Master of Arts in Human & Natural Resources Studies at Kathmandu University, Master of Arts in Human & Natural Resources Studies Colleges in Nepal

Master Of Arts In Human & Natural Resources Studies

Affiliated to: Kathmandu University

About Course

Course Title : Master Of Arts In Human & Natural Resources Studies
Category/Level : Masters
Course Duration (months) : 24 months
Cost Range (NPR) : NA
Affiliated to : Kathmandu University

Course Description:

The major objective of the program is to produce a cadre of professionals capable of coordinating, guiding, evaluating, improving and propagating efforts aimed at identifying people's problems of multi-faceted nature, and arousing and assisting the communities in resolving those problems through the application of appropriate integrated approaches to exploring, enriching and utilizing the multifarious human and natural resources. Specifically the program aims at assisting students to:

Acquire knowledge and skills concerning natural resources and community linkage, information gathering and analyses, indigenous community-based knowledge systems and institutions;
Develop capability and confidence to contribute nationally and internationally towards managing conflict and its relationship with natural resources fruitfully;
Be able to effectively conduct basic and applied research, work in a team and individually, prepare and present (communicate) findings in the field of human and natural resources management;
Prepare for the pursuance of further studies in related areas.

To achieve the above objectives the program emphasizes on:

Social dimensions of conflict and natural resource management;

Research of action- and people-oriented nature;
Attention to the poor, disadvantaged and marginalized groups of people;
Analyzing and addressing the real life situation in Nepal; and
Utilization of past studies and research outputs.

Duration and Credit Hours Covered
The two-year Master's degree program in Human and Natural Resources Studies comprises of four semesters. Students will have to complete four tutored courses (each carrying 3-credit hours) in each of the first three semesters and a 12 credit-hour research work in the final semester. A 3-credit hour course requires 48 contact hours.

Admission info

The Student Entry Criteria

Completion of minimum of 3-year Bachelor's degree, or a master's degree, with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.5 out of 4.0, or an equivalent, or 50 per cent marks in general will be the criteria followed to evaluate the applicants. In addition, securing an acceptable level of ranking in the entrance test administered to measure required competencies including language proficiency and analytical ability will be essential.

Intake Capacity

In view of the current level of facilities available at the centre, only a maximum of 20 students will get enrollment each year.

Application and Program Starting Date

The program starts in February each year, for which the announcement for admissions will be posted in the month of December of the previous year.

Syllabus

Curriculum

The curriculum of the HNRS program aims at imparting both theoretical knowledge of and practical exposure to various issues relating to management of human and natural resources, with greater emphasis given to the latter mode. Methods used will comprise classroom lectures, case study analyses, field surveys, seminars, results discussions and presentations. The program will emphasize students' active participation and involvement in the learning process wherein the instructor would mainly be playing the role of a counselor and a guide.

Semester	Course code and title	Credit hour	Remark
I to III	HNRS 542: Research Methods	3	T/R
	HNRS 515: Natural Resource Economics OR MESC 505: Environmental Economics	3	SS/R
	HNRS 521: Conflict and Natural Resource Systems Management	3	NS/R
	HNRS 511: Human Dimensions of Development	3	SS/R
	HNRS 524: Forestry and Wildlife Management	3	NS/R
	HNRS 541: Data Analysis	3	T/R
	HNRS 543: Computer Applications*	3	T/R
	HNRS 513: Project Management	3	SS/R
	HNRS 532: Rural-Urban and Highland-Lowland Relations	3	P/R
	HNRS 544: Resource Management Workshop	3	T/R
	HNRS 545: Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)	3	T/R
	HNRS 522: Population, Development and Natural Resource Linkages	3	NS/R
	HNRS 531: Public Policy	3	P/R
IV	Thesis Research	12
	Total credits required for graduation:	48

NB: NS - Natural Science tract; SS - Social Science tract; P - Policy tract;
T - Tool/method/workshop tract; R - Required course
* Offered as part of HNRS 541