An increasing focus on the environment and its resources has made environmental managers an essential asset for many businesses, nonprofits and government entities. If you want to help enforce environmental regulations in air quality, waste, water and pollution in a variety of in-demand positions, an advanced degree in environmental management will set you up for success.
Program Overview
Help develop solutions to the most pressing environmental challenges of our time.
Imagine building a livelihood based on your environmental values. Imagine learning in the heart of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains with our inspiring backyard as your transformative classroom. Imagine earning a Master in Environmental Management (MEM) and a bachelor’s degree in one of seven undergraduate programs in just five years. It’s all possible at Western through our accelerated MEM 3+2 program.
Our unique and innovative accelerated degree program allows you to customize your educational experience. Choose an undergraduate program in Biology; Business Administration; Environment & Sustainability; Politics & Government; Psychology; Public History; Recreation & Outdoor Education; or Sociology and pair it with a Master in Environmental Management. You can then choose to focus your degree on Integrative & Public Land Management, Sustainable & Resilient Communities or Global Sustainability. Through a wide selection of fieldwork, research and internship opportunities, you’ll gain the experience and skills needed for a purposeful career as an environmental policy analyst, conservation scientist or sustainability consultant.
IB Diploma Programme Students, with the opportunity to transfer up to 40 IB Higher Level and Standard Level credits with a score of 4 or higher, the 3+2 can become a 2+2. Click here to learn more.
Research in our backyard
Master in Environmental Management (MEM) 3+2 live and learn in the heart of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains with our inspiring backyard as a transformative classroom experience.
Program Requirements
At Western, course rotations are crafted to encompass a variety of subject fields for a comprehensive education and versatile degree. For required courses and degree plans, visit the official University Catalog. Below is a general overview of courses at Western Colorado University related to this area of study.
The Environmental Management emphasis allows students to complete the B.A. in Environment and Sustainability (ENVS) and the Master in Environmental Management (MEM) at Western in five years. To remain qualified for the 3+2, upon earning 66 credits each student must have:
- maintained a 3.0 cumulative GPA and a 3.25 GPA within the major;
- earned a B or above in two social science, two natural science (one with lab), and one statistics course;
- fulfilled the 3-credit Internship requirement with a B or above and positive letter from the project sponsor;
- provided three letters of recommendation, at least one of which is to be a professional reference and at least one of which is to be an academic reference from the student’s major at Western;
- written a Statement of Purpose to the MEM program, detailing early career ambitions and ideas and connections for the eventual master’s Project.
At this point, if any aspect of a student’s performance is found to be insufficient, the MEM Director may reject a 3+2 student from the MEM program, in which case the student will need to find a new emphasis or minor in order to complete the undergraduate degree. Upon meeting the requirements above, and after Junior Year (reaching 91 credits in this plan—see “MAJOR MAP” at western.edu/3_2) holding to the same GPA and general performance standards outlined above, the School of Graduate Studies will designate students as “MEM candidates with provisional acceptance.” Upon completion of the final 29 credits of the Western B.A. in Year Four of this plan, the School of Graduate Studies will designate students as “MEM degree seeking students.” Students who have completed all other requirements of the 3+2 program and all Western undergraduate requirements, yet choose to leave the MEM program before Year 5, will still have completed the undergraduate emphasis in Environmental Management and have earned the 120 credits necessary for a Western undergraduate degree.
Program Requirements
A minimum of 71 credits is required for the B.A. components of the emphasis.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENVS 100 | Introduction to Environment and Sustainability (GT-SS2) | 3 |
| ENVS 200 | Writing the Environment | 3 |
| ENVS 250 | Environmental Justice | 3 |
| ENVS 301 | Science of Sustainability and Resilience | 3 |
| ENVS 350 | U.S. and Western Environmental Politics | 3 |
| ENVS 390 | Environmental Monitoring | 4 |
| ENVS 400 | Applied Sustainability | 3 |
| ENVS 410 | Environmental Ethics | 3 |
| ENVS 499 | Internship in Environmental Studies | 3 |
| Required supporting courses | ||
| BIOL 130 | Environmental Biology (GT-SC2) | 3 |
| BIOL 135 | Environmental Biology Laboratory (GT-SC1) | 1 |
| ECON 215 | Environmental Economics | 3 |
| PHYS 125 | Energy and the Environment (GT-SC2) | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
ENVS 360 | Global Environmental Policy | |
ENVS 370 | Water Policy and Politics | |
GEOG 340 | INTRO GEOGRAPHIC INFO SYSTEMS | |
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
HWTR 200 | This Is The Headwaters | |
HWTR 398 | Headwaters Conference | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
ECON 216 | Statistics for Business and Economics | |
MATH 113 | Statistical Thinking (GT-MA1) | |
MATH 213 | Probability and Statistics (GT-MA1) | |
SOC 211 | Quantitative Research Methods | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
ANTH 230 | Cultural Anthropology (with laboratory) | |
ANTH 320 | Cultural Ecology | |
ENG 151 | Borderlands: Representing Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality | |
POLS 250 | Politics of the Environment | |
POLS 340 | Politics of Social Movements | |
POLS 350 | Human Rights | |
POLS 355 | The Global South | |
POLS 370 | Political Economy | |
PSY 308 | Environmental Psychology | |
PSY 410 | Multicultural Psychology | |
PSY 457 | Social Psychology | |
SOC 150 | Environmental Sociology | |
SOC 168 | Social Problems | |
SOC 340 | Social Movements | |
SOC 380 | Social Class, Status, and Power | |
| Core MEM Courses | ||
| ENVS 601 | Introduction to Environmental Management | 5 |
| ENVS 605 | Science for Environmental Management | 3 |
| ENVS 608 | ENVIRONMENTL POLITICS & POLICY | 3 |
| ENVS 611 | Integrative Skills for Environmental Management | 3 |
| ENVS 612 | Introduction to Analysis and Assessment for Environmental Management | 3 |
| ENVS 615 | From Climate Science to Action | 3 |
| Select one of the following from the MEM Emphases: | 3 | |
Sustainable and Resilient Communities Emphasis: | ||
ENVS 616 | Environmental Organization Development and Management | |
Global Sustainability Emphasis: | ||
ENVS 617 | Global Sustainability | |
Integrative and Public Land Management Emphasis: | ||
ENVS 618 | PUBLIC LANDS MANAGEMENT | |
| Total Credits | 71 | |
Upon successful completion of the prescribed courses listed above, University defined General Education, and elective requirements totaling 120 credits (with 40 at the 300-level or higher), students are eligible for their B.A. conferral. Students electing to complete MEM must follow the balance of their declared emphasis curriculum.
For a full description of the required Graduate coursework, please see the appropriate MEM program in the Western Graduate Catalog.
Capstone Course Requirement
The following course in the Environment and Sustainability Major fulfills the capstone course requirement: ENVS 400 Applied Sustainability.
Graduation Requirements
Undergraduate programs require a minimum of 120 semester credits for graduation. Of those 120 credits, 40 credits must be in upper-division courses (those marked 300 and above). Fifteen of these 40 upper-division credits must be earned in courses that are part of the standard or comprehensive major program being pursued.
Students are expected to review all graduation requirements, which can be found in the Western Undergraduate Catalog: Graduation Requirements.
Sample Major Map: B.A. in Environment and Sustainability & MEM (3+2)
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| ENVS 100 | Introduction to Environment and Sustainability (GT-SS2) | 3 |
| BIOL 130 & BIOL 135 |
Environmental Biology (GT-SC2) and Environmental Biology Laboratory (GT-SC1) |
4 |
| Elective | Elective | 6 |
| HWTR 100 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
| ENG 102 | Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) | 3 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENVS 200 | Writing the Environment | 3 |
| PHYS 125 | Energy and the Environment (GT-SC2) | 3 |
| Gen Ed | Social Sciences | 3 |
| ENG 103 | Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) | 3 |
| MATH 113 | Statistical Thinking (GT-MA1) | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| ENVS 301 | Science of Sustainability and Resilience | 3 |
| Gen Ed | Other General Education Courses | 9 |
| ENVS 250 | Environmental Justice | 3 |
| HWTR 398 or HWTR 200 |
Headwaters Conference or This Is The Headwaters |
1 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENVS 350 | U.S. and Western Environmental Politics | 3 |
| ECON 215 | Environmental Economics | 3 |
| Elective | Electives | 3 |
| Gen Ed | General Education Courses | 6 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Summer | ||
| ENVS 499 | Internship in Environmental Studies 1 | 1-6 |
| Credits | 1-6 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| ENVS 390 | Environmental Monitoring | 4 |
| GEOG 340 or ENVS 370 |
INTRO GEOGRAPHIC INFO SYSTEMS 2 or Water Policy and Politics |
3 |
| ENVS 410 | Environmental Ethics | 3 |
| Gen Ed | General Education Courses | 3 |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENVS 360 | Global Environmental Policy 3 | 3 |
| Gen Ed | General Education Courses | 3 |
| Elective | Electives | 3 |
| Elective | chosen from selection of classes on cultural, racial, ethnic, gender, sex, sexuality, and/or class contexts | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Summer | ||
| ENVS 601 | Introduction to Environmental Management | 5 |
| Credits | 5 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| ENVS 605 | Science for Environmental Management | 3 |
| ENVS 608 | ENVIRONMENTL POLITICS & POLICY | 3 |
| ENVS 611 | Integrative Skills for Environmental Management | 3 |
| Elective | Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENVS 612 | Introduction to Analysis and Assessment for Environmental Management | 3 |
| ENVS 615 | From Climate Science to Action | 3 |
| ENVS 616 or ENVS 617 or ENVS 618 |
Environmental Organization Development and Management or Global Sustainability or PUBLIC LANDS MANAGEMENT |
3 |
| ENVS 400 | Applied Sustainability | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Summer | ||
| ENVS 690 | MEM Project Development | 5 |
| Credits | 5 | |
| Year Five | ||
| Fall | ||
| ENVS 620 or ENVS 625 or ENVS 623 |
Studies in Sustainable and Resilient Communities or Studies in Integrative and Public Land Management or Studies in Environmental Management |
6 |
| ENVS 694 | Master's Project and Portfolio | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENVS 620 or ENVS 625 or ENVS 623 |
Studies in Sustainable and Resilient Communities or Studies in Integrative and Public Land Management or Studies in Environmental Management |
3 |
| ENVS 694 | Master's Project and Portfolio | 6 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 141-146 | |
- 1
66 credit mark completed. Submit 3+2 application materials by July 1.
- 2
or Elective to Global Env Policy (if ENVS 370 Water Policy and Politics or GIS has not been taken.)
- 3
Take ENVS 370 Water Policy and Politics if ENVS 360 Global Environmental Policy has not been taken.
Spotlight
Etinosa Igunbor
Student
Etinosa Igunbor came 7,132 miles from equatorial coastal Africa to the sagebrush steppe of Western Colorado, but that was just one leg of his journey. As someone who loves the natural world, he’s still going to great lengths to make sure he has the education to be a part of the solutions that will save it. Only time will tell where his journey will take him next.
Triston Turner
Student
“Any leadership role makes your college experience unique because you obviously don’t have to do this before you graduate. Being an EPIC Mentor has provided me with more perspective in my life. I see different viewpoints and the diversity of people’s backgrounds.” As he works toward his master’s degree, Triston is involved with EPIC Mentors, the Organics Guild, Western Solar Society and the Honors Program.
Careers
Take the first steps toward your academic and personal growth.
Fostering your intellectual development is the primary focus of every academic program at Western. Our professors and Office of Career Services will help you identify your strengths, hone your skills, define your goals, and prepare for a fulfilling and enriched life after graduation. Wondering how you can apply your program of choice to your intellectual and personal journey? Check out our “What Can I Do With This Major?” tool to explore the diverse opportunities and pathways within any degree program.
Scholarships
Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.
Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.
Find your ScholarshipsWestern’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.
Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.
Find your ScholarshipsAlumni Association Future Alumni Scholarship
The Alumni Association Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $1,000 and is applicable for the student’s junior or senior year at Western.
Any child or grandchild of an alumni is eligible to receive the Future Alumni Scholarship.
- This is a one-time non-renewable scholarship of $1,000.
- Only one Future Alumni Scholarship will be awarded per academic year.
- GPA must be 3.2 or above (college).
Due date has been extended to April 30 for 2024. An Alumni selection committee, appointed by the Alumni Advisory Council, will review applicants and select awardee by June 1.
Alumni Legacy Scholarship
The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western (incoming freshman or new transfer students are eligible).
Do you have a son or daughter looking at college? Have they considered attending Western? As an alumni, your son, daughter and/or grandchildren are eligible for certain benefits distributed through this scholarship, as follows:
- This is a one-time scholarship of $1,000.
- Nominee must be an incoming first-year student or new transfer.
- The cost of orientation is reduced by half (a $45 value).
- GPA must be 2.5 or above (high school or college of transfer).
The applicant must fill out the application form found below. Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.
Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship
The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.
Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).
- Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
- The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
- The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.
The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The Presidential Promise is guaranteed to students who have received a scholarship through the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) and/or GearUp—and are eligible for a Pell Grant.
For students who meet these criteria, Western will cover the cost of tuition and fees through the combination of federal, state and institutional aid. For more information on the Presidential Promise, visit our scholarships page.
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.
For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.
Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student’s GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.
For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.
Note: Students enrolled in a Western-CU Boulder Partnership Program (i.e. major) do not qualify for Western Merit Scholarship programs. See the Rady Merit Scholarship section above for scholarship opportunities.
Get Involved
Expand your community and your network.
There are so many ways that you can maximize your educational experience at Western. Take advantage of these opportunities to advance your career.
- Clubs & Organizations: Join the Organics Guild, Sustainability Coalition or Wildlife Society.
- Coldharbour Institute: Experiment with sustainable building design, resilient food systems or community organizing in the Gunnison Valley.
- Conferences: Attend the Headwaters Conference, the Colorado Water Workshop and Sage Grouse Spring Symposium.
- Earthship Academy: Learn how to construct a self-sustaining building capable of producing food and saving energy.
- High Country News: Check out the independent news source’s new satellite office located in Kelley Hall.
- Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory: Find a research assistantship at one of the premier biological research stations in the world.
- Solar Energy International: Engage in the local, regional or global conversation about the renewable energy era.
Sustainable practices
Students work in Chipeta Garden where they focus on composting, gardening and hosting events, such as their annual farm-to-table event.
News & Research
Additional Resources
Department Information
Clark Family School of Environment and Sustainability
Dean
Micah Russell, M.S.Assistant Professor of Environment and Sustainability, Integrative and Public Land Management Director; MEM Director
Program Facilitator
Lindsay DolezalProgram Facilitator and Grants Administrator
Campus Location
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81230
