Master of Science in Environmental Conservation

The MS in environmental conservation at UMass Amherst will prepare you as a leader in the study and management of natural resources and the environment in this period of unprecedented change to the Earth. 

You can choose to focus on any one of these concentration areas: 

• Environmental policy and human dimensions 

• Forest resources and arboriculture 

• Sustainable building systems

• Water, wetlands, and watersheds 

• Wildlife, fish, and conservation biology  

You’ll learn from faculty affiliated with our federal partners, such as the USGS Cooperative Fisheries and Wildlife Research Unit. We are also recognized as a leader in the field of international wildlife conservation, so our program has a highly diverse student body from around the world. 

You may choose a thesis (research-focused) or professional (non-thesis) degree, depending on your career aspirations. The thesis MS is intended to prepare you to pursue a PhD, while the professional degree is meant to be a terminal degree for working professionals.