Professional Science Master’s Climate Adaptation and Risk Management Degree Focus

The Climate Adaptation and Risk Management degree focus in the Professional Science Master’s of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability teaches students how to strategically manage natural resources for climate resilience, preparing them 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

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.

Careers: Climate Adaptation and Risk Management Focus

Career Opportunities/ Job Titles 

• Climate Adaptation Specialist 
• Risk Management Analyst 
• Environmental Policy Advisor
• Climate Change Researcher 
• Natural Resource Planner 
• Environmental Consultant 
• Climate Adaptation Officer 
• Conservation Scientist 
• Climate Impact Analyst 
• Environmental Justice Advocate 
• Sustainability Coordinator 
• Climate Change Mitigation Specialist 
• Resilience Planning Consultant 
• Environmental Project Manager 
• Climate Policy Analyst 
• Ecosystem Restoration Specialist

& More!

“We have a single mission: to protect and hand on the planet to the next generation.” – Francois Hollande

Get Started with Your CARMA Degree!

Apply to the program using the link below. If you have questions, please contact our PSM Graduate Coordinator, Lauren Hibbard.

Need More Information? We Can Help!

Lauren Hibbard

• Graduate Coordinator for the Professional Science Master’s Program in ESS
• Office: Remote
• Contact: [email protected]

Andrea Baudoin Farah

• Assistant Professor in ESS; Focus on Rural Livelihoods and Social-Ecological Systems
• Office: NESB B229
• Contact: [email protected]

Sarah Walker

• Assistant Professor in Forestry; Focus on Climate Adaptation & Changing Environments
• Office: Forestry 200
• Contact: [email protected]