MEM: Integrative & Public Land Management Concentration

Student Maria Skarzynski collaborates with a friend during Geology Field Camp

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

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

The Integrative & Public Land Management concentration, offered as part of the Master in Environmental Management program, prepares students to tackle the complex challenges of managing public lands. Combining interdisciplinary coursework with hands-on experience, the program focuses on the science, policy, and management practices necessary to steward our nation’s natural resources. Students will learn to navigate the intricacies of conservation, land use, and public policy, positioning them for leadership roles in environmental management and sustainable resource use. With nearly 82% of Gunnison County surrounded by public land, Western’s beautiful setting is the ideal environment to learn about integrative public land management.

A group of several students listen to a presentation outdoors.

The Integrative & Public Land Management (IPLM) prepares you to tackle complex challenges in land management by combining project management, climate action, and collaborative solutions. Through applied projects, field experiences, and a self-designed, 600-hour master’s project, you’ll gain hands-on expertise in managing public and private lands, while addressing pressing issues like climate change and conservation. The program emphasizes real-world application, giving you the skills to navigate diverse environmental contexts.

Additionally, the MEM faculty’s extensive networks in conservation nonprofits, environmental consulting firms, and government agencies provide invaluable opportunities for professional growth and career development. With a mix of immersive learning, intensive coursework, and industry connections, you’ll be ready to pursue careers in public land management, private land conservation, conservation advocacy, and other impactful fields in environmental stewardship.

Western’s IPLM track was created in response to interviews with federal and local agencies, nonprofit executive directors, and environmental consultants who identified the skills and experiences they wish to see in their employees. In-demand skills that you will acquire in the program include:

Understanding how to analyze and manage social and ecological systems
Applying scientific knowledge and methods to environmental management questions
Navigating complex and challenging problems with diverse stakeholders
Transforming land management institutions to respond better to social and ecological change

Understanding how to analyze and manage social and ecological systems
Applying scientific knowledge and methods to environmental management questions
Navigating complex and challenging problems with diverse stakeholders
Transforming land management institutions to respond better to social and ecological change

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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“I really enjoy the amazing access to public lands so close to town, and it allows me to experience the outdoors every chance I get."

Gabby Zaldumbide

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