Global Biodiversity Conservation and Leadership Graduate Certificate

Program Overview

The Global Biodiversity Conservation and Leadership Graduate Certificate prepares students for careers in conservation biology or ecology. It combines core courses in conservation policy, sustainable development, and internship experience with electives from biology, economics, history, international business, and political science. Students can earn the certificate while simultaneously pursuing a graduate degree, counting credits from their degree program towards the certificate when appropriate.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Global Biodiversity Conservation and Leadership Graduate Certificate is intended for students who wish to pursue a career in conservation biology or ecology from either a research or practical standpoint. Cooperating institutions include the Missouri Botanical Garden, the Saint Louis Zoo, the Center for International Studies at UMSL, the Departments of Economics, History, and Political Science, and the Business School.

Outline:

Required Core Courses (10 credits)

• BIOL 6250/POL SCI 6452: Public Policy of Conservation and Sustainable Development (3 credits)
• BIOL 6299: Internship in Conservation Biology (2-4 credits)
• Two of the following courses: BIOL 6222, BIOL 6270 (6 credits)

Electives (10 credits)

• A minimum of 3 credits outside biology with a maximum of 7 outside biology.
• A maximum of 3 credits may be taken at institutions other than UMSL.
• Students may simultaneously earn a graduate degree and count credits earned in their degree program toward the certificate when appropriate.

Biology Electives

• BIOL 4182: Population Biology
• BIOL 4402: Ornithology
• BIOL 4403: Ornithology Laboratory
• BIOL 4422: Entomology
• BIOL 4423: Entomology Laboratory
• BIOL 4501
• BIOL 5192: Community Ecology
• BIOL 6182: Advanced Population Biology
• BIOL 6192
• BIOL 6222
• BIOL 6270
• BIOL 6889: Graduate Seminar

Economics Electives

• ECON 3500
• ECON 4160: Geospatial Analysis in the Social Sciences
• ECON 4170: Fundamentals of Cost-Benefit Analysis
• ECON 4550: Natural Resource Economics

History Electives

• HIST 3000: Special Topics in History

International Business Electives

• INTL BUS 4281: Entrepreneurship in the Global Environment

Political Science Electives

• POL SCI 3440: Public and Nonprofit Budgeting
• POL SCI 3480: Environmental Policy
• POL SCI 3590
• POL SCI 3710: Nonprofits, Civil Society and Volunteerism
• POL SCI 3830: International Political Economy
• POL SCI 3850: International Organizations and Global Problem-Solving