About the Professional Science Master’s Degree
When it comes to addressing climate change, we can’t wait to make a difference.
Kickstart a meaningful career in environmental sustainability in less than two years with CSU’s Professional Science Master’s in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability!
This innovative and immersive degree focuses on tangible, career-ready skills for making real environmental change and allows you to work in the ecosystem sciences without having to get a PhD or complete a thesis.
Choose a specialization in carbon management or water resources–two in-demand areas with high earning potential. Our program is highly customizable and we welcome students with intersectional and transdisciplinary interests.
Gain an in-depth, scientific understanding of the most complex environmental and ecosystem challenges in your discipline, while also building a toolkit of cutting-edge sustainable management solutions.
Participate in an internship with a community partner where you’ll put these skills to use right away and grow your new professional network with leading environmental resource organizations.
Admissions Deadline: Feb 1 priority, year-round rolling admissions
Are you a current CSU undergrad?
Save time and money by earning a Bachelor’s and a Professional Science Master’s
in just 5 years with our Accelerated Master’s Program!
Evaluate social-environmental connections in ecosystem processes.
Develop sustainable management strategies to maintain ecosystems.
Advocate for policies enhancing ecosystem sustainability.
Lead interdisciplinary teams in a professional environment.
At one of the nation’s top ranked schools for sustainability.
36 credits
3-4 semesters
Professional Science Master’s
official affiliation
Small cohorts &
one-on-one mentorship
Average in-state cost of program:
$16,000 total
Degree Specializations
Students choose between two different specializations in high-demand areas essential to addressing the climate crisis. Our highly customizable program allows degree candidates to tailor their education to their interests and career goals.
Carbon Management
- Tackle carbon and climate change.
- Explore greenhouse gas policies and lawmaking, climate change science, and estimation of greenhouse gas footprints.
- Learn from globally-lauded faculty in greenhouse gas and carbon management.
- Prepare for a career solving the climate crisis in government, carbon registry, non-profit organizations, environmental consulting firms, carbon capture, and more.
Carbon Sustainability Track
Semester 1
ESS 501 – Principles of Ecosystem Sustainability
Foundational course for understanding the cutting edge of sustainability work across a broad range of domains.
ESS 524* – Foundations for C/Greehouse Gas Management
Essential concepts for understanding greenhouse gas emissions management and accounting.
ESS 542* – Greenhouse Gas Policies
Rules, regulations, and standards for greenhouse gas management and accounting.
ESS 696 – Group Study
Field course for all incoming students; includes R bootcamp
STAR 511 – Design and Data Analysis for Researchers I: R Software
Statistical methods for experimenters/researchers emphasizing design and analysis of experiments using R software.
Foundational Elective
Suggested:
ESS 505 – International Climate Negotiations
ESS 506 – Virtual International Climate Negotiations
ESS 582 – Study Abroad: UN Climate Change Conference
Semester 2
ESS 545 – Applications in Greenhouse Gas Inventories
Overview of methods for estimating greenhouse gas emissions and mitigation potential for agriculture and forestry activities.
ESS 555* – Life Cycle Assessment for Sustainability
The quantitative and qualitative measure of cradle-to-grave impacts of products and services on the environment, the economy, and society.
ESS 587 – Internship
400-hour professional internship with a community partner.
Foundational Elective
Semester 3
ESS 543* – Global Climate Change
Climate change science, climate change impacts, and climate change mitigation, including discussions of current topics in climate change.
Foundational Elective
Data or Quantitative Analysis Elective
*Required for the Graduate Certificate in Carbon Management
Carbon Data Science Track
Semester 1
ESS 524* – Foundations for C/Greehouse Gas Management
Essential concepts for understanding greenhouse gas emissions management and accounting.
ESS 542* – Greenhouse Gas Policies
Rules, regulations, and standards for greenhouse gas management and accounting.
ESS 696 – Group Study
Field course for all incoming students; includes R bootcamp
STAR 511 – Design and Data Analysis for Researchers I: R Software
Statistical methods for experimenters/researchers emphasizing design and analysis of experiments using R software.
Semester 2
ESS 545 – Applications in Greenhouse Gas Inventories
Overview of methods for estimating greenhouse gas emissions and mitigation potential for agriculture and forestry activities.
ESS 555* – Life Cycle Assessment for Sustainability
The quantitative and qualitative measure of cradle-to-grave impacts of products and services on the environment, the economy, and society.
ESS 587 – Internship
400-hour professional internship with a community partner.
ESS 523a – Environmental Data Science: Intro
Introduction to methods and practical applications of environmental data science.
Semester 3
ESS 543* – Global Climate Change
Climate change science, climate change impacts, and climate change mitigation, including discussions of current topics in climate change.
ESS 696 – Group Study
Carbon focused project with Dr. Stephen Ogle
Foundational Elective
Data or Quantitative Analysis Elective
*Required for the Graduate Certificate in Carbon Management
Water Resources
- Solve water resource issues.
- Explore emerging field methods and fundamental concepts in watershed science, land-use impacts, and effective watershed management.
- Learn from unparalleled faculty expertise in watershed science.
- Prepare for a career as a federal hydrologist, city water manager, sustainability officer, environmental consultant, restoration manager, watershed sustainability specialist and more.
Water Sustainability Science Track
Semester 1
ESS 696 – Group Study
This one-week pre-Fall semester course introduces student to core skillsets required to succeed in the program including data analysis with R, professional development, and community building.
STAR 511 – Design and Data Analysis for Researchers I: R Software
Pre-requisite for core statistical concepts and essential statistical analysis skills. Statistical methods for experimenters/researchers emphasizing design and analysis of experiments using R software.
ESS 501 – Principles of Ecosystem Sustainability
Intro to principles of ecosystem sustainability. Students will investigate and develop case studies.
WR 416 – Land Use Hydrology
Fundamental concepts in hydrology and effects of land use on hydrologic processes. Core course for understanding hydrologic change.
WR 512* – Water Law for Non-Lawyers
Intro to laws and policies that govern the allocation and use of water in Colorado, the west, and the U.S.Critical legal framework for water resource management.
Semester 2
WR 418 – Land Use and Water Quality
Physical, chemical, biological water quality parameters affecting land use; land management to maintain water quality; water quality standards, legislation. Essential content for water quality management.
AREC 542 – Applied Advanced Water Resource Economics
Theory and application of economics in water resource planning. Foundational course work for understanding financial management of water resources.
ESS 587 – Internship
400-hour professional internship with a community partner.
Semester 3
STAR 513 – Regression Model for Researchers
Model estimation and goodness of fit for linear models; confidence intervals for prediction and estimation; lack of fit, model diagnostics, transformations, model selection, influential observations, collinearity, interaction, polynomial regression, regression with dummy variables, weighted least squares, imputation.
Data or Quantitative Analysis Elective
Suggested any course from Graduate Certificate in Data Analysis
Foundational Elective
Foundational Elective
* Required for Graduate Certificate in Water Resources
Water Data Science Track
Semester 1
ESS 696 – Group Study
This one-week pre-Fall semester course introduces student to core skillsets required to succeed in the program including data analysis with R, professional development, and community building.
STAR 511 – Design and Data Analysis for Researchers I: R Software
Pre-requisite for core statistical concepts and essential statistical analysis skills. Statistical methods for experimenters/researchers emphasizing design and analysis of experiments using R software.
ESS 501 – Principles of Ecosystem Sustainability
Intro to principles of ecosystem sustainability. Students will investigate and develop case studies.
WR 416 – Land Use Hydrology
Fundamental concepts in hydrology and effects of land use on hydrologic processes. Core course for understanding hydrologic change.
WR 512 – Water Law for Non-Lawyers
Intro to laws and policies that govern the allocation and use of water in Colorado, the west, and the U.S.Critical legal framework for water resource management.
Semester 2
ESS 523a – Environmental Data Science: Intro
Introduction to methods and practical applications of environmental data science. Core material to be a successful environmental data scientist.
ESS 523c – Environmental Data Science: Water Applications
Hydrology specific environmental data science concepts, applications, and algorithms. Advanced material for hydroinformatics.
WR 418 – Land Use and Water Quality
Physical, chemical, biological water quality parameters affecting land use; land management to maintain water quality; water quality standards, legislation. Essential content for water quality management.
AREC 542 – Applied Advanced Water Resource Economics
Theory and application of economics in water resource planning. Foundational course work for understanding financial management of water resources.
ESS 587 – Internship
400-hour professional internship with a community partner.
Semester 3
STAR 513 – Regression Model for Researchers
Model estimation and goodness of fit for linear models; confidence intervals for prediction and estimation; lack of fit, model diagnostics, transformations, model selection, influential observations, collinearity, interaction, polynomial regression, regression with dummy variables, weighted least squares, imputation.
Data or Quantitative Analysis Elective
Suggested any course from Graduate Certificate in Data Analysis
Foundational Elective
Foundational Elective
Certificate Programs
Professional Science Master’s students can choose from several different technical certificates to enhance their education and gain a competitive edge in the sustainability management industry. We currently offer the following certificates, with others forthcoming.
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