Graduate Programs

The Environmental Conservation ("Eco") Graduate Program offers core training in fundamental concepts of environmental conservation, as well as diverse opportunities to conduct scientific research and/or become practitioners working to understand and protect the world's ecosystems and the biodiversity within them. Rapid human modification of Earth’s ecosystems is signaled by the unprecedented decline of natural ecosystems and thousands of plant and animal species, many of which have become extinct. Anthropogenically induced changes to the global climate and an unrelenting increase in demand for commodities and services from ecosystems raises questions about ecological processes and the sustainable use of natural resources. This ecosystem crisis has stimulated a great deal of interest in environmental conservation. Faculty in the program bring expertise in a wide range of environmental conservation issues, ranging from wildlife and fish to forests, to hydrological systems, to sustainable building, to environmental policy and human dimensions.

"Eco" is a vibrant and diverse community of faculty & students committed to learning and sharing knowledge about the earth's ecosystems and how we interact with them. Students work directly with a faculty advisor in the program who mentors them as they pursue either a research-focused PhD or Research MS (with thesis) degree, or a Professional MS degree.  

The Geographic Information Science and Technology (GIST) concentration within the MS-Geography at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is an accelerated, one-year master’s program designed to provide a solid foundation and a useful degree credential in the field of geospatial technologies. Through rigorous coursework in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing (RS), and spatial modeling, highly- motivated students and professionals who complete this degree will emerge from the program with applied experience and a broad GIS skillset applicable towards diverse professional opportunities. This MS concentration will provide students with a background in the science, techniques, and application of geospatial skills that will enable them to embark on public and private sector careers or to undertake further studies in geography, planning, public policy, ecology, environmental science, and other fields.

The MS Sustainability Science (MS3) Program prepares students professionally for a broad range of sustainability-focused careers in industry, government, or the non-profit sector.  Students will graduate with: (1) a systems-based foundation for analyzing current environmental challenges; (2) pragmatic training and field experiences; (3) critical thinking and communications skills; and (4) knowledge and understanding of the interrelated scientific, social, economic and political underpinnings of environmental problems, solutions, and practices. Our program is practice/career-based, and students will complete a 4-credit internship with an NGO, government agency or company. Students in the program will select one concentration area from among 4 options: Environmental Quality, Sustainable Food Systems and Agriculture, Water Sustainability, and Urban Sustainability. Because the program combines core classes and a chosen area of concentration, students will build a strong intellectual foundation for analyzing interconnections between social, economic, and ecological systems and will also develop expertise depth within a given domain. The program plays host to students from a wide range of backgrounds and caters to the needs of all through a rigorous and exciting cross-disciplinary set of requirements. The Sustainability Science students often interact with fellow students from other closely-related graduate programs at the University, including Environmental Conservation (Green Building concentration, and Water, Wetlands and Watersheds concentration), Geosciences, Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning, and Architecture, so there are unique opportunities to build a professional network across a wide range of disciplines.