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.