Program Overview

Masters of the Environment Program Overview

The Masters of the Environment (MENV) program is designed to empower students with a critical and innovative approach to tackling essential challenges within the environment. This program takes a comprehensive view of environmental issues, encompassing all stages of the environmental supply chain: from production to waste management. This inclusive perspective also acknowledges the diverse range of stakeholders involved, such as private sector entities, NGOs, research institutions, and government agencies, all of which contribute to the sustainability of these intricate systems.

Program Structure

• Core Curriculum
• Specializations
  • Environmental & Natural Resources Policy
  • Renewable & Sustainable Energy
  • Sustainability in the Outdoor Industry
  • Sustainable Food Systems
  • Urban Resilience & Sustainability
• Electives
• Capstone Project
• Workshops
• MENV/MBA Dual Degree
• Pathways

Sustainable Food Systems Specialization

Overview

The Sustainable Food Systems (SFS) specialization is designed to empower students with a critical and innovative approach to tackling essential challenges within the food system. This specialization takes a comprehensive view of food systems, encompassing all stages of the food supply chain: from cultivation and production to processing, transportation, retail, consumption, and waste management. This inclusive perspective also acknowledges the diverse range of stakeholders involved, such as private sector entities, NGOs, research institutions, and government agencies, all of which contribute to the sustainability of these intricate systems.

Specialization Focus

1. Comprehensive View and Inclusivity: The specialization adopts a comprehensive perspective by addressing all stages of the food supply chain, from production to waste management. It recognizes the involvement of various stakeholders, including private sector entities, NGOs, research institutions, and government agencies, emphasizing inclusivity in its approach.
2. Critical and Innovative Approach: The specialization encourages students to adopt a critical and innovative mindset when approaching essential challenges within the food system. This principle emphasizes the importance of thinking beyond conventional solutions.
3. Systemic Outlook and Environmental Relationship: Students are guided to cultivate a systemic outlook on the intricate relationship between food and the environment. This principle highlights the interconnectedness of various elements within the food system and their impact on the environment.
4. Interdisciplinary Understanding: The specialization facilitates an understanding of how science, policy, and ethics intersect within the context of food systems. This principle underscores the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to comprehending and addressing complex challenges.
5. Leadership and Positive Impact: Graduates of the program are equipped with the knowledge and skills to become leaders capable of driving positive changes in food system sustainability. This principle emphasizes the role of graduates as change agents within the private sector, government, and non-profit organizations, both locally and globally.

Course Requirements

• Food and Agriculture Policy in the United States (ENVM 5029)
• Nourishing Humanity within Planetary Boundaries: Intro to Food Systems (ENVM 5038)
• Quantitative Analysis in Food Systems (ENVM 6100)
  • Benefit Cost Analysis (ENVM 5043)
  • Life Cycle Assessment - Bringing Objectivity into Subjective Conversations (ENVM 5044)
  • Introduction to Monitoring & Evaluation (ENVM 5045)

SFS Electives

• Supply Chain Management for Food and Fiber (ENVM 5028)
• Humans, Environment, and Justice (ENVM 5051)
• Agroecology (ENVM 5063)
• The Science and Practice of Sustainable Agriculture (ENVM 5079)

Relevant Specialization Capstone Projects

• Growing Gardens
• Metro Caring
• Applied Ecological Institute
• The Farm Collaborative
• East Denver Food Hub
• Danonne

Meet the SFS Faculty

• Damien Thompson (SFS Specialization Lead)
• Fatuma Emmad
• Scott Donnell
• Kurt James
• John Heckman
• James Harper
• Stephanie Shwiff
• Dan Goldhammer
• Taber Stark Ward
• Wendy Moschetti

Why SFS?

The Sustainable Food Systems specialization offers students a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to understanding and addressing the complex challenges within the food system. By adopting a critical and innovative mindset, students will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to become leaders capable of driving positive changes in food system sustainability. The program's focus on inclusivity, systemic outlook, and interdisciplinary understanding provides students with a unique perspective on the intricate relationship between food and the environment. With a range of course requirements, electives, and capstone projects, students will have the opportunity to explore various aspects of the food system and develop a deep understanding of the complex challenges and opportunities within this field.