Academic Programs for Environmental Positions
This tool is intended to serve as a helpful starting point for exploring UM’s academic programs related to the environment. Please refer to the University of Montana Academic Catalog – the official source of all UM academic program information – for the most current, complete, and accurate content.
Undergraduate Programs
- Forestry B.S.: Prepares students for careers in forest management, restoration, fire ecology, and sustainable resource planning.
- Wildlife Biology B.S.: Offers in-depth study of animal populations, habitats, and conservation methods for careers in research, policy, and fieldwork.
- Environmental Science and Sustainability B.S.: Focuses on solving environmental challenges through science, policy, and sustainable practices.
- Parks, Tourism & Recreation Management B.S.: Equips students to manage natural and recreational resources with an emphasis on outdoor leadership and public engagement.
- Environmental Studies B.A.: Provides an interdisciplinary understanding of environmental issues, preparing students for careers in policy, advocacy, and education.
- Sustainability Science and Practice B.S.: Equips students with practical leadership and project management skills for implementing sustainability initiatives.
- Earth, Water, and Climate Science B.S.: Focuses on the scientific analysis of Earth’s interconnected systems to address challenges in water resources and climate change.
- Geosciences B.S.: Offers a rigorous foundation in Earth’s materials, structures, and history for careers in resource exploration and geological analysis.
- Geosciences B.S. – Earth Science Education: Combines deep geoscience knowledge with pedagogical skills for teaching Earth science at the secondary level.
- English B.A. – Literature and the Environment: Explores the human-nature relationship through literature, honing analytical and communication skills with an environmental focus.
- Biology B.S. – Field Ecology: Delivers extensive hands-on experience in designing and conducting field research on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
- Microbiology B.S. – Microbial Ecology: Provides specialized knowledge of microorganisms’ roles in environmental processes for careers in research and biotechnology.
- Chemistry B.S. – Environmental Chemistry: Applies advanced chemical principles to analyze pollutants and develop solutions for environmental contamination and monitoring.
- Philosophy B.A. – Environmental Philosophy: Focuses on the critical examination of environmental ethics, values, and justice to develop strong reasoning and argumentation skills.
- Communication Studies, B.A.: Prepares students to engage in the communication practices frequently involved in environmental and conservation efforts, such as public messaging, conflict, relationship-building, and advocacy.
- Ecological Restoration Minor Provides skills in restoring ecosystems and supporting biodiversity through applied ecological practices.
- Fire Sciences Minor Explores wildland fire behavior, ecology, and management for students pursuing fire-related careers.
- Wilderness Studies Minor Examines wilderness values, policy, and backcountry skills through interdisciplinary coursework and field experiences.
- Mountain Studies Minor Investigates Mountain environments, cultures, and challenges from ecological, geographical, and social perspectives.
- Geography Minor Enhances understanding of spatial systems, human-environment interactions, and global patterns.
- Wildlife Biology Minor Offers foundational knowledge in wildlife science for students majoring in related fields.
- Environmental Studies Minor: Offers an interdisciplinary foundation in environmental topics, complementing a wide range of majors with knowledge of ecological and social issues.
- Geosciences Minor: Provides fundamental knowledge of Earth’s materials, processes, and history, adding a valuable scientific perspective to any primary field of study.
- Communication Studies Minor: Prepares students to engage in the communication practices frequently involved in environmental and conservation efforts, such as public messaging, conflict, relationship-building, and advocacy.
- Geographic Information Systems Certificate Builds GIS mapping and spatial analysis skills for use in environmental planning and resource management.
- Water Science and Society Certificate Explores water systems, policy, and sustainability to prepare students for work in water resource management.
- Norther Rockies Outdoor Leadership Certificate Develops outdoor leadership, risk management, and backcountry skills rooted in the Northern Rockies landscape.
- Protected Area Management Distance Education Program Online program focused on managing parks, reserves, and protected areas with an emphasis on conservation and visitor use.
- Environmental Justice Certificate: Focuses on the intersection of social equity and environmental challenges, preparing students to analyze and advocate for fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people.
- Environmental and Nature Writing Certificate: Develops skills in creative and non-fiction writing to effectively communicate complex environmental themes and the human relationship with the natural world.
- Indigenous Knowledge and Environmental Sustainability Certificate: Centers on integrating Indigenous perspectives and traditional ecological knowledge with Western science to address contemporary sustainability issues.
- Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Certificate: Provides practical skills and a systems-level understanding of producing and distributing food sustainably, from farm to table.
- The New West: Art and the Environment Certificate
Graduate Programs
- Forestry M.S.: Equips students with advanced expertise in forest ecology, silviculture, restoration practices, and resource analytics for leadership roles in forestry research, management, and policy development.
- Geography M.S.: Builds strong foundations in geographic theory, spatial analysis, and environmental processes, preparing graduates for careers in research, consulting, and applied geographic information science.
- Geography M.S. – Cartography and GIS: Delivers specialized training in mapping technologies, spatial database design, geovisualization, and GIS for roles in land management, urban planning, and geospatial analytics.
- Geography M.S. – Community & Environmental Planning: Trains students in participatory planning, sustainable development strategies, and land-use design for careers in city/regional planning, environmental policy, and community engagement.
- Parks, Tourism and Recreation Management M.S.: Focuses on managing protected areas, visitor services, tourism impact assessment, and sustainable recreation planning for leadership in parks, resorts, and event sectors.
- Resource Conservation M.S.: Combines ecological principles and resource management techniques to prepare graduates for conservation planning, environmental assessment, and natural resource stewardship roles.
- Resource Conservation M.S. – International Conservation and Development: Emphasizes global conservation strategies, cross-cultural resource policy, and sustainable livelihoods to prepare students for international NGO, development, and policy work.
- Systems Ecology M.S.: Focuses on ecosystem modeling, biogeochemical cycling, and landscape-scale analysis to train students for research and management roles addressing environmental change and restoration.
- Wildlife Biology M.S.: Offers advanced study in wildlife ecology, population dynamics, habitat conservation, and research methods for careers in wildlife research, management, and policy.
- Cellular, Molecular, and Microbial Biology M.S. – Microbial Evolution and Ecology: Develops expertise in microbial genetics, evolutionary processes, and ecological interactions for careers in environmental microbiology, biotech, and academic research.
- Ecology and Evolution M.S.: Integrates evolutionary theory with ecological field work and quantitative analysis to prepare students for ecological research, conservation science, and biodiversity management.
- Chemistry M.S. – Analytical Environmental Chemistry: Prepares students in advanced analytical methods, contaminant detection, and environmental monitoring to support roles in environmental labs, regulatory agencies, and remediation projects.
- English M.A. – Ecocriticism: Encourages critical examination of literature and culture through environmental perspectives, preparing students for careers in academia, writing, environmental advocacy, and public scholarship.
- Environmental Philosophy M.A.: Explores ethical frameworks, environmental justice theory, and human–nature relationships to prepare graduates for roles in policy advising, environmental ethics, and interdisciplinary research.
- Environmental Science and Natural Resource Journalism M.A.: Trains in scientific reporting, multimedia storytelling, data analysis, and policy communication for careers in environmental journalism, science media, and public outreach.
- Environmental Science and Natural Resource Journalism M.A. – Environmental Public Health Journalism: Specializes in communicating environmental health science, risk analysis, and public policy to prepare students for journalism roles focused on environmental health and community well‑being.
- Fish and Wildlife Biology Ph.D.: Develops expertise in applied fish and wildlife ecology, population dynamics, and management through dissertation research and teaching for leadership roles in agencies, academia, and conservation organizations.
- Forest and Conservation Sciences Ph.D.: Trains students in ecosystem science, social–ecological systems, policy, and sustainable management via original research and professional development.
- Systems Ecology Ph.D.: Emphasizes ecosystem modeling, biogeochemical cycles, landscape-scale interactions, and quantitative methods for research on environmental change and restoration.
- Ecology and Evolution Ph.D.: Integrates evolutionary biology, ecological theory, quantitative analysis, and field research to prepare scholars for advanced roles in biodiversity science and conservation.
- Chemistry Ph.D. – Analytical Environmental Chemistry: Equips students with advanced analytical techniques, contaminant fate studies, and method development for environmental chemistry research, monitoring, and remediation science.
- Natural Resource Conflict Resolution Graduate Certificate: Offers interdisciplinary training in collaborative leadership, negotiation, and conflict-resolution techniques focused on natural resource and environmental issues.
- Protected Area Management Graduate Certificate: Provides expertise in protected‐area planning, visitor management, ecological stewardship, sustainability, and community‐based conservation through distance learning.
- Water Energy Food Nexus Graduate Certificate: Emphasizes interdisciplinary strategies for managing interconnected water, energy, and food systems.
- Wilderness Management Graduate Certificate: Delivers training in wilderness law, policy, recreation management, ecosystem conservation, monitoring, and planning via online instruction.
- Environmental Ethics Graduate Certificate: Equips students with ethical frameworks, human‑nature relationship theories, and moral reasoning skills to address environmental justice and policy challenges.
- New West: Art and the Environment Graduate Certificate: Integrates contemporary art practices with environmental themes to foster creative engagement with ecology, place, and sustainability through interdisciplinary coursework.