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Start building the knowledge and applied skills you need to successfully manage protected areas as you prepare to take on a leadership role within the field of parks and protected area management.
Through an integration of social and ecological sciences, you will gain a holistic understanding of protected area values, services, and governance, along with the expertise to operationalize those values through effective planning and management of public use, concessions, finance strategies, community collaboration, and human capacity development.
As our fragile natural environments face increasing pressure, effective conservation will require continually facing new challenges through adaptive management. Protected area planning will become a larger part of regional land use planning, design, and management of biological corridors – all elements which will become more essential for the mitigation of and adaptation to climate change.
CSU’s faculty and associates have been actively engaged in protected area planning for decades at every level – from operational, public use and master planning for small public and private and municipal reserves, to work on national protected area systems and both national and regional corridor planning and gap analyses for some of the most biologically diverse nations in the world.
Department faculty have also participated in management effectiveness studies, both at the individual park and reserve level, and overall evaluations of the work of conservation agencies. Staff and associates of the Center for Protected Area Management strive to be on the cutting edge of protected area good practice research. One such example includes a recent collaborative project with the US National Park Service to examine global good practice in mitigation of sound and light pollution in parks.
To learn about the Human Dimensions of Natural Resources department and Central China Normal University's partnership, check out this article and read about the MTM collaboration and students program experiences.
Gain the skills to further your career and make a meaningful impact on the world while doing something you love. Now is an excellent time to start pursuing a new career or advancement opportunity in the field of park and protected area management.
This master’s program has been developed to help you build in-depth knowledge and applied skills to succeed in a variety of careers, including but not limited to:
This program requires completion of a minimum of 35 credits.
Tanner brings over fifteen years of young adult leadership and teaching experience to Colorado State University. Throughout his career, Tanner has worked firsthand with young adults to develop their leadership capacity, cultural consideration, and global perspectives. Tanner has an immense passion for education, cultural linking, and historical awareness that has driven him to teach in various countries including; Korea, Thailand, Laos, Morocco, The US, and Cambodia. Through his unique cultural lens, Tanner has committed his life to the exchange of knowledge through cultural interaction and a communal perspective allowing him to bring an invaluable background to Colorado State University. Tanner graduated from Eastern Oregon University with a degree in History and completed his graduate program at the University of Idaho in Recreation, Sports, and Tourism Management. He is an avid voice for the lost art of chivalry, politeness, and gallantry.
Wen Zhang, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources at Colorado State University. Wen joined CSU in Spring 2023 after receiving her doctoral degree from the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Her research centers on understanding the nature and structure of the tourism experience with a focus on the roles of emotions and storytelling in experience design and destination marketing. She has extensive experience working in interdisciplinary teams and actively collaborating with industry and local tourism organizations. Some of her research projects include Experience Mapping Project, Tourism Story Project, Narrative Immersion in Theme Park Experience, Ponte Vedra Tourism Planning Project, and Madden Media Destination Marketing Project. Wen is also a lead instructor of the Master of Tourism Management (MTM)-China program.
Please review the admission requirements for this program before applying.
Note: GRE scores are not required.
*Exceptions to GPA requirement are made on a case-by-case basis.
*Please note that this program is specifically designed for students from mainland China. It requires credits from the Chinese partner university, which are delivered in Mandarin. As a result, residency in China and proficiency in Mandarin are essential for successful completion of the program.
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