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Online Graduate Certificate Environmental Conservation Biological Sciences

About the Certificate

Deepen your understanding of ecology, natural resources, and environmental stewardship through Missouri S&T's Environmental Conservation Graduate Certificate. This interdisciplinary program explores ecosystem dynamics, biodiversity conservation, and the environmental challenges posed by climate change and human activity, while developing practical skills in ecological analysis and resource management. Graduates gain the expertise needed to make informed, science-based decisions that support sustainable ecosystems in consulting, conservation, government, and nonprofit organizations.

The Certificate in Environmental Ecology & Management provides advanced, interdisciplinary training for students and professionals seeking to understand ecological systems and apply science-based approaches to environmental stewardship. The program emphasizes core ecological principles, ecosystem dynamics, biodiversity conservation, and the management challenges posed by climate change, land-use pressures, and human impacts on natural resources. Through applied coursework and analytical skill development, students learn to evaluate ecological data, assess environmental conditions, and design effective management strategies that support sustainable ecosystems. This certificate is ideal for individuals working in environmental consulting, conservation, natural resource management, public agencies, and nonprofit organizations who wish to enhance their ecological expertise and strengthen their ability to make informed, responsible environmental decisions.

      The Environmental Conservation Graduate Certificate is open to all persons holding a B.S degree or are currently accepted into a graduate degree program at Missouri S&T. Once admitted to the program, the student must take the four designated courses (provided in the curriculum section). To receive a Graduate Certificate, the student must have an average cumulative grade point of 3.0 or better in the certificate courses. Once admitted to the program, a student will be given six years to complete the program. Students admitted to the Environmental Conservation Graduate Certificate Program will have non-degree graduate status; however, they will earn graduate credit for the course they complete. Students who do not have all of the prerequisite courses necessary to begin the courses in the Environmental Conservation Graduate Certificate Program will be allowed to take ''bridge" courses at either the graduate or undergraduate level to prepare for the formal certificate courses.

      For online students applying to a graduate certificate program. (No GRE/GMAT required.)

      Certificate Applicant 

      The following are the courses offered in the program. Courses are 3 credit hours each, unless stated otherwise. The University reserves the right to change or cancel courses as needed. 

      Total Courses: 4 (12 credit hours)

      Required course:  
      ENV SCI 6560
      Environmental Ecology & Management   
           
      Choose 3 courses from the following, at least 1 course of which must be from the GEO/GEO ENG and 1 course, of which must be from the BIO SCI coursework:  
      BIO SCI 5423   
      Advanced Biodiversity   
      BIO SCI 5443 
      Population and Conservation Genetics   
      BIO SCI 5453 
      Forest Insect Diversity and Ecology   
      BIO SCI 5523 
      Ichthyology  
      BIO SCI 6313 
      Advanced Environmental Microbiology  
      BIO SCI 6363 
      Advanced Freshwater Ecology  
      BIO SCI 6463
      Bioremediation  
      BIO SCI 6563
      Advanced Global Ecology  
      CHEM 5710
      Environmental Monitoring  
      ENV ENG 5635
      Phytoremediation and Natural Treatment Systems  
      ENV ENG 5640
      Environmental Law  
      ENV ENG 5642
      Sustainability, Population, Energy, Water & Materials  
      ENV SCI 6667
      Disaster Management in Changing Climates  
      ENV SCI 5579
      Environmental Safety  
      GEO 5111
      Advanced Physical Geology  
      GEO 4321
      Drone Mapping and Photogrammery  
      GEO 5679
      Field and Laboratory Studies in Earth Science  
      GEO 5741
      Micropaleontology  
      GEO 6421
      Environmental Geology  
      GEO 6541
      Geology of Natural Resources  
      GEO 6611
      Advanced Palynology  
      GEO 6711
      Advanced Paleoclimatology and Paleoecology  
      GEO ENG 5144 
      Remote Sensing Technology  
      GEO ENG 5276
      Environmental Aspects of Mining  
      GEO ENG 5331
      Subsurface Hydrology  
      GEO ENG 5332
      Fundamentals of Groundwater Hydrology  
      GEO ENG 6146
      Advanced Remote Sensing and Image Processing  
      STAT 5260
      Statistical Data Analysis Using SAS  
      STAT 5290 
      Computation Bayesian Methods using Python  
      STAT 5346
      Regression Analysis  
      STAT 5353
      Statistical Data Analysis  

      Course availability may vary by semester (see course listings). Students should consult their academic advisor for appropriate alternatives or substitutions if needed.

      Please refer to the Biological Sciences section of the graduate catalog for more information.

      This program is 100% online: no campus visits required.

      Courses are semester-based. Students typically take one or two classes per semester and finish the program in one year.

      • Delivery: 100% online
      • Calendar system: Semester-based 
      • Typical program length: 1-2 years
      • Typical course load: 1-2 courses a semester (fall and spring)

      Courses are offered asynchronously, meaning they do not have regular meetings. They may consist of various media and content — such as online discussions, videos, quizzes and recordings — that students review and complete at the time of their choice.

      Learn more about our graduate programs at Missouri S&T by attending one of our virtual information sessions.

      Attend Info Session

      Pathway to a Master's Degree

      Are you a working professional who wants to earn your master's degree, but you don’t have time to take the GRE/GMAT? Then start in a graduate certificate program. Graduate certificates were designed as a pathway to a master's degree.* The admission requirements are more relaxed and credit earned will count toward your degree. Once you successfully earn your graduate certificate, you can continue with the corresponding master's degree without having to take the GRE/GMAT.

      *Completion of a graduate certificate program does not automatically guarantee admission into a corresponding graduate degree program. To continue in a master’s degree program, you must apply.

      Questions?

      Missouri S&T Online Education

      We are here to answer any of your questions about Missouri S&T’s online education programs.

      Email Us  Request Info

      Sylvia Skouby
      Associate Director for Online Admissions

      573-341-6903  |  stgrad@mst.edu

      Biological Sciences

      Robin Verble, PhD
      Professor and Director of the Environmental Science Program

      573-341-7274  |  verbler@mst.edu
      Department Website: biosci.mst.edu

      Tealetha Buckley
      Business and Graduate Programs Support

      573-341-4831  |   tbuckley@mst.edu