Program Overview

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Professional Science Master's in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability

The Professional Science Master's (PSM) in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability (ESS) is an interdisciplinary graduate degree that empowers students with the in-demand skills, advanced scientific knowledge, and on-the-job experience to launch impactful careers in sustainability.

Program Overview

The PSM program equips students for success in fast-growing industries by emphasizing in-demand skills such as coding, modeling, data science, and policy analysis. Students can tailor their studies in carbon management, climate risk management, water resources, or sustainable food systems to align with their career goals.

Curriculum

The Professional Science Master's in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability was created with in-demand jobs in mind. To that end, our curriculum is designed to equip you with a sustainability toolkit that you can use to fill a range of positions in the sustainability and climate change sectors.

• Evaluate linkages between socioeconomic and ecosystem processes that influence the sustainability of carbon, water, and/or food management.
• Develop sustainable management strategies to maintain ecosystem processes related to carbon, water, and/or food management.
• Promote policies enhancing the sustainability of ecosystems related to carbon, water, and/or food management.
• Build, work within, and lead interdisciplinary teams in a professional environment.

Required Courses

• ESS 500 Integrated Ecosystem/Sustainability Analysis
• ESS 523a Intro to Environmental Data Science
• ESS 587 Internship
• And one of the following:
  • ESS 542 Greenhouse Gas Policies
  • WR 512 Water Law for Non-Lawyers

Degree Focus Areas

Carbon Management

The Carbon Management focus gives you hands-on skills to manage carbon and greenhouse gases across sectors like government, corporations, and agriculture. Addressing greenhouse gas emissions calls for a new wave of professionals with cutting-edge tools—and this specialization provides you with that toolkit!

Water Resources

The Water Resources focus equips you with data science specific to water resource management. Helping you understand the social, physical, chemical, and ecological aspects of water systems, as well as basic water resource policy.

Sustainable Food Systems

The Sustainable Food Systems focus of the Professional Science Master's in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability equips students to understand the scope and interdisciplinarity of food systems, to evaluate key sustainability issues in sustainable food systems and the relationships between food systems and climate, water, and energy.

Climate Adaptation and Risk Management

The Climate Adaptation and Risk Management (CARMA) focus provides an innovative curriculum designed to equip individuals with the skills needed to address a variety of ownership structures, economic sectors, ecosystems, and time and space contexts.

The Internship

In lieu of a thesis, students working toward their Professional Science Master's in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability complete a 400-hr, four credit professional internship, putting their skills to work and getting on the job experience.

How the Graduate Internship Works

The internship placement may be with an academic, governmental, business, or nongovernmental agency. Students usually complete this internship during the last summer of their studies, working 40 hours per week for 10 weeks. Many students are hired by their internship partner.

Career Opportunities

The Professional Science Master's in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability prepares you for jobs that are in-demand and more important than ever, like Sustainability Managers, Climate Data Analysts, Carbon Accountants, and Water Resource Managers.

Tuition and Financial Aid

The Professional Science Master's in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability can cost as little as $16,000 a year for Colorado residents. Students enrolled in the Distance version of the program will pay per credit hour as detailed on the CSU Online website; these students may find that costs vary depending on which department delivers their elective courses.

Application Requirements

• Minimum 3.0 GPA
• Completion of a bachelor's degree
• Non-refundable Application Fee
• Transcripts of all collegiate work
• Resume or curriculum vitae
• Statement of Purpose
• Letters of Recommendation
• International Applicants must submit Official English Proficiency test scores

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Professional Science Master's?

Professional Science Master's programs combine advanced STEM coursework with essential business skills, creating tomorrow's workforce in science, technology, and innovation.

What are the application requirements?

Learn more about general graduate school application requirements.

What is the application process for international students, including visa requirements and English language proficiency?

U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents, and International Students may submit English proficiency scores directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Is there a minimum GPA or GRE test scores required for admission?

The GRE is not required. The ESS department recommends a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Is there an application fee and is it refundable?

$60 non-refundable application fee for domestic applicants, $70 non-refundable application fee for international applicants.

What is the application deadline?

For full consideration of potential financial support, please apply by February 1st.

What is the program's tuition and fee structure?

The PSM program's tuition and fee structures are based on the financial aid cost of attendance.

Are scholarships, grants, or financial aid available for PSM students?

The PSM is not a traditional research degree program. There is no tuition remission and no dedicated Graduate Teaching or Research Assistantships set aside for PSM students. Therefore, PSM students should expect to pay for the program through loans and scholarships. Very rarely do teaching assistantships become available to PSM students.