Curriculum for this  major at  trains students in the areas of communication, leadership, collaboration, conflict management, decision-making, planning, and protected area and land management practices. 

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

• Understand collaborative tools for contributing to conservation solutions
• Apply social science concepts and techniques to understand and address conservation problems
• Attain a breadth of understanding of how different social science disciplines can contribute to conservation
• Describe the linkages between conservation and human livelihoods, ecosystem services and human well-being
• Practice and use adaptive and effective planning and environmental communication techniques
• Practice and use core principles of protected area management
• Become adept at conservation problem solving and linking knowledge, understanding and practice

Potential Occupations

Students are prepared for various positions with local, state and federal land management and natural resource agencies in the United States. Opportunities are also available both domestically and abroad with non-governmental, and nonprofit conservation and development organizations as well as private foundations. Examples of the types of positions include conservation planner/administrator, environmental communication specialist, conservation/environmental educator, nature center coordinator, visitor services manager, public outreach coordinator, public information officer, protected area manager, park/wilderness ranger, communication coordinator, policy liaison, environmental analyst and others.