In the Ecosystem Science and Management specialization at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS), you will explore these questions and learn about natural systems in both classroom and experiential settings. You will also master the technical and quantitative skills necessary for their study, and learn how to apply them to solve complex environmental management problems, preparing you to become both a scientist and a successful sustainability practitioner. With a focus on experiential field-based learning, this environmental master's program will prepare you to become a change-driven scientist capable of developing novel approaches to the sustainable environmental management of wildlands, protected areas and aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Students gain skills and expertise through engagement in a rigorous, exciting academic environment as well as through field-based learning in ecosystems around the world. Learn from renowned and passionate researchers in a setting that facilitates academic growth with the freedom to focus your environmental science coursework around a specific topic or blend classes and experiences to create a truly interdisciplinary experience. Areas of focus include: Landscape Ecology: Study how different land uses—agriculture, urban, residential, forest and natural—affect ecological systems. Global Change Biology: Understand the biosphere’s responses to human activities, such as climate shifts, land-use conversion, the release of pollutants and species introductions. Quantitative Methods in Environmental Science: Acquire the fundamental quantitative literacy to correctly evaluate and interpret ecological data. Conservation GIS: Study the effective use of GIS across multiple fields in conservation, including forestry, wildlife mapping, aquatic resources, ecosystem management and regional planning. Ecosystem Science and Management: Link the scientific understanding of ecosystems with the challenges inherent in sustainable management and of the societal benefits they support. Ecological Engineering: Combine the principles of ecology and engineering to predict, design, construct or restore, and manage ecosystems. Decision Making and Risk Analysis: Identify and manage potential problems that could undermine key initiatives or projects, while building critical decision-making skills. Currriculm: In Ecosystem Science and Management classes, labs and fieldwork, you will study local, regional, national and international environmental issues ranging from urban settings to wilderness areas. You will learn the fundamental concepts and techniques—such as GIS, resource management and field sampling—necessary for the study of ecosystems and environmental management, as well as how to apply them to solve complex problems, preparing you to become both a scientist and sustainability practitioner in the field.
