Offered only in Fall
Year 1, Spring
- TRES 5102 - Tribal Natural Resource Program Management 2 (3 Cr.) — Offered only in Spring
- TRES 5201 - Indigenous Stewardship Methods I (3 Cr.) — Offered only in Spring
- MTAG 5120 - Principles of Tribal Sovereignty II (3 Cr.) — Offered only in Spring
Year 2, Fall
- TRES 5202 - Indigenous Stewardship Methods II (3 Cr.) — Offered only in Fall
- TRES 5250 - Indigenous Foodways and Environmental Justice (3 Cr.) — Offered only in Fall
Year 2, Spring
- TRES 5301 - Tribal Natural Resource Economics (3 Cr.) — Offered only in Spring
- TRES 5778 - Applied Capstone Project (3 Cr.) — Offered only in Spring, should be taken in final semester