MSC in Environmental Conservation

The Nelson Institute professional master's program in environmental conservation is a 15-month, 32-credit blended learning curriculum designed to train conservation leaders in practical interdisciplinary skills.

Built on the legacy of pioneering environmental leaders such as John Muir, Aldo Leopold and Gaylord Nelson, alongside current leaders in the field of conservation, the program helps early-career working professionals advance their leadership and environmental management expertise through campus learning and remote experiences.

With curricula in conservation planning, land use policy, and in professional skills such as applied GIS, conservation fundraising, protected area management, program evaluation, and strategic communications, students are better prepared to tackle complex challenges in a changing world.

Students also engage directly with a range of conservation organizations and practitioners, helping to solve some of the most urgent challenges in biodiversity conservation and environmental protection.

We are a thriving, top-ranked college in Madison, Wisconsin—one of the most fantastic cities in the country. We think boldly and act confidently, not only as engineers, but as engaged citizens. As an engineering community, we value unique perspectives, we foster respect and inclusivity, and we work together to bring new ideas to life. Building on a heritage of impact, we develop the leaders, knowledge and technologies that improve lives now and create a better future. Underlying all of our efforts is the strength of one of the top research universities in the world.

Our engineering disciplines reflect not only our history, but also a tremendous opportunity: Where others see obstacles, we see the potential for innovation and an ability to make a difference with solutions that matter.

Our faculty have strong support structures for collaborating across disciplinary boundaries—and as a result, they accomplish great things. Our college plays a major role in UW-Madison’s consistently high national ranking for research expenditures, as well as the number of patents filed through the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), one of the oldest university technology-transfer offices in the nation. We are key drivers of economic and social progress: Through Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, and other endeavors such as spin-off companies and work directly with industry partners, the fruits of our research extend into businesses and industries worldwide.