Communications for Conservation Graduate Certificate

Earn your conservation communications certificate online

Communicating effectively with a wide variety of audiences is an essential skill for professionals working in conservation-related fields. Creating the right strategy requires careful planning, from messaging to media selection. This program gives you proven tools for developing successful conservation messages, media-relations programs, strategic communication and social media plans, and engaging with leaders and decision-makers.

In a time when information can be rapidly disseminated across dozens of different channels, this program provides much needed environmental communication training for natural resource managers, scientists, researchers, and other practitioners working in the conservation field.

Learn to build communication plans that make an impact

As competition for people’s attention continues to grow, the effectiveness of many conservation initiatives relies heavily on targeted and strategic communications and compelling, relevant messaging. In this program, you will learn how to use approaches rooted in social science and contemporary media communications research and practice to achieve greater success.

Enhance your knowledge and extend your influence. By learning to analyze audiences, create clear and persuasive messaging, and use channels and strategies that will reach the right people at the right time, your communication efforts will be much more productive.

As a student in this program, you will explore:

• Conservation social science and communications theory
• Audience analysis
• Media relations
• New media communications
• Strategies for effective crisis communication
• Social marketing and conservation marketing
• Political and leadership communications

Who should enroll in this program?

This graduate certificate is well-suited for natural resource managers, conservation scientists, nonprofit conservation professionals, environmental communication specialists, environmental educators and other practitioners who are responsible for conservation-related projects but also face increasing demand to explain and substantiate their work to stakeholders, funders, policymakers, the media, and the public.

NR 569 – Conservation Communication Fundamentals

Communications theory and conservation social science are explained. Roles for communicators in conservation organizations are examined. Students are introduced to behavior change theory and conservation psychology. Audience analysis and diversity are emphasized for achieving goals in conservation communications.

NR 570 – Conservation Managers – Media Communications

Conservation media literacy and media activities and practices are examined and analyzed. Students learn techniques and practices for developing written and visual media and gaining earned media attention. New directions and strategies in conservation communications are analyzed.

NR 571 – New Media Communications for Conservation

Fundamentals of digital and social media, and strategic online communications are explained and examined. New and emerging digital media platforms for conservation outreach and engagement are discussed and evaluated. Conservation organizations and practitioners’ use of social media, podcasting and video are analyzed.

NR 572 – Strategic Communications for Conservation

Strategic communications planning and messaging for conservation are examined and evaluated, including case studies of specific plans and strategies. Students develop strategic content and materials and evaluation programs using research and best practices.

NR 573 – Conservation Crisis Communications

Examining and developing appropriate conservation communication strategies for conservation/environmental crisis response and recovery. Media, personal and other communications during near- and long-term planning scenarios are examined. Conservation management organizations’ and practitioners’ use of different messages and media platforms are also analyzed.

NR 574 – Advanced Communications for Conservation

Social marketing and conservation marketing principles and projects are explained and evaluated. Students learn political and leadership communications techniques and tactics, including public speaking skills, governmental outreach and testimony and collaborative communications planning.

Faculty for the Communications in Conservation graduate certificate have both academic knowledge and real-world, practical experiences in communications and media engagement. They have also worked closely with communications researchers and specialists, conservation practitioners and scientists, and communications experts from industry, government, and other fields to develop and deliver a holistic program that reflects established and emerging ideas and practices in communications for conservation.

Joshua Zaffos, M.E.M.

Josh is faculty in the Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources and program director for the online Graduate Certificate in Communications for Conservation. He is also the Communications Specialist for the Department of Anthropology and Geography and an instructor in the Department of Journalism & Media Communication. Josh has also worked as an environmental and science writer and journalist, with experience reporting on water, energy development, public lands, climate change and other topics. His work has appeared in High Country News, Audubon, Yale Environment 360, Scientific American, Slate, Wired, and many other digital and print publications.

Industry and agency contributors to the program:

• Audubon Rockies
• CSU Forest and Rangeland Stewardship
• CSU Journalism & Media Communication
• International Crane Foundation
• Natural Resources Conservation Service (Colorado office)
• New Bridge Strategy
• The Nature Conservancy of Colorado
• U.S. Department of Interior
• U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Production and Conservation Business Center
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• U.S. Forest Service, Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests & Pawnee National Grassland
• U.S. Forest Service, Region 2 (Rocky Mountain)
• U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station
• University of Idaho
• Virginia Tech

Curriculum

Communications for Conservation is a flexible, online graduate certificate tailored for professionals working in conservation-related career fields who are required to communicate on technical, scientific, and policy information, from media relations to public outreach to social and digital media engagement.

The program consists of six, two-credit courses. Each course features an accelerated, eight-week program of study. The curriculum encompasses content, resources, and activities informed by researchers and experts in conservation social science, environmental and science journalism, strategic communications, social media, marketing, and public relations. Students who complete the program will be able to:

• Write effectively on conservation and apply storytelling techniques for conservation presentations
• Produce media relations campaigns and materials, and prepare for interviews
• Plan social media strategies for conservation engagement
• Create communications strategies for conservation activities
• Implement crisis communications plans
• Develop conservation marketing messages and programs
• Prepare for and deliver political communications for conservation

Up to six credits from this program may be applied to the online Master of Tourism Management degree.

Note: You must be admitted to this program for the certificate to appear on your official University transcript.

Required Courses

• NR 569 – Conservation Communication Fundamentals (2 cr.)
• NR 570 – Conservation Managers – Media Communications (2 cr.)
• NR 571 – New Media Communications for Conservation (2 cr.)
• NR 572 – Strategic Communications for Conservation (2 cr.)
• NR 573 – Conservation Crisis Communications (2 cr.)
• NR 574 – Advanced Communications for Conservation (2 cr.)

Course Schedule

Application Deadlines