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Master of Park and Protected Area Management - (M.P.P.M China)

18:1
Average Student-to-Faculty Ratio
95%
CSU Online Grad Students Have Plans Related to their Career
93%
Grad Students Would Choose CSU Online Again
$498M
In research expenditures in FY23
Degree Overview Open Accordion
Online tourism bachelor's degree from CSU

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.

What you will learn

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.

Study in a curriculum developed by expert faculty

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.

Explore Careers Open Accordion

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:

  • Director or Assistant-Director of Parks and Recreation
  • Program Manager (Parks and Recreation Department)
  • National, State, or Regional Parks Planner
  • Protected Areas Planning Manager
  • Nature Reserve/Preserve Manager or Director
  • Parks and Protected Areas Researcher
  • Conservation and Land Management Consultant
  • Manager of Operations (parks and protected areas field)
  • Manager of Communications (parks and protected areas field)
Curriculum Open Accordion

This program requires completion of a minimum of 35 credits.

Required courses:

  • NRRT 630 – Protected Areas and Global Conservation (3 cr.)
  • NRRT 631 – Protected Area Planning and Management (3 cr.)
  • NRRT 634 – Protected Area Policy and Finance (3 cr.)
  • NRRT 635 – Infrastructure Management in Protected Areas (3 cr.)
  • NRRT 637 – Leadership, Management, and Protected Areas (3 cr.)
  • NRRT 639 – Threats and Frontiers in Protected Areas (3 cr.)
  • NRRT 640 – Protected Area Communication (3 cr.)
  • NTEC 601 – Natural protected area tourism development and use (3 cr.)
  • NTEC 602 – Natural eco-system service function monitoring and assessment (3 cr.)
  • NTEC 603 – Natural-based tourism ecology and social impact and regulation (3 cr.)
  • NTEC 604 – Big-data analysis based natural protected area management (3 cr.)
  • NTEC 605 – Smart technology and use in natural-based tourism (2 cr.)
Faculty Open Accordion

Tanner Heath

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

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.

How to Apply Open Accordion

Please review the admission requirements for this program before applying.

Admission Requirements

  • Regionally-accredited bachelor's degree
  • 3.0 GPA on all undergraduate coursework*

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.

Students Visit FOCO Open Accordion

M.P.P.M.-China Students and Professors Visit Fort Collins

In July 2023, two students and four faculty from CCNU visited CSU’s Fort Collins campus to strengthen the partnership in person and resume talks on further program development. The faculty team met with different offices and departments at CSU, including the Office of International Programs, CSU Online, and HDNR. Students participated in various guest lectures (online and in-person), several field trips to local parks and protected areas, and social events.

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Questions?

We love learning about your goals and answering any questions you have.

Program Details

Courses
Credits
35
Tuition
$775 per credit
Same in-state tuition for all.
Learn more about financial aid and scholarships Tuition/fees are just part of the cost to attend CSU. Learn more about the full Cost of Attendance
Degree Awarded
Master of Park and Protected Area Management
Time Frame
Can be completed in 2 years 
Admission Reqs.
  • 3.0 GPA on all undergraduate coursework
  • Math Entrance Exam scores recommended for applicants who have not taken the required prerequisites within the past 10 years

Application Dates

New - MPPM China Application Deadline
Fall Term
May 30
MPPM China Class Drop Deadline
Fall Term
October 1 for 100% tuition and fees refunded
Spring Term
March 15 for 100% tuition and fees refunded