Unlock career opportunities in natural resources conservation and management with a Certificate in Environmental Management.

This 12-credit hour certificate program will allow you to acquire tools and research skills such as applying ecological principles and environmental surveying and monitoring techniques that prepare students for conservation and management fields in the private and non-private sector.

Required courses in the program will equip you with a working knowledge of the plant and animal species of Texas, threats to native species, wildlands, and soil and water resources, and an interdisciplinary understanding of conservation and restoration approaches. Students will gain ecological skills in plant and animal identification, habitat monitoring and restoration.

Because much of the success of conservation activities relies on being able to work with people, there is also a large emphasis placed on stakeholder engagement and science communication. Elective courses within the program emphasize building additional skills and knowledge that will help students succeed in this field, including proficiency with Geographical Information Systems (GIS), social and natural science research skills, and a good understanding of environmental laws and policies.

The certificate is restricted to students majoring or minoring in the Environmental Science and Policy program. The certificate curriculum goes beyond the required interdisciplinary courses for the degree by providing specific training and research experience needed to prepare students for employment and graduate study in ecology and natural resource conservation and management.  

Outcomes

This certificate will equip students for a variety of jobs in environmental management, including natural resource conservation and management, ecological monitoring, and ecological restoration with public agencies such as the City of Austin’s Watershed Protection, the City of Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department, the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve, and the Hill Country Conservancy.