MEM: Global Sustainability

A MEM student smiles as she weeds the Chipeta Garden.

Part of: Master in Environmental Management, Clark Family School of Environment & Sustainability, School of Graduate Studies

Offered as: Master's Concentration

Degree: Master in Environmental Management

Related Areas of Study: Ecosystem Restoration

Part of: Master in Environmental Management, Clark Family School of Environment & Sustainability, School of Graduate Studies

Offered as: Master's Concentration

Degree: Master in Environmental Management

Related Areas of Study: Ecosystem Restoration

The Global Sustainability concentration in the Master of Environmental Managment (MEM) program equips students with the knowledge and skills to address pressing environmental challenges. Through a dynamic blend of interdisciplinary coursework, real-world experiences, and global perspectives, this program prepares graduates to lead in areas like conservation, renewable energy, and sustainable development. Students will gain the tools to drive positive change for a more sustainable future, both locally and globally.

A volunteer collects willow reeds along the streambank of the Slate River on Verzuh Ranch.

The MEM Global Sustainability concentration is an interdisciplinary program that provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to address urgent environmental challenges. It integrates courses from a variety of fields, including environmental science, economics, and policy, to help students understand the interconnectedness of ecological, social, and economic systems. This concentration encourages critical thinking around issues like climate change, renewable energy, and sustainable development, preparing graduates to become leaders in global sustainability efforts.

With a strong emphasis on experiential learning, the program offers students opportunities to apply classroom knowledge through internships, field studies, and projects with local and international non-profit organizations. Students will not only gain a deeper understanding of sustainability but will also be equipped to contribute to solutions in diverse industries and communities. By blending theory with practice, the Global Sustainability Concentration helps students develop the tools needed to create lasting environmental and societal change.

The Global Sustainability concentration is home to numerous international institutions for social and environmental change. Western’s Clark Family School of Environment and Sustainability co-founded the Mountain Resilience Coalition to facilitate the United Nations Mountain Partnerships in the North American, Central American, and Caribbean regions.

We are also the lead university partner with international sustainability organizations such as Earthship Biotecture Academy, Solar Energy International, Sustainable Development Strategies Group, Eco2librium, Peace Corps Coverdell Fellows, and the Foundation for the Contemplation of Nature. As a Global Sustainability student, you can provide service to these and other organizations in your second-year MEM Project anywhere in the world.

Our students recently attended the United Nations Mountain Partnership meetings in Europe. They reported on their project progress in Rome, sharing their vision for turning dreams into actions for the world’s mountain communities.

The MEM has a vibrant community of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers—many of whom are Paul D. Coverdell Fellows. We are one of the only programs in the nation where you can receive your master’s degree while doing Peace Corps service. Whether you’re currently in the Peace Corps or interested in joining, we can aid you in earning your graduate degree.

Admissions, Cost & Requirements

Application Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in any academic program.
GRE test scores are NOT required to apply.
Official academic transcripts showing a recommended 3.0 undergraduate GPA or above in relevant courses. To avoid delay please request an official copy from your previous college or university to be sent directly to Western’s Graduate Studies (graduatestudies@western.edu). You can also request them from Student Clearing House.
One-page Statement of Purpose describing your intellectual and professional interests in environmental management and potential idea for a master’s project, submitted within the online application.
Answer six short essay questions within the online application.
Upload a resume or one-page document that outlines your past environmental employment, leadership, and volunteer experience.
Two letters of recommendation from professors or supervisors in related fields.
If you plan on attending from a distance: As part of your application, you’ll be asked whether you plan to attend as a residential or low-residency student. If you select the low-residency option, please briefly describe how you will stay engaged in environmental management work or related activities while completing your degree from a distance. Share how your experiences will support your learning, professional growth, and contribute to the perspectives within your cohort. Be sure to include the timeframe during which you plan to pursue the low-residency path. Low-residency students are fully integrated into courses, projects, and learning activities alongside residential students.

All three tracks (Global Sustainability, Integrative and Public Land Management, and Sustainable and Resilient Communities) require a BA or B.S. degree and the following prerequisites, which must be completed no later than the end of the first fall term:

College-level statistics course
Two, college-level, natural or environmental science courses (Biol, Geol, Envs, Phys, Chem, Sci), at least one of which included a lab or field component
Two, college-level, social science courses

Additional Integrative and Public Land Management track recommended prerequisites:

One upper-level Ecology course
One GIS course

Additional Sustainable Resilient Communities track recommended prerequisites:

One course in Economics (Micro or Macro preferred)
Financial Accounting

*Please note that strong applicants missing prerequisites may be provisionally admitted with some prerequisites, such as statistics, being able to be completed for free online prior to beginning the program or by the end of the first fall term. Please also note the 3+2 pathways available to Western undergrads.

Application Deadlines

Applications are accepted year-round with a preferred deadline of February 15th. Students can enter the program on July 1st or at the start of the spring term (the second full week of January).
June 1 – MEM Program begins
- The first summer course is held weekly online via Zoom, accessible globally. It then culminates in a one-week in-person Clark Family School intensive held annually in mid-August, at our campus in Gunnison, CO.
Residential and distance options for the two-year degree available.
Find out more information on the MEM program prerequisites.

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact MEM.

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Program Information

Term	Credits	Tuition per Credit	Fees per Credit*	Flat Fees**	Total Tuition & Fees
Year 1: Summer	5	$847.00	$73.40		$4,602.00
Year 1: Fall	9	$847.00	$73.40	$50.00	$8,333.60
Year 1: Spring	9	$847.00	$73.40		$8,283.60
Year 2: Summer	5	$847.00	$73.40		$4,602.00
Year 2: Fall	9	$847.00	$73.40		$8,283.60
Year 2: Spring	9	$847.00	$73.40		$8,283.60
Program Total	46				$42,388.40

*Mandatory graduate student fees per credit hour
$63.00 Graduate Studies Administrative Operations Fee
$6.50 Library Fee
$3.90 IT Services Fee

**Mandatory graduate student flat fees
New Student Matriculation Fee: $50.00 Charged in the Fall Semester

A master’s degree is an advanced qualification earned after completing a bachelor’s degree. It focuses on a specific area of study and provides specialized knowledge and skills. This differs from a concentration, which is a more focused area within the master’s program. Your concentration determines the specialized courses you take, shaping your expertise in a particular field. To complete a master’s degree, students must fulfill core coursework, elective requirements, and often a final project, thesis, or practicum.

Program Requirements

Business Development
Communications
Environmental Engineering
Environmental Policy
Information System
Operations Management

Biofuels Production Manager
Chief Sustainability Officer
Conservation Scientist
Environmental Economist
Fish & Game Warden
Range Manager

Explore Alumni Careers

Fellowships, Scholarships & Financial Aid

Fellowships

Western’s MEM program offers graduate fellowships that reduce tuition, strengthen partnerships, and enhance career prospects for selected students. Fellowships are awarded based on the quality and number of applicants each year.

Learn More

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Graduate students at Western receive financial support from a variety of sources, including personal savings, loans, scholarships, fellowships and graduate assistantships. Learn more ways to offset these costs through financial aid opportunities.

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"Rachel Weakland has dedicated her professional efforts towards environmental education and creating global leaders here in Colorado and abroad."

Rachel Weakland

Global Sustainability - Environmental Management

We are so excited about your interest in applying to MEM! Please take a moment to review the application requirements and deadlines and then access the application.

Apply to MEM