Participation in the Headwaters Conference, a gathering of practitioners, scholars, and students focused on environmental issues. Students attend sessions, network, and synthesize conference insights relevant to their program. Repeatable up to two times.
An orientation to the interdisciplinary field of environmental management. Students examine environmental history, philosophy, cultural viewpoints, and systems thinking while acquiring foundational knowledge in ecology, climate science, and science communication. The course focuses on practical, generalist skills through field immersion, cohort-building, and career development.
Introduction to ecosystem types, threats to ecosystems, restoration principles and practices, and conservation mechanisms on multiple scales that may help curb additional ecosystem loss and degradation. Students will become familiar with best practices for restoring and conserving ecosystems through local, regional, and international case studies and participate in hands-on learning opportunities.
This course explores emerging theories, practices, and technologies transforming the fields of biodiversity conservation and sustainability in the 21st century. Students will engage with leading-edge approaches, including rewilding, biomimicry, regenerative design, community-led conservation, critical ecology, adaptive management, and environmental justice initiatives. Students will assess the socio-political, ecological, and ethical contexts of such interventions, as well as their feasibility and scalability, on both public and private lands. The course prepares students to contribute to these evolving fields through case studies, literature review, guest lectures, scenario planning, and applied projects with an introduction to meeting facilitation and conflict resolution.
Analysis of the key interactions between environmental policy and management, focusing on environmental decision-making within an array of policy contexts. Emphasis is on important federal policies such as the Clean Water Act and National Environmental Policy Act, with attention to the institutions, actors, and ideas driving environmental policy in the US and abroad.
A workshop-style format course that gives students the opportunity to develop technical field skills in ecosystem restoration. No prerequisites. The course will include, but will not be limited to, key skills necessary for students to be workforce ready: Wetland delineation. Watershed and ecosystem health assessment and developing monitoring protocols. Soil health assessment and soil moisture monitoring. Water quality sampling and interpretation. Process-based restoration techniques and project design (planning, impact assessment, permitting, implementation). GIS and drone mapping for restoration planning and monitoring. Fluvial Geomorphology. Applied Aquatic Ecology.
Develops skills in project planning, stakeholder engagement, feasibility assessment, budgeting, systems thinking, facilitation, mediation and conflict resolution for environmental initiatives. Guides students in designing and planning their master's project, including problem definition, literature review, partner engagement, and project proposal drafting.
Covers quantitative analytical techniques, including statistics, modeling, coding, and data interpretation for environmental applications.
Introduces qualitative research design, data collection (e.g., interviews, focus groups, observations, etc.), and analysis techniques relevant to environmental projects and community engagement.
An action-oriented course about the science of climate change, with an emphasis on climate justice, and mitigation and adaptation strategies for careers in environmental management. Topics include greenhouse gas emissions, climate forces and feedbacks, climate ethics and justice, effects on ecological and human systems, and action strategies for climate change mitigation and adaptation at the local, regional, and planetary scale.
An introduction to developing organizations at the nexus of economic, social, and natural systems, and to the key skills necessary to succeed in this complex and highly competitive environment. Course discusses competitively advantageous strategies and practices organizations adopt to grow revenues, cut costs, improve market share, enhance brands, and redesign products and processes toward positive environmental and social impacts. Course examples will include sustainable innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship from around the world. Students learn to identify the best opportunities, generate innovative non-profit and for-profit business models, frame and reframe problems, produce creative solutions, and generate a culture of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship within an organization utilizing principles from a variety of thinking methods including systems, design, and group thinking.
An exploration of the current and traditional approaches to public land and resource management. A regional focus on the Western U.S. is integrated with comparative examples from other regions and countries to enhance and broaden student perspectives. Course examines the history and future management implications of public lands agencies and policies, such as the National Parks, National Forests, Bureau of Land Management, NEPA and multi-use mandates. Special focus will be given to the management skills necessary in leading public lands agencies on the regional level.
Explores the history, principles, and practices of environmental justice, focusing on the intersection of environment, equity, and social systems. Examines case studies of marginalized communities disproportionately impacted by environmental harms and highlights strategies for policy change, community advocacy, and equitable environmental management. Required for the Community Resilience Certificate.
An examination of selected topics covering the content understanding, analytical skills, and management approaches vital to cultivating sustainable and resilient communities. Topics include subjects such as Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation, Sustainable Food Systems, Sustainable Energy Futures, Sustainable Economic Development, Movements in Community Resilience, and Frameworks in Sustainability. This course is repeatable, since students are required to take this course three times, as long as the topic changes. Prerequisites: ENVS 616 or ENVS 617.
Provides an interdisciplinary introduction to the field of mine reclamation. Students gain exposure to site assessment, regulatory frameworks, hydrology, soils, geochemistry, revegetation, and the economic and social dimensions of mine site restoration. The course includes field experiences, guest lectures, and applied projects with partner organizations.
Provides students with intensive field-based training in mine reclamation, environmental remediation, and minerals assessment. Students gain practical experience in site evaluation, soil and water sampling, vegetation monitoring, benthic analysis, and application of legal and regulatory frameworks for mine closure and restoration. The course includes multi-day field trips to active, legacy, and abandoned mine sites in the Four Corners region and Western Colorado, as well as classroom sessions for lectures and laboratory work. Offered in partnership with the Western Alliance for Reclamation Management (WARM) and the Society of Economic Geologists (SEG).
An examination of selected topics covering the content understanding, analytical skills, and management approaches vital to environmental management. Topics will vary from semester to semester based on faculty interest and student need. This course is repeatable, as long as the topic changes.
An examination of selected topics covering the content understanding, analytical skills, and management approaches vital to cultivating sustainable and resilient communities. Topics include subjects such as Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation, Sustainable Food Systems, Sustainable Energy Futures, Sustainable Economic Development, Movements in Community Resilience, and Frameworks in Sustainability. This course is repeatable, since students are required to take this course three times, as long as the topic changes. Prerequisites: ENVS 617 or ENVS 618.
This is an interdisciplinary course designed to introduce students to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and its array of applications, particularly relevant to the fields of ecology and environmental management. This course introduces students to a wide range of GIS concepts and techniques in four different areas: data collection, management, analysis and display. GIS can be applied to a wide array of planning, analysis, and policymaking objectives including in research and management. Examples of these will be researched and discussed in this course and students will be able to apply GIS principles to real world examples via class lectures and hands-on learning (using Esri’s ArcGIS Online and Desktop software, online training, and other public, web-based GIS systems).
This course prepares students to confidently advance in their careers, develop skills, and gain practical experience in networking, job searching, creating application materials, using social media, and honing presentation and interview skills. Additionally, students will learn how to create positive change in their new roles while caring for themselves by exploring the science of well-being to establish healthy life habits.
Execution of the master's project under faculty and partner supervision. Includes deliverables for partner organizations, presentation of results, and reflection on professional skills gained. Prerequisite: ENVS 611.