SEMESTER 1: FALL

COURSEWORK ON CAMPUS AT CSU (AUGUST-DECEMBER)

Systems Thinking and Biodiversity, NR 564, 3 credits
Explores a variety of issues related to the conservation of biological diversity and examines the characteristics of social-ecological systems

Ecosystem Services, NR 562, 3 credits
Examines the linked ecological, economic, and institutional challenges towards better characterizing the contribution of ecosystem services to human well-being

Multi-level Views of Conservation, NR 545, 3 credits
Examines how factors related to culture, development and institutions influence the shape and fabric of natural resource management and environmental conservation across multiple scales

Conservation Leadership, NR 549A, 3 credits
Delves into the concepts, needs and challenges of conservation leadership, such as inter-disciplinary understanding, leading groups and facilitating discussions

Management for Conservation Projects, NR 534, 1 credit
Focuses on best practices for project management with curriculum developed by WildTeam UK

SEMESTER 2: SPRING

COURSEWORK ON CAMPUS AT CSU (JANUARY-MAY)

Collaborative Conservation, NR 543B, 3 credits
Covers the theoretical and practical aspects of collaborative conservation pulling from the extensive knowledge of the Center for Collaborative Conservation representatives

Conservation Governance, NR 541, 2 credits
Engages interdisciplinary scholarship across the social sciences to critically examine contemporary governance theories and practices relating to natural resource conservation

Methods in Conservation: Social Science, NR 544E, 3 credits
Provides an overview of research methods used in the field of conservation and an introduction to a variety of methods that may be useful for capstone projects and future efforts

Conservation Leadership, NR 549B, 3 credits
Explores the business, management, and communication aspects of conservation practice and leadership

Note: Conservation Leadership course syllabi subject to change each year. The provided syllabi are only intended as examples.

SEMESTER 3: SUMMER

ONSITE CAPSTONE PROJECT WORK (JUNE-SEPTEMBER)

NR 568: Conservation Leadership Capstone, 6 credits

SEMESTER 4: FALL

COMPLETE CAPSTONE PROJECT AND GRADUATE (OCTOBER-DECEMBER)

Continuous Registration, CR, 0 credits

If needed, you can enroll for an extra semester to finalize and present your project.

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES

During the two semesters of coursework on campus, students participate in a number of experiential and project-based activities.

Immersion Weeks

In some weeks, students forego regular class sessions and are immersed in a specific conservation issue, looking at the conservation issue from multiple perspectives. Students meet with experts and stakeholders to acquire important skills and view conservation issues from multiple perspectives. Immersion weeks include visits to conservation project sites, talks from conservation practitioners, workshops, group work, and student presentations.

Friday Activities

Most Fridays have field activities or workshops to complement the curriculum and provide opportunities to interact with conservation practitioners and develop new skills.