Climate Adaptation and Risk Management

The Climate Adaptation and Risk Management degree focus in the Professional Science Master’s of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability teaches you how to strategically manage natural resources for climate resilience, preparing you to navigate diverse ecosystems, landscapes, and economic sectors. Gain a solid scientific foundation, with practical tools and contemporary methodologies to identify, evaluate, and implement climate-adaptive management and community-engagement strategies.

“Avoiding climate breakdown will require cathedral thinking. We must lay the foundation while we may not know exactly how to build the ceiling.” – Greta Thunberg

Climate Adaptation  – Impacts, Policy, Justice

The climate adaptation and risk management (CARMA) focus offers a cutting-edge curriculum that prepares individuals to navigate diverse ownerships, economic sectors, ecosystems, and spatiotemporal scales. The program prioritizes environmental justice and risk management, enabling graduates to make informed decisions based on current scientific information.

You will also learn to:

• integrate ethics and social equity into policymaking
• effectively communicate complex vulnerability assessments
• engage in proactive risk-scenario planning

With this focus, students obtain both the PSM and the Climate Adaptation and Risk Management certificate.

Some of the classes you take as part of the CARMA:

• Global Climate Change
• Climate Policy and Justice
• Climate Change Communication and Engagement
• Climate Impacts and Risk Management

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: Andrea Baudoin Farah

Prior to her work at CSU, Farah spent time as a postdoctoral scholar working with NatCap on ecosystem services and scenarios in the Llanos de Moxos region in Beni, Bolivia. She is particularly interested in exploring ways to better integrate indigenous perceptions into assessments of ecosystem services. Andrea obtained her Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Ecology at the University of Florida, where she studied the relations between indigenous conceptions of autonomy and natural resource governance in the Bolivian Amazon.

Internships: Putting your Climate Adaptation Focus Into Practice

As part of the Professional Science Master’s students complete a 400-hr, 4-credit internship to gain on-the-job experience and expand their professional networks. Students apply to their internship with the guidance of their faculty advisor and internship coordinator. These internships are almost always paid.

As a Climate Adaptation and Risk Management student, you’ll gain the skills and the foundational sustainability toolkit to make a difference in the private, non-profit, government, or consulting sectors.

Our students have interned at places like the UN Environment Programme, and HXE Partners.

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: Sarah Walker

Dr. Sarah Walker’s work is based on the idea that understanding human well-being is critical for designing environmental solutions that work for both people and nature. Her research and teaching centers on the belief that environmental solutions should prioritize social justice in both process and outcome. Broadly, Sarah conducts environmental social science – exploring and measuring the human well-being impacts of various environmental problems and interventions. Much of her work is focused on equitable climate adaptation, rural livelihoods and changing environments, and the health and well-being effects of nature immersion.

CAREERS: What do I do with a Climate Adaptation and Risk Management focus?

Career Opportunities/ Job Titles 

• Climate Adaptation Specialist 
• Risk Management Analyst 
• Environmental Policy Advisor
• Sustainability Program Manager 

• Climate Change Researcher 
• Natural Resource Planner 
• Climate Resilience Coordinator 
• Environmental Consultant 

• Climate Adaptation Officer 
• Conservation Scientist 
• Climate Impact Analyst 
• Environmental Justice Advocate 
• Climate Risk Assessment Specialist 

• Sustainability Coordinator 
• Climate Change Mitigation Specialist 
• Resilience Planning Consultant 
• Environmental Project Manager 
• Climate Policy Analyst 

• Ecosystem Restoration Specialist 
• Environmental Educator 

In government: 

Scientist, Researcher, Analyst, Specialist, Field Technician  

Supervisory Lead, Director, Deputy, Administrator, Risk Officer, Planner  

Salary range: $60k – $150k+  

In business and non-profit: 

Analyst, Organizer, Program/Project Manager, Program/Project Assistant/Associate, Specialist, Coordinator, Fellow  

Climate officer/director, Sustainability officer/director, Program officer/director  

Salary range: $60k – $150k+ 

Be the Solution!

Start Your Application for your Professional Science Master’s with a Climate Adaptation and Risk Management Certificate!

Do you want to learn more about the Climate Adaptation degree focus of the Professional Science Master’s? Would you like to meet with an Academic Success Coordinator? Ready to start your application?

Get in touch! We would love to chat with you.