The major in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability provides a strong scientific foundation in ecosystem ecology integrated with a broad knowledge of the cultural, social, economic, and political issues that are shaping the issue of sustainability. Students in the major learn to integrate science into real-world decision making, with the goal of developing sustainable strategies to maintain ecosystem services around the globe. We provide students with a broad base of experiential and collaborative learning opportunities, opportunities for undergraduate research, and the latest scientific knowledge about sustainability science and how organisms interact with their environments to form complex ecosystems. Opportunities for research, internships, practical and group-based learning, and field experiences in the beautiful Rocky Mountains and around the world, combined with an outstanding classroom education, build a solid foundation for applying sustainable resource management principles.
Learning Objectives
- Systems understanding: Identify and distinguish system components and their interactions to explain and illustrate systems understanding.
- Ecosystem content and principles: Identify, analyze, synthesize, and assess fundamental ecosystem concepts.
- Sustainability content and principles: Understand and apply insight and understanding of ecosystem concepts and how these principals contribute to sustainable strategies for society.
- Ecosystem science and sustainability methods: Discriminate among methods and apply these to examine complex ecosystem processes and sustainability issues.
- Problem solving: Work independently and efficiently in teams, demonstrate respect for alternative points of view, and communicate and engage effectively, solving problems using a diverse set of analytical and applied tools.
Potential Occupations
Completion of the undergraduate degree qualifies students for a wide variety of careers related to sustainability and natural resource science. Examples of possible careers include: sustainability coordinator, ecologist, environmental educator, invasive species specialist, biological science technician, climate change scientist, natural resource specialist, or corporate environmental consultant. Students completing the undergraduate degree in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability will also be well prepared to succeed in graduate education in a variety of disciplines.
Undergraduate Advising
Would you like to learn more from a Peer Mentor or Academic Success Coordinator?
Please visit our ESS Advising page here.
Effective Fall 2024
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| AUCC | Credits | ||
| CO 150 | College Composition (GT-CO2) | 1A | 3 |
| ESS 120 | Intro to Ecosystem and Watershed Sciences | 1 | |
| ESS 129 | Information Management for Sustainability | 1 | |
| ESS 130 | Intro to Systems Theory for Sustainability | 1 | |
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | ||
| Introductory Cultural Anthropology (GT-SS3) | 3C | ||
| Agricultural and Resource Economics (GT-SS1) | 3C | ||
| Economics of Environmental Sustainability (GT-SS1) | 3C | ||
| Principles of Microeconomics (GT-SS1) | 3C | ||
| Principles of Macroeconomics (GT-SS1) | 3C | ||
| American Government and Politics (GT-SS1) | 3C | ||
| State and Local Government and Politics (GT-SS1) | 3C | ||
| Introduction to Sociology (GT-SS3) | 3C | ||
| Social Problems (GT-SS3) | 3C | ||
| Select one group from the following: | 4 | ||
Group A: | |||
| Principles of Animal Biology (GT-SC2) | 3A | ||
| Animal Biology Laboratory (GT-SC1) | 3A | ||
Group B: | |||
| Attributes of Living Systems (GT-SC1) | 3A | ||
| Select one group from the following: | 5 | ||
Group A: | |||
| Fundamentals of Chemistry (GT-SC2) | 3A | ||
| Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory (GT-SC1) | 3A | ||
Group B: | |||
| General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) | 3A | ||
| General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1) | 3A | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 3-4 | ||
| Feeding the World in a Changing Climate (GT-SC2) | 3A | ||
| Science of Global Climate Change (GT-SC2) | 3A | ||
| Foundations of Environmental Sustainability | |||
| Environmental Conservation (GT-SC2) | 3A | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 4 | ||
| Calculus for Biological Scientists I (GT-MA1) | 1B | ||
| Calculus for Physical Scientists I (GT-MA1) | 1B | ||
| Arts and Humanities | 3B | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 28-29 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| ESS 210/GR 210 | Physical Geography | 3 | |
| LIFE 320 | Ecology | 3 | |
| Select one course from the following: | 4 | ||
| Principles of Plant Biology (GT-SC1) | 3A | ||
| Biology of Organisms-Animals and Plants (GT-SC1) | 3A | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 5 | ||
| General Physics I (GT-SC1) | 3A | ||
| Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (GT-SC1) | 3A | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | ||
| Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods | |||
| Introduction to Biostatistics | |||
| Arts and Humanities | 3B | 3 | |
| Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | 1C | 3 | |
| Electives | 4 | ||
| Total Credits | 28 | ||
| Junior | |||
| ESS 311 | Ecosystem Ecology | 3 | |
| ESS 312 | Sustainability Science | 3 | |
| ESS 320 | Internship and Career Preparation | 1 | |
| ESS 330 | Quantitative Reasoning for Ecosystem Science | 3 | |
| NR 319 | Introduction to Geospatial Science | 4 | |
| WR 204/GR 204 | Sustainable Watersheds (GT-SC2) | 3A | 3 |
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | ||
| Writing in the Disciplines: Sciences (GT-CO3) | 2 | ||
| Writing in the Disciplines: Social Sciences (GT-CO3) | 2 | ||
| Strategic Writing and Communication (GT-CO3) | 2 | ||
| Specialized Professional Writing | 2 | ||
| Historical Perspectives | 3D | 3 | |
| Electives | 8 | ||
| Total Credits | 31 | ||
| Summer | |||
| Professional Development and Engagement Requirement (see list below) | 5 | ||
The timeline to complete this requirement may vary – plan in consultation with advisor. | |||
| Total Credits | 5 | ||
| Senior | |||
| ESS 440 | Practicing Sustainability | 4C | 4 |
| NR 400 | Public Communication in Natural Resources | 3 | |
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | ||
| Global Perspectives on Sustainability | 4A,4B | ||
| Earth Systems Ecology | 4A,4B | ||
| ESS Electives (see list below) | 15 | ||
| Electives1 | 2-3 | ||
| Total Credits | 27-28 | ||
| Program Total Credits: | 120 | ||
Professional Development and Engagement Requirement
The timeline to complete the Professional Development and Engagement may vary. Suggested completion of summer coursework (NR 220 and some department-approved study abroad programs) may occur between sophomore and junior years or between junior and senior years. ESS 487 has a prerequisite of ESS 320, so should be completed after junior year. ESS 220/ESS 221/ESS 298 may be completed during the academic year, ideally during junior or senior year, thus moving elective credits to freshman and sophomore years.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one group from the following: | ||
| Group A: | 5 | |
| Natural Resource Ecology and Measurements | ||
| Group B: Students must obtain department pre-approval before enrolling in the appropriate course. | 5 | |
| Internship | ||
or ESS 495 | Independent Study in Ecosystem Science | |
| Group C: | 5 | |
| Research Skills for Ecosystem Science I | ||
| Research Methods for Ecosystem Science II | ||
| Research | ||
| Group D: | 5 | |
Department-approved Study Abroad | ||
Ecosystem Science and Sustainability Electives
Select a minimum of 15 credits not taken elsewhere in the program from the list below. A minimum of 3 credits must be from each of the three categories (Ecosystem Science, Sustainability, and Tools/analysis). The additional 6 credits can be from any category or from the longer uncategorized list. Additional coursework may be required due to prerequisites.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Ecosystem Science selections: select a minimum of 3 credits from the following courses: | ||
| ESS 353 | Global Change Impacts, Adaptation, Mitigation 2 | 3 |
| ESS 405/SOCR 405 | Global Agriculture and Environmental Change | 3 |
| ESS 411 | Earth Systems Ecology | 3 |
| ESS 432/MIP 432 | Microbial Ecology | 3 |
| ESS 433/MIP 433 | Microbial Ecology Laboratory | 1 |
| ESS 474 | Limnology | 3 |
| ESS 524 | Foundations for Carbon/Greenhouse Gas Mgmt | 3 |
| ESS 543/ATS 543 | Global Climate Change | 2 |
| Sustainability selections: select a minimum of 3 credits from the following courses: | ||
| ESS 353 | Global Change Impacts, Adaptation, Mitigation 2 | 3 |
| ESS 365 | Global Climate Justice | 3 |
| ESS 400 | Global Perspectives on Sustainability | 3 |
| ESS 401 | Sustainability of Parks and Protected Places | 3 |
| ESS 501 | Principles of Ecosystem Sustainability | 3 |
| ESS 505 | International Climate Negotiations | 2 |
| ESS 506 | Virtual International Climate Negotiations | 1 |
| ESS 542 | Greenhouse Gas Policies | 2 |
| ESS 582A | Study Abroad--Europe and British Isles: UN Climate Change Conference (COP) | 1 |
| ESS 582B | Study Abroad--Americas: UN Climate Change Conference (COP) | 1 |
| ESS 582C | Study Abroad--Asia/Oceania: UN Climate Change Conference (COP) | 1 |
| ESS 582D | Study Abroad--Africa: UN Climate Change Conference (COP) | 1 |
| WR 512 | Water Law for Non-Lawyers | 3 |
| Tools and analysis selections: select a minimum of 3 credits from the following courses: | ||
| ESS 523A | Environmental Data Science Applications: Introduction | 5 |
| ESS 523B/SOCR 523B | Environmental Data Science Applications: Food and Agriculture | 2 |
| ESS 523C/WR 523C | Environmental Data Science Applications: Water Resources | 2 |
| ESS 555/ANEQ 555 | Life Cycle Assessment for Sustainability | 3 |
| NR 323/GR 323 | Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation | 3 |
| NR 426 | Programming for GIS I | 2 |
| NR 427 | Programming for GIS II | 2 |
| NR 453 | Geospatial Field Methods in Natural Resources | 2 |
| NR 450 | Geospatial Project Design and Analysis | 4 |
| WR 416 | Land Use Hydrology | 3 |
| WR 418 | Land Use and Water Quality | 3 |
| WR 474 | Snow Hydrology | 3 |
| Select 0-6 credits from the following courses: | ||
| ANTH 329 | Cultural Change | 3 |
| ANTH 330 | Human Ecology | 3 |
| ANTH 414/ETST 414 | Development in Indian Country | 3 |
| ANTH 415 | Indigenous Ecologies and the Modern World | 3 |
| ANTH 417 | Indigenous Environmental Stewardship | 3 |
| ANTH 453 | Impacts on Ancient Environments | 3 |
| ANTH 479/IE 479 | International Development Theory and Practice | 3 |
| AREC 340/ECON 340 | Introduction-Economics of Natural Resources | 3 |
| AREC 341 | Environmental Economics | 3 |
| AREC 440 | Advanced Environmental and Resource Economics | 3 |
| AREC 444/ECON 444 | Economics of Energy Resources | 3 |
| ATS 350 | Introduction to Weather and Climate | 2 |
| ATS 351 | Introduction to Weather and Climate Lab | 1 |
| ATS 556 | Climate Intervention to Cool a Warming Planet | 2 |
| BSPM 302 | Applied and General Entomology | 2 |
| BSPM 308 | Ecology and Management of Weeds | 3 |
| BSPM 361 | Elements of Plant Pathology | 3 |
| BSPM 365 | Integrated Tree Health Management | 4 |
| BZ 440 | Plant Physiology | 3 |
| BZ 441 | Plant Physiology Laboratory | 2 |
| BZ 450 | Plant Ecology | 4 |
| BZ 471 | Stream Biology and Ecology | 3 |
| BZ 472 | Stream Biology and Ecology Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 338 | Environmental Chemistry | 3 |
| ECON 304 | Intermediate Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ECON 306 | Intermediate Microeconomics | 3 |
| ECON 317 | Population Economics | 3 |
| ERHS 448 | Environmental Contaminants | 3 |
| ETST 352/SOWK 352 | Indigenous Women, Children, and Tribes | 3 |
| ETST 365 | Global Environmental Justice Movements | 3 |
| ETST 420 | Disability, Race, Gender in the Environment | 3 |
| ETST 444/SOC 444 | Federal Indian Law and Policy | 3 |
| F 311 | Forest Ecology | 3 |
| F 322 | Economics of the Forest Environment | 3 |
| F 324 | Fire Effects and Adaptations | 3 |
| F 466/HORT 466 | Urban and Community Forestry | 3 |
| FW 204 | Introduction to Fishery Biology | 3 |
| FW 260 | Principles of Wildlife Management | 3 |
| FW 300 | Biology and Diversity of Fishes | 2 |
| FW 301 | Ichthyology Laboratory | 1 |
| FW 375 | Field Wildlife Studies | 3 |
| FW 400 | Conservation of Fish in Aquatic Ecosystems | 3 |
| FW 477 | Wildlife Habitat Use and Management | 3 |
| GES 440/ATS 440 | Sea Level Rise and a Sustainable Future | 3 |
| GES 470 | Applications of Environmental Sustainability | 3 |
| GR 303 | Mountain Geography | 3 |
| GR 320 | Cultural Geography | 3 |
| GR 330 | Urban Geography | 3 |
| GR 348 | Biogeography | 3 |
| GR 410 | Climate Change: Science, Policy, Implications | 3 |
| GR 430 | Land Change Science and Remote Sensing | 3 |
| GR 431 | Land Change Science Lab | 1 |
| GR 448 | Forest Biogeography and Climate Change | 3 |
| HIST 355 | American Environmental History | 3 |
| HIST 476 | History of America's National Parks | 3 |
| NR 300 | Biological Diversity | 3 |
| NR 320 | Natural Resources History and Policy | 3 |
| NR 321 | Natural Resource Rights and Reconciliation | 3 |
| NR 330 | Human Dimensions in Natural Resources | 3 |
| NR 370 | Coastal Environmental Ecology | 3 |
| NR 422 | GIS Applications in Natural Resource Management | 4 |
| NR 425 | Natural Resource Policy and Sustainability | 3 |
| NRRT 231 | Principles-Parks/Protected Area Management | 3 |
| NRRT 262 | Principles of Environmental Communication | 3 |
| NRRT 270 | Principles of Natural Resource Tourism | 3 |
| NRRT 320 | International Issues-Recreation and Tourism | 3 |
| NRRT 330 | Social Aspects of Natural Resource Management | 3 |
| NRRT 362 | Environmental Conflict Management | 3 |
| NRRT 401 | Collaborative Conservation | 3 |
| PHIL 320 | Ethics of Sustainability | 3 |
| PHIL 330/AGRI 330 | Agricultural and Food System Ethics | 3 |
| PHIL 345 | Environmental Ethics | 3 |
| POLS 361 | U.S. Environmental Politics and Policy | 3 |
| POLS 362 | Global Environmental Politics | 3 |
| POLS 364 | Air, Climate, and Energy Policy Analysis | 3 |
| POLS 442 | Environmental Politics in Developing World | 3 |
| POLS 462 | Globalization, Sustainability, and Justice | 3 |
| POLS 463 | Urban Policy and Management | 3 |
| RS 300 | Rangeland Conservation and Stewardship | 3 |
| RS 313/F 313 | Dendrology and Herbaceous Plant ID | 3 |
| RS 331 | Wildland Plants and Plant Communities | 3 |
| RS 432 | Rangeland Measurements and Monitoring | 2 |
| RS 452 | Rangeland Herbivore Ecology and Management | 3 |
| RS 470 | Rangeland Economics and Analysis | 2 |
| RS 471 | Rangeland Planning and Grazing Management | 2 |
| RS 478 | Ecological Restoration | 3 |
| SOC 320 | Population-Natural Resources and Environment | 3 |
| SOC 322 | Environmental Justice | 3 |
| SOC 323 | Soc. of Environmental Cooperation & Conflict | 3 |
| SOC 324 | Food Justice | 3 |
| SOC 362 | Social Change | 3 |
| SOC 364 | Food, Agriculture and Global Society | 3 |
| SOC 460 | Environmental and Natural Resource Sociology | 3 |
| SOC 461 | Water and Social Justice | 3 |
| SOCR 322 | Principles of Microclimatology | 3 |
| SOCR 375 | Soil Biogeochemistry | 3 |
| SOCR 400 | Soils and Global Change-Impacts and Solutions | 3 |
| SOCR 441 | Soil Ecology | 3 |
| SOCR 442 | Forest and Range Soils | 3 |
| SOCR 455 | Microbiomes of Soil Systems | 3 |
| SOCR 456 | Soil Microbiology Laboratory | 1 |
| SOCR 500 | Environmental Measurement Laboratory | 1 |
| WR 417 | Watershed Measurements | 3 |
| WR 419 | Water Quality Analyses | 3 |
| WR 511 | Water Resource Development | 3 |
- 1
Select enough elective credits to bring the program total to a minimum of 120 credits, of which at least 42 must be upper-division (300- to 400-level).
- 2
Can be either Ecosystem Science or Sustainability selection.
| Freshman | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| ESS 120 | Intro to Ecosystem and Watershed Sciences | X | 1 | ||
| ESS 129 | Information Management for Sustainability | X | 1 | ||
| Select one group from the following: | X | 4 | |||
| Group A: | |||||
| Principles of Animal Biology (GT-SC2) | 3A | ||||
| Animal Biology Laboratory (GT-SC1) | 3A | ||||
| Group B: | |||||
| Attributes of Living Systems (GT-SC1) | 3A | ||||
| Select one course from the following: | X | 3-4 | |||
| Feeding the World in a Changing Climate (GT-SC2) | 3A | ||||
| Science of Global Climate Change (GT-SC2) | 3A | ||||
| Foundations of Environmental Sustainability | |||||
| Environmental Conservation (GT-SC2) | 3A | ||||
| Arts and Humanities | X | 3B | 3 | ||
| Total Credits | 12-13 | ||||
| Semester 2 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| CO 150 | College Composition (GT-CO2) | X | 1A | 3 | |
| ESS 130 | Intro to Systems Theory for Sustainability | X | 1 | ||
| Select one group from the following: | X | 5 | |||
| Group A: | |||||
| Fundamentals of Chemistry (GT-SC2) | 3A | ||||
| Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory (GT-SC1) | 3A | ||||
| Group B: | |||||
| General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) | 3A | ||||
| General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1) | 3A | ||||
| Select one course from the following: | X | 4 | |||
| Calculus for Biological Scientists I (GT-MA1) | 1B | ||||
| Calculus for Physical Scientists I (GT-MA1) | 1B | ||||
| Select one course from the following: | X | 3 | |||
| Introductory Cultural Anthropology (GT-SS3) | 3C | ||||
| Agricultural and Resource Economics (GT-SS1) | 3C | ||||
| Economics of Environmental Sustainability (GT-SS1) | 3C | ||||
| Principles of Microeconomics (GT-SS1) | 3C | ||||
| Principles of Macroeconomics (GT-SS1) | 3C | ||||
| American Government and Politics (GT-SS1) | 3C | ||||
| State and Local Government and Politics (GT-SS1) | 3C | ||||
| Introduction to Sociology (GT-SS3) | 3C | ||||
| Social Problems (GT-SS3) | 3C | ||||
| CO 150, and AUCC 1B (Quantitative Reasoning) must be completed by the end of Semester 2. | X | ||||
| Total Credits | 16 | ||||
| Sophomore | |||||
| Semester 3 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| ESS 210/GR 210 | Physical Geography | X | 3 | ||
| Select one course from the following: | X | 4 | |||
| Principles of Plant Biology (GT-SC1) | 3A | ||||
| Biology of Organisms-Animals and Plants (GT-SC1) | 3A | ||||
| Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | X | 1C | 3 | ||
| Electives | X | 4 | |||
| MATH 155 or MATH 160 must be completed by the end of Semester 3. | X | ||||
| Total Credits | 14 | ||||
| Semester 4 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| LIFE 320 | Ecology | X | 3 | ||
| Select one course from the following: | X | 5 | |||
| General Physics I (GT-SC1) | 3A | ||||
| Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (GT-SC1) | 3A | ||||
| Select one course from the following: | X | 3 | |||
| Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods | |||||
| Introduction to Biostatistics | |||||
| Arts and Humanities | X | 3B | 3 | ||
| Total Credits | 14 | ||||
| Junior | |||||
| Semester 5 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| ESS 311 | Ecosystem Ecology | X | 3 | ||
| NR 319 | Introduction to Geospatial Science | X | 4 | ||
| WR 204/GR 204 | Sustainable Watersheds (GT-SC2) | X | 3A | 3 | |
| Historical Perspectives | X | 3D | 3 | ||
| Electives | X | 3 | |||
| Total Credits | 16 | ||||
| Semester 6 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| ESS 312 | Sustainability Science | X | 3 | ||
| ESS 320 | Internship and Career Preparation | X | 1 | ||
| ESS 330 | Quantitative Reasoning for Ecosystem Science | X | 3 | ||
| Select one course from the following: | X | 3 | |||
| Writing in the Disciplines: Sciences (GT-CO3) | 2 | ||||
| Writing in the Disciplines: Social Sciences (GT-CO3) | 2 | ||||
| Strategic Writing and Communication (GT-CO3) | 2 | ||||
| Specialized Professional Writing | 2 | ||||
| Electives | X | 5 | |||
| Total Credits | 15 | ||||
| Semester 7 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| Professional Development and Engagement Requirement (see list on Requirements tab) | X | 5 | |||
The timeline to complete this requirement may vary – plan in consultation with advisor. | |||||
| Total Credits | 5 | ||||
| Senior | |||||
| Semester 8 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| Select one course from the following: | X | 3 | |||
ESS 400 (Spring only) | Global Perspectives on Sustainability | 4A,4B | |||
| Earth Systems Ecology | 4A,4B | ||||
| Ecosystem Science and Sustainability Electives (See Department List on Concentration Requirements tab) | X | 9 | |||
| Total Credits | 12 | ||||
| Semester 9 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| ESS 440 | Practicing Sustainability | X | 4C | 4 | |
| NR 400 | Public Communication in Natural Resources | X | 3 | ||
| Ecosystem Science and Sustainability Electives (See Department List on Concentration Requirements tab) | X | 6 | |||
| Elective | X | 2-3 | |||
| ESS 400 or ESS 411 MUST be completed by the end of Semester 9. | X | ||||
| The benchmark courses for the 9th semester are the remaining courses in the entire program of study. | X | ||||
| Total Credits | 15-16 | ||||
| Program Total Credits: | 120 | ||||