Students in the major in at  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 research through our affiliation with the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, and the latest scientific knowledge about sustainability science and how organisms interact with their environments to form complex ecosystems. Opportunities to join in research, internships, practical and team exercises, and field experiences in the beautiful Rocky Mountains and beyond combine with an outstanding classroom education to build a solid foundation for applying sustainable resource management principles.

Learning Outcomes

Students in the major learn:

• How to help people use natural resources in a sustainable way.
• About environmental change at local to global scales.
• The amazing connections between different earth system components.
• How to conduct research or field work in a variety of settings addressing questions important to sustainability.

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.