Clark Family School of Environment & Sustainability

Two MEM students prune plants in the Chipeta Garden.

Explore environmental and sustainability education at Western Colorado University’s Clark Family School of Environment & Sustainability. Located in Gunnison, Colorado, in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, the Clark School offers undergraduate and graduate programs that connect environmental studies, ecology, conservation, and natural resource management with hands-on learning and real-world experience.

Whether you’re interested in addressing climate change, protecting public lands, restoring ecosystems, or building more sustainable communities, Western offers opportunities to explore environmental challenges from multiple perspectives. Choose from undergraduate degrees, graduate programs, specialized certificates, and accelerated bachelor’s-to-master’s pathways that connect your interests with your educational goals.

At Western, the environment is more than a subject you study. It’s part of your everyday experience. Through field-based courses, applied research, and community partnerships, students explore environmental challenges in the landscapes and communities surrounding them.

A student smiles as she sets up a bug net to collect data on insect populations in a wet meadow restoration area.

From undergraduate environmental studies to advanced degrees in ecology and environmental management, the Clark Family School offers academic pathways for students at different stages of their education.

Build a foundation in environmental studies while exploring the connections between natural systems, communities, and sustainability. Western’s undergraduate programs combine interdisciplinary coursework with opportunities to apply what you learn beyond the classroom.

Explore areas of study including:

Environment & Sustainability: Examine environmental challenges through interdisciplinary approaches that connect ecological, social, and economic systems.
Climate Action Planning: Explore strategies for responding to climate change and supporting sustainable communities.
Food Systems: Study the relationships between food production, communities, and environmental sustainability.
Public Land Management: Explore the stewardship and management of public lands and natural resources.
Water Studies: Investigate water resources, environmental systems, and the challenges surrounding water management.

Mem faculty, students, and alumni listen to speakers from the Crested Butte Land Trust while standing in a circle formation next to the Slate River on a sunny fall day.

Advance your knowledge through graduate programs focused on environmental management, ecological science, and applied problem-solving.

Master of Environmental Management (MEM)
Western’s Master of Environmental Management prepares students to address complex environmental challenges through interdisciplinary coursework, applied projects, and professional development. Students explore environmental management in the context of communities, landscapes, policy, and natural resources.

MS in Ecology
Western’s MS in Ecology provides advanced study in ecological science, research, and environmental systems. Students explore ecological questions through scientific inquiry and opportunities for applied research.

Environmental & Sustainability Certificates
Develop specialized knowledge in environmental management through graduate certificate programs focused on specific environmental challenges and professional interests. Certificate areas include ecosystem restoration, forests and wildfire management, mine reclamation, community resilience, and integrative lands management. These focused programs offer opportunities to deepen your expertise in topics relevant to environmental stewardship, restoration, and resource management.

Accelerated Bachelor’s-to-Master’s Pathways
Interested in continuing your environmental education beyond your undergraduate degree? Western offers accelerated pathways that allow eligible students to begin graduate-level study while completing their bachelor’s degree. These pathways provide an opportunity to build on your undergraduate experience and pursue advanced environmental education.

Areas of Study

Environment & Sustainability with Outdoor Industry Master of Business Administration

Available as: Accelerated Degree

Fisheries and Wildlife Management

Available as: Master's Concentration

Food Systems

Available as: Major Emphasis

Forests, Fire & Fuels

Available as: Certificate

Individualized Contract

Available as: Major Emphasis

Integrative Lands Management

Available as: Certificate

Master of Environmental Management (MEM)

Available as: Master's

Mine Reclamation Management

Available as: Certificate

MS in Ecology

Available as: Master's

Politics & Government with Master of Environmental Management

Available as: Accelerated Degree

Psychology with Master of Environmental Management

Available as: Accelerated Degree

Public History with Master of Environmental Management

Available as: Accelerated Degree

Public Land Management

Available as: Major Emphasis

Recreation & Outdoor Education with Master of Environmental Management

Available as: Accelerated Degree

Sociology and Criminal Justice with Master of Environmental Management

Available as: Accelerated Degree

Water Studies

Available as: Certificate, Major Emphasis

Hands-On Opportunities

River Studies & Leadership Certificate

Students dive into the science and stewardship of rivers, gaining hands-on experience in fieldwork, conservation, and water resource management.
Read More
Clark – Biochar Climate Solution

Students create biochar from local wood waste, gaining hands-on experience with practical climate solutions.
Read More
Verzuh Ranch

Offering hands-on academic experiences in sustainability, agriculture, and environmental sciences at Western.
Read More
Clark – Coldharbour Institute

Students tackle sustainability challenges through research, conservation, and regenerative land management in a real-world setting.
Read More
Headwaters Conference

This immersive conference connects students with experts to explore pressing environmental and social issues firsthand.
Read More

At Western, environmental education extends beyond the classroom and into the landscapes of the Gunnison Valley and Colorado Rockies. Through field-based coursework, applied research, and collaborative projects, students gain firsthand experience exploring environmental systems and addressing real-world challenges.

Field-Based Environmental Learning
Explore environmental systems in the places where they occur. From mountain ecosystems and forests to rivers and watersheds, Western’s location provides opportunities for field observations, ecological research, environmental assessment, and hands-on learning throughout the Gunnison Valley.

Research & Real-World Projects
Put environmental knowledge into practice through research and projects that investigate real-world challenges. Western’s environmental work includes biochar research exploring climate solutions, projects at Verzuh Ranch, and studies involving river systems and environmental stewardship. These experiences connect scientific inquiry with practical approaches to understanding and managing natural environments.

Community Partnerships & Environmental Collaboration
Environmental challenges require collaboration across disciplines and communities. Western’s environmental programs connect students with local organizations, research institutions, and environmental professionals through opportunities to engage with projects and initiatives beyond campus. These experiences offer insight into how environmental research, policy, and community needs intersect.

Through connections with organizations such as the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory and Coldharbour Institute, students can explore how environmental research and community partnerships contribute to work across the Gunnison Valley.

Two students crouch with an MEM faculty member while studying vegetation in a field of sage.

Choosing an environmental or sustainability program is about finding an education that aligns with your interests and goals. At Western Colorado University, students benefit from a distinctive mountain setting, interdisciplinary academic opportunities, and connections with faculty who bring environmental expertise into the classroom.

Study in the Heart of the Rocky Mountains
Located in Gunnison, Colorado, Western offers a unique setting for studying environmental and sustainability challenges. Surrounded by public lands, mountain ecosystems, and diverse natural resources, students experience the landscapes and environmental issues that shape the region.

Explore Environmental Challenges Across Disciplines
Environmental issues don’t exist in isolation. Western’s interdisciplinary approach connects environmental science, sustainability, policy, economics, and community planning, helping students understand complex challenges from multiple perspectives. With academic pathways spanning climate action, conservation, natural resource management, and environmental sustainability, students can pursue the areas that interest them most.

Learn From Faculty With Environmental Expertise
Western’s Clark Family School brings together faculty with expertise in ecology, conservation, public land management, environmental policy, and sustainability. Students benefit from faculty perspectives informed by research, professional experience, and involvement in environmental initiatives throughout the region.

Find an Academic Pathway That Fits Your Goals
Whether you’re beginning your undergraduate education or pursuing advanced environmental studies, Western offers multiple ways to explore your interests. Choose from undergraduate majors and emphases, graduate degrees in Environmental Management and Ecology, specialized certificates, and accelerated bachelor’s-to-master’s pathways.

“I really enjoy the amazing access to public lands so close to town, and it allows me to experience the outdoors every chance I get."

Gabby Zaldumbide

An environmental or sustainability degree can open doors to work involving conservation, natural resources, ecological research, environmental planning, and community sustainability. The Clark Family School helps students explore these fields through interdisciplinary study, hands-on experiences, and opportunities to connect with environmental professionals.

Depending on your degree, specialization, and professional experience, environmental education can support pathways in areas such as:

Environmental conservation and stewardship
Natural resource and public land management
Ecological research and wildlife conservation
Environmental policy and planning
Climate action and sustainability initiatives
Watershed and water resource management
Ecosystem restoration and land rehabilitation
Community resilience and environmental management

Some career paths require additional education, specialized training, or professional credentials. Western’s undergraduate and graduate programs offer opportunities to develop knowledge and experience relevant to these fields.

Scholarships

Scholarships by Department

The Western Colorado University Foundation offers scholarships for this program. Explore eligibility requirements and funding opportunities.

View Department Scholarships

General Western Scholarships

Western Colorado University offers merit—and need-based scholarships, recognizing achievement, financial need, and special talents.

Explore General Scholarships

Department News

Bridging the Gap: Western Student Earns Fulbright to Study Wildfire Science in Australia

When Dalton Robberson finally got to the point of choosing a career path, he didn’t anticipate it would lead him into the family business. “My…
Read More
Fast-moving wildfires leave forests less able to recover, Western study finds

As a prolonged drought sets the stage for the record-setting wildfires that continue to race across forests in the American West and Canada, new research…
Read More
After the Boom: Franklin Ngalim’s Mission to Change the Future of Mining at Home

You’d be forgiven for failing to see the environmental similarities between the Navajo Nation, situated in the high desert of the Colorado Plateau, and equatorial…
Read More
Low Snowpack Kindles More Severe Wildfires, Western Study Finds

Across much of the Rocky Mountain West, a winter of record-breaking high temperatures and historically low snowfall has forced people to think about having less…
Read More
EMPLOYS: A Bridge Between Science and Management

To the untrained eye, the stretch of Tomichi Creek that runs through Western’s Coldharbour Ranch looks pretty natural as it snakes back and forth between…
Read More
A Burning Question: Western Colorado University researchers challenge long-held assumptions about wilderness, fire, and what it means to care for a landscape

For decades, managing federal wilderness meant keeping our hands off and letting nature take its course, even when there were signs of trouble. But a…
Read More
Glacier National Park Seminar Deepens Faculty Expertise in Public Lands

While Dr. Brooke Zanetell was sitting around a campfire at the Stewardship of Public Lands seminar in Glacier National Park earlier this summer, she realized…
Read More
Growth in Severe Wildfires Likely Isn’t Over

Western forests are experiencing unprecedented and alarming growth in severe wildfires, with the area burned in high-severity fires each year fifteen times greater than it…
Read More
Research Shows Aspen Forests Slow Wildfire Spread

As a hot, dry fire season settles in across much of the western United States, land managers are looking for anything that might slow or…
Read More
Verzuh Ranch: Where Conservation Meets Education

Looking around the forty acres of prime wetland habitat Wynn and Ryan Martens recently donated to Western Colorado University, you can almost feel the pressure…
Read More
Western Graduate Students, Faculty Member Receive Distinguished Achievement Award

Recipients conducting important research in four disciplines Western Colorado University’s School of Graduate Studies is delighted to announce the recipients of the 2024 Distinguished Achievement…
Read More
Western’s Clark School wins grant to help add value to internships

Program focused on bringing underrepresented groups into the fold Let’s face it: Interns are often more work than they’re worth to the companies and organizations…
Read More
Prescribed Fire in Wilderness Research Team Honored by National USFS Award

This project embodies the spirit of the Center for Public Lands and the Clark School of Environment and Sustainability On December 14 at the 2023…
Read More
Mountaineers Without Borders: From Concept to Colombia

Western students build clubs, coops, and bridges Two years ago, Joshua Clyncke found himself in a place a lot of first-year college students would envy:…
Read More
Western receives $10,000 Catalyst Grant to help fund push toward sustainability

GUNNISON, Colorado: Even before the leaders of Western Colorado University made sustainability a guiding principle of the latest Strategic Plan, programs and departments on campus…
Read More
Workshop synthesis paper describes value of prescribed fire in wilderness areas

We have both the opportunity and responsibility to recognize fire’s ability to renew the landscape GUNNISON, Colorado – Many of the wilderness areas that we…
Read More
Women Move Mountains: Western Students Attend UN Conference in Aspen

Katya Koepsel, a first-year student in the Master of Environmental Management (MEM) program, was among eight Western students who attended the United Nations Mountain Partnership…
Read More
Western Receives Research & Education Grant from Department of Energy

Western Colorado University’s Environmental Science and Forest Ecology programs were awarded a grant for $720,000 from the United States Department of Energy (DOE). To support…
Read More
Western Organics Guild Continues to Grow

Fifteen years ago, on the Western Colorado University campus, a professor caught a student digging up the soil by the Mountaineer Field House. The professor…
Read More
Danielson Honored with Antioch’s Horace Mann Award

An attorney, professor, researcher and expert on minerals policy, national development strategies, and environmental and social performance, Luke Danielson has been a champion of environmental…
Read More
Western Earns Silver STARS Ranking

Western Colorado University has earned a silver STARS rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher…
Read More
More Extreme Fires—or ‘Megafires’—to Come

Expect to see more extreme wildfires like the East Troublesome fire in Colorado and the Holiday Farm fire in Oregon. That’s the conclusion of a…
Read More
Western Graduates Named to Forbes 30 Under 30

Enabling Equitable Energy Solutions An effort to bring critical solutions to renewable energy has landed two Western Colorado University alumni on a prestigious list of…
Read More
Conservation Grant Helps Fund Recreation Management Project

Mitigating Landscape Impact To keep pace with increased outdoor recreational visitation, the Gunnison community is exploring avenues to mitigate landscape impacts and improve outdoor experiences.…
Read More
Leadership and Experiential Learning Projects at Western

Leadership and experiential learning projects are one of the core components of the Western Colorado University experience. With program-specific clubs, on-campus events, off-campus trips, and…
Read More

Environmental studies is an interdisciplinary field that examines the relationships between people, natural systems, and the environment. It combines perspectives from science, policy, economics, and the social sciences to explore environmental challenges and potential solutions. At Western Colorado University, students can study these connections through the Environment & Sustainability major and related areas of emphasis.

Environmental studies takes an interdisciplinary approach to environmental challenges, examining how natural systems interact with communities, policies, and human activities. Environmental science typically places greater emphasis on scientific methods and the physical and biological processes that shape the environment. Both fields contribute to understanding environmental problems, but they approach those challenges from different perspectives.

Western Colorado University offers environmental studies and sustainability education through its Clark Family School of Environment & Sustainability in Gunnison, Colorado. Students can pursue undergraduate study in Environment & Sustainability, explore specialized areas such as Climate Action Planning and Public Land Management, or continue their education through graduate programs in Environmental Management and Ecology.

Western offers an undergraduate Environment & Sustainability major, a Master of Environmental Management (MEM), and a Master of Science in Ecology. Students can also explore undergraduate emphasis areas, graduate certificates, and accelerated bachelor’s-to-master’s pathways. These programs cover topics including climate action, conservation, ecological science, natural resource management, and environmental sustainability.

Yes. Western offers opportunities to study conservation and natural resource management through undergraduate and graduate environmental programs. Relevant areas include Public Land Management, Ecology & Conservation, Fisheries and Wildlife Management, Ecosystem Restoration, and Integrative Lands Management. Program options vary by degree level.

An MS in Ecology generally emphasizes ecological science, research methods, and the study of ecosystems and environmental processes. A Master of Environmental Management focuses more broadly on applying environmental knowledge to management, policy, planning, and practical environmental challenges. Western offers both graduate pathways, allowing students to choose an approach that aligns with their academic and professional interests.

Yes. Western’s environmental programs incorporate experiential learning, field-based study, research, and applied projects. Students may have opportunities to explore environmental systems in the Gunnison Valley and Colorado Rockies and participate in initiatives involving conservation, land management, water resources, and sustainability. Specific opportunities depend on the program and coursework.

Yes. Western offers accelerated degree pathways that connect eligible undergraduate programs with graduate study in environmental management or ecology. These pathways allow qualified students to begin graduate-level coursework as part of their undergraduate academic plan. Eligibility, requirements, and available pathways vary by program.

Environmental studies and sustainability graduates may pursue opportunities in conservation, environmental planning, natural resource management, sustainability initiatives, environmental policy, and related fields. Career options depend on the degree, specialized training, and experience, and some positions require advanced education or professional credentials.

ses@western.edu

1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81230

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

K

L

M

N

O

P

R

S

T

U

W

Common Questions

Common Searches

Applied Ecological Science

Biology with Master of Environmental Management

Biology with Master of Science in Ecology

Business Administration with Master of Environmental Management

Climate Action Planning

Community Resilience

Ecology & Conservation

Ecosystem Restoration

Environment & Sustainability

Environment & Sustainability with Master of Environmental Management

Environment & Sustainability with Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

Environment & Sustainability with MS in Ecology

Environment & Sustainability with Outdoor Industry Master of Business Administration

Fisheries and Wildlife Management

Food Systems

Forests, Fire & Fuels

Individualized Contract

Integrative Lands Management

Master of Environmental Management (MEM)

Mine Reclamation Management

MS in Ecology

Politics & Government with Master of Environmental Management

Psychology with Master of Environmental Management

Public History with Master of Environmental Management

Public Land Management

Recreation & Outdoor Education with Master of Environmental Management

Sociology and Criminal Justice with Master of Environmental Management

Water Studies

River Studies & Leadership Certificate

Clark – Biochar Climate Solution

Verzuh Ranch

Clark – Coldharbour Institute

Headwaters Conference

Scholarships by Department

General Western Scholarships

Bridging the Gap: Western Student Earns Fulbright to Study Wildfire Science in Australia

Fast-moving wildfires leave forests less able to recover, Western study finds

After the Boom: Franklin Ngalim’s Mission to Change the Future of Mining at Home

Low Snowpack Kindles More Severe Wildfires, Western Study Finds

EMPLOYS: A Bridge Between Science and Management

A Burning Question: Western Colorado University researchers challenge long-held assumptions about wilderness, fire, and what it means to care for a landscape

Glacier National Park Seminar Deepens Faculty Expertise in Public Lands

Growth in Severe Wildfires Likely Isn’t Over

Research Shows Aspen Forests Slow Wildfire Spread

Verzuh Ranch: Where Conservation Meets Education

Western Graduate Students, Faculty Member Receive Distinguished Achievement Award

Western’s Clark School wins grant to help add value to internships

Prescribed Fire in Wilderness Research Team Honored by National USFS Award

Mountaineers Without Borders: From Concept to Colombia

Western receives $10,000 Catalyst Grant to help fund push toward sustainability

Workshop synthesis paper describes value of prescribed fire in wilderness areas

Women Move Mountains: Western Students Attend UN Conference in Aspen

Western Receives Research & Education Grant from Department of Energy

Western Organics Guild Continues to Grow

Danielson Honored with Antioch’s Horace Mann Award

Western Earns Silver STARS Ranking

More Extreme Fires—or ‘Megafires’—to Come

Western Graduates Named to Forbes 30 Under 30