Unlock Career Opportunities in Environmental Management
Make a difference in natural resources conservation and oversight with a Certificate in Environmental Management from St. Edward’s.
This 12-credit hour certificate program allows you to acquire tools and research skills such as applying ecological principles and environmental surveying and monitoring techniques that prepare you for conservation and management fields in the private and public sectors.
What will you learn?
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. You’ll 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 help you 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.
Who is a candidate for this certificate?
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.
What are job opportunities?
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.
Required Courses
There are two required courses for this program:
- Texas Ecology – ENSP 2316
- Natural Resources Conservation and Management – ENSP 3326
Elective Courses
Students must choose at least two elective courses from the following list, all of which are regularly offered and require no prerequisites:
- Environmental and Ecological Field Methods – ENSP 3329
- Geographic Information Systems – ENSP 4333
- Environmental Law – ENSP 3399
- Environmental Politics and Policy – ENSP 4330
Amy Concilio, PhD, associate professor of Environmental Science and Policy, is the certificate director. She teaches courses in ecology, natural resources conservation and climate change, and has an active undergraduate-centered research program focused on ecological restoration, climate change and biodiversity conservation in the Texas Hill Country.
James Checkley, JD, a practicing environmental attorney with several decades of experience, teaches ENSP 3399 – Environmental Law. This course will provide you with a solid understanding of the legislation that impacts environmental decision-making on public and private lands, such as NEPA and the ESA. This is an elective course for the certificate but we highly recommend taking it!