The Professional Science Master’s (PSM) in Ecosystem Science & Sustainability (PSM) is an excellent course of study for students eager to work in environmental sustainability right away or for working professionals looking to transition quickly or advance their careers.  

  • The PSM is coursework-focused – the degree does not require a thesis. 

  • Through coursework, students gain expertise in sustainable management solutions through policy analysis, applied methods, and skills-based learning. 

  • Students choose from three different degree specializations: carbon management, watershed science, or sustainable food systems.   

  • Students are required to participate in an intensive 4-credit, 400-hour internship, where they gain hands-on knowledge in their chosen field, implement the skills learned within the classroom, and begin to establish a professional network. The program has successfully placed many students in paid internships focused on their career objectives.    

Program Learning Objectives 

After successfully completing the program, students will be able to:

  1. Describe ecosystem processes and sustainable management strategies to maintain those processes.
  2. Discuss current issues in environmental policy related to ecosystem sustainability.
  3. Evaluate the linkages between socioeconomic and ecological processes that influence ecosystem sustainability.
  4. Apply quantitative and qualitative methods to assess ecosystem sustainability using systems approaches and integrative methods.
  5. Build, work within, and lead interdisciplinary teams in a professional environment.

Institutional Learning Objectives

How the Program Learning Objectives (PLOs) relate to CSU's Institutional Learning Objectives:

  • Creativity: The development of sustainable management strategies (PLO 2) and the promotion of policies enhancing ecosystem sustainability (PLO 3) require creative problem-solving that integrates diverse perspectives on human and ecosystem interactions. This aligns with the ILO on creativity since generating innovative solutions to complex sustainability challenges requires creative thinking across disciplines and analytical approaches.
  • Reasoning: Evaluating socioeconomic and ecosystem linkages (PLO 1) and the development of sustainable management strategies (PLO 2) directly engage with the ILO of reasoning through the development and application of a diverse analytical skillset necessary to address complex environmental problems.
  • Communication: The ability to build, work within, and lead interdisciplinary teams (PLO 4) and promote policies for ecosystem sustainability (PLO 3) requires advanced communication skills. These objectives require students learn to listen substantively and communicate both effectively and respectfully to professional and public audiences.
  • Responsibility: The entire curriculum of the program encourages an understanding of the responsibility professionals have toward promoting sustainability and human well-being. By focusing on the determinants of sustainability (PLO 1) and the development of strategies and policies that consider the long-term health of ecosystems (PLOs 2 and 3), students learn about personal and social responsibility in a global context.
  • Collaboration: Building, working within, and leading interdisciplinary teams in a professional environment (PLO 4) directly supports the ILO on collaboration. This PLO develops skills for solving sustainability challenges while emphasizing the benefits of shared discourse, open inquiry, and constructive disagreement
     

In addition to the PSM degree, we offer graduate certificates that provide further training through 9-15 credits of graduate-level coursework to be completed on the CSU campus or online, allowing credentialed specializations in carbon management and water resource planning, management, and policy.   

The PSM in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability enables students from diverse academic backgrounds, such as environmental studies, business, engineering, natural resources, and agriculture, to understand the latest ecosystem science and develop the skills needed for emerging professions in areas such as greenhouse gas/carbon management, water sustainability and watershed management, and climate adaptation.

The PSM in Ecosystem Science & Sustainability is an affiliated Professional Science Master’s (PSM) degree. Affiliation is administered by the Commission on Affiliation of PSM Programs (formerly named PSM National Office) to ensure a strong and distinctive PSM brand. The PSM is designed for students seeking a graduate degree in science or mathematics and understanding the need for developing workplace skills valued by top employers.

Students interested in graduate work should refer to the Graduate and Professional Bulletin.

PSM

Effective Fall 2024

ESS 500Integrated Ecosystem/Sustainability Analysis2
ESS 523AEnvironmental Data Science Applications: Introduction5
ESS 587Internship4
ESS 692Seminar1
Select one course from the following:2-3
ESS 542
Greenhouse Gas Policies
WR 512
Water Law for Non-Lawyers
Foundational Elective Courses 1, 29-10
Data Tools and Quantitative Analysis Elective Courses 312
Program Total Credits:36

A minimum of 36 credits are required to complete this program.

1

Students who take ESS 542 to meet curriculum requirements must take 10 credits of Foundational Elective Courses.

2

Select courses (e.g. water resources, hydrology, foundations in greenhouse management and accounting, climate change, international climate negotiations, global agriculture and environmental change, etc.) with approval of advisor and graduate committee.

3

Select courses (e.g. GIS, remote sensing, numerical analysis, modeling, greenhouse gas inventory, hydrological data analysis, etc.) with approval of advisor and graduate committee.

For more information, please visit Requirements for All Graduate Degrees in the Graduate and Professional Bulletin.

Summary of Procedures for the Master's and Doctoral Degrees

NOTE:  Each semester the Graduate School publishes a schedule of deadlines. Deadlines are available on the Graduate School website. Students should consult this schedule whenever they approach important steps in their careers.

Forms are available online.

Step Due Date
1. Application for admission (online) Six months before first registration
2. Diagnostic examination when required Before first registration
3. Appointment of advisor Before first registration
4. Selection of graduate committee Before the time of fourth regular semester registration
5. Filing of program of study (GS Form 6) Before the time of fourth regular semester registration
6. Preliminary examination (Ph.D. and PD) Two terms prior to final examination
7. Report of preliminary examination (GS Form 16) - (Ph.D. and PD) Within two working days after results are known
8. Changes in committee (GS Form 9A) When change is made
9. Application for Graduation (GS Form 25) Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website
9a. Reapplication for Graduation (online) Failure to graduate requires Reapplication for Graduation (online) for the next time term for which you are applying
10. Submit thesis or dissertation to committee At least two weeks prior to the examination or at the discretion of the graduate committee
11. Final examination Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website
12. Report of final examination (GS Form 24) Within two working days after results are known; refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website
13. Submit a signed Thesis/Dissertation Submission Form (GS Form 30) to the Graduate School and Submit the Survey of Earned Doctorates (Ph.D. only) prior to submitting the electronic thesis/dissertation Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website.
14. Submit the thesis/dissertation electronically Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website
15. Graduation Ceremony information is available from the Graduate School website