About the certificate
Build the communication skills to inspire action and drive meaningful change in conservation. This fully online, asynchronous, and flexible graduate certificate in the Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources prepares you to communicate complex conservation issues to diverse audiences through compelling storytelling, strategic messaging, and effective outreach.
Learn from experts in:
- Conservation social science
- Environmental journalism
- Strategic communications
- Social media
- Marketing
- Public relations
Through a combination of theory and hands-on assignments, you’ll develop engaging conservation content, create impactful media campaigns, and apply communication strategies that connect with audiences and strengthen conservation efforts.
Turn your Expertise into impact
Discover how the graduate certificate can help you tell compelling natural resources stories, connect with diverse audiences, and make a meaningful impact.
Alumni profiles
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Alumni voices
Curriculum
The 12-credit program is fully online and asynchronous, allowing you to complete coursework on your schedule while meeting weekly deadlines. Courses are delivered through an interactive learning platform featuring narrated presentations, group discussions, and multimedia content, including video interviews and conversations with agency professionals and industry experts.
The program equips students with the essential knowledge and skills for effective communication in conservation management and science. Coursework spans:
- Core communication principles
- Media literacy and relations
- Message and product development
- Digital and social media engagement
- Strategic communications planning
- Crisis communications
- Social marketing
- Political and leadership communications
Learn more about courses and the course schedule in the curriculum section of the CSU Online webpage.
Industry voices
See our industry contributors
- Audubon Rockies
- Colorado State Forest Service
- CSU Engagement & Extension
- CSU Forest and Rangeland Stewardship
- CSU Journalism & Media Communication
- International Crane Foundation
- Natural Resources Conservation Service, Colorado office
- New Bridge Strategy
- The Nature Conservancy of Colorado
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Production and Conservation Business Center
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- U.S. Forest Service, Region 2 – Rocky Mountain
- U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station
- University of Arkansas at Monticello
- Virginia Tech
Faculty
Faculty for the Communications in Conservation graduate certificate have both academic knowledge and real-world, practical experiences in communications and media engagement. They have also worked closely with communications researchers and specialists, conservation practitioners and scientists, and communications experts from industry, government, and other fields to develop and deliver a holistic program that reflects established and emerging ideas and practices.
Lead faculty
Admissions information
Program requirements
- Completion of a bachelor’s degree
- Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- GRE is not required
Applying to the program
- Fall 2027 application deadline: July 15, 2027
- Apply online
- Create an account and follow the application instructions. Select the program: Communication in Conservation (Certificate) – Distance / COCF-DD-CT.
- Nonrefundable application fee
- $60 for domestic applicants; $70 for international applicants
- The university does offer an application fee waiver. Visit the fee waiver request site to see if you qualify.
- Resume
- Outline professional employment, collegiate work, volunteer activities, and any publications, exhibitions, service activities, prizes, awards and other recognitions.
- Transcripts
- This program only accepts official transcripts and must show a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- Transcripts are required from every college or university you have attended, regardless of when you attended, whether you earned a degree, or whether the coursework is related to this program.
- You do not need to submit Colorado State University transcripts.
- If you participated in a study abroad program through a U.S. institution, transcripts are required from the foreign institution only when the U.S. school does not list the course names, credits and grades on its transcript.
- Review the Transcripts Guide for additional submission instructions.
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How To Apply: Graduate School
Graduate School application resources, including requirements, deadlines, and a checklist guide.
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Application Fee Waiver
Some Graduate School applicants can skip the fee and apply for free. Learn which memberships or affiliations will allow you to waive the fee.
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Transcripts Guide
A guide for submitting transcripts for a CSU graduate school application.
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International students
International applicants must also demonstrate English proficiency by meeting one of the following minimum score requirements:
- TOEFL: 80
- IELTS: 6.5
- Duolingo: 120
Applicants can also access resources designed to support the transition to CSU.
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International Student and Scholar Services
Support and resources for international students, including immigration guidance, arrival and orientation resources, forms, advising information, and opportunities to connect with the CSU community.
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