MEM: Sustainable & Resilient Communities

2 students dig a hole for a sagebrush transplant with w mountain in the background

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 Sustainable & Resilient Communities concentration prepares students to tackle the pressing challenges of climate change, urban development, and environmental stewardship. Through an interdisciplinary approach, this program blends environmental science, policy, economics, and community planning to equip students with the tools to design solutions that promote community sustainability and resilience. Students will gain hands-on experience and a deep understanding of how to create sustainable infrastructure, enhance resource management, and build adaptive strategies for the future.

Two students crouch with an MEM faculty member while studying vegetation in a field of sage.

Part of the Master in Environmental Management program, the Sustainable & Resilient Communities (SRC) concentration inspires students to drive meaningful change in communities worldwide by equipping them with the skills to address environmental, social, and economic challenges. Through an action-oriented, interdisciplinary approach, this program combines courses in climate action planning, sustainability consulting, nonprofit management, alternative building, and environmental education. Students will develop the expertise to design and implement solutions that enhance livelihood in local and global communities.

The SRC concentration emphasizes hands-on learning through partnerships with faculty on complex, real-world projects. Students have the opportunity to work with organizations in fields such as climate planning, sustainable infrastructure, and community development, gaining valuable experience while expanding their leadership skills. With guidance from faculty and their extensive professional networks, students are connected to diverse opportunities tailored to their interests, empowering them to make a tangible impact in sustainability and resilience efforts.

The SRC concentration stands out for its focus on action-oriented, real-world experience that prepares students to tackle global environmental challenges. Through the Master in Environmental Management (MEM) degree, students gain hands-on training in various environmental projects, learning how to scope, manage, and execute initiatives across multiple scales. The program’s unique 600-hour master’s project—completed anywhere in the world—allows students to apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios, building expertise in areas such as climate action planning, project management, community infrastructure assessment, and environmental entrepreneurship.

What truly sets the SRC concentration apart is its emphasis on cultural dexterity, financial analysis, and life-cycle assessment, equipping students to navigate complex, diverse environments. Students are prepared to take on leadership roles in global sustainability projects, developing the skills needed for everything from organizational management to environmental and social entrepreneurship. With extensive field training and opportunities to work directly with global partners, graduates leave the program ready to make an immediate impact in creating resilient, sustainable communities worldwide.

There are many opportunities to work with faculty on projects around Western’s campus and in the Gunnison community, including:

Coldharbour Institute: Developing partnerships that empower international communities to address climate change on our 334-acre ranch site.
CS2I Lab: Incubating solutions to real-world problems for real partners.
Earth Tub: Diverting and composting food waste at Western to use at local farms.
Organics Guild: Growing and distributing local food to the community through a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.
Renewable Energy: Promoting and maintaining local renewable energy programs on Western’s campus, including solar and wind efforts.
Sustainability Action Committee: Working to strengthen partnerships between Western and local stakeholders in a variety of sustainability initiatives.
Sustainability Marketing: Raising public awareness and inspiring action by promoting socially responsible purchasing and changes in consumptive behaviors.

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

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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.

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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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"Lindsey Lunsford's work towards a healthier community contributes to the rural south's reclamation of the "Carver Way of Life," impacting the health of many communities."

Lindsey Lunsford

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