M.S. in Ecology

Immerse yourself in the natural and social ecosystems of the Gunnison Valley.

As a student in the M.S. in Ecology program, you’ll have a variety of opportunities that are unique to Western Colorado University. Nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, the program offers unparalleled access to public lands—including 80 percent of the land surrounding Western’s campus. This includes a broad network of diverse natural resources including forests, water, fire, land, fisheries and wildlife. You can also explore the 334 acres containing riparian, sage brush and grassland habitats thanks to our partnership with the Coldharbour Institute, nonprofit conservation organization.

You’ll also get to work with non-traditional research collaborators like ranchers, private land trusts and county planners. This provides you the opportunity to address critical information gaps at the local, regional and global levels, across a range of ecological systems vulnerable to climate change. At the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, you’ll collaborate with researchers around the world along with alumni, graduate students and over 15 faculty in the Master in Environmental Management program.

*Western’s M.S. in Ecology students have the unique opportunity to explore numerous public and private lands from the sagebrush and lush riparian “lowlands” to deep forests and rocky alpine crags. The land that surrounds campus, including six wilderness areas, is a vast and wild laboratory.

Be a leader. Be a Mountaineer.

Western Colorado University fosters the path towards a purposeful future by actualizing the potential of students in their unyielding search for excellence and individuality.

The difference is the outcome.

At Western, our students are given the professional guidance and support necessary to develop real-world skills that lead to successful careers. Our highly personalized programs center around developing professionals ready to meet the demands of the modern workplace.

Through our distinct combination of academic merit, hands-on research opportunities and an inclusive student experience, we deliver an education that better meets what the market demands.

Where academic rigor meets awe-inspiring adventure.

Situated in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Western Colorado University offers a vast outdoor research laboratory with unparalleled opportunities for students to learn and gain hands-on experience. Head out with your professor to track lynx, take part in an archaeological dig, join the robotics team to create your own machine or explore the brand-new labs in the Paul M. Rady School of Computer Science & Engineering. Take a closer look and you’ll see what makes Western such a special place.