Cultural and Environmental Resource Management, MS

This is a 60 credit interdisciplinary program emphasizing understanding of problems and approaches utilized in the management of both cultural and environmental resources. It includes a basic core of 29 credits, as well as elective courses in specialty areas of cultural, environmental, and economic resource management.

Admission Requirements
In addition to master’s degree guidelines for admission to CWU master’s programs, applicants for admission must have the following qualifications:

1. A bachelor’s degree in a closely related discipline (e.g., anthropology, geography, economics, environmental studies). In some cases work experience and/or additional coursework may be accepted in lieu of a degree in a related field. Before admission, program faculty will evaluate the academic coursework and experience of all applicants for admission, and will recommend remedial course work if, in their judgment, there are deficiencies in pre-baccalaureate work that need to be overcome before entrance into the program.
2. A high proficiency in written and spoken English. Evidence of proficiency and potential includes: samples of previous writing, letters of recommendation, an informal interview, and any other evidence of academic success (e.g., standardized test scores).
3. At least one upper-level undergraduate statistics course and one undergraduate course in microeconomic principles.

Admission to the program and continuation in it may be conditional on the applicant’s satisfactory completion of remedial courses, but in some cases those courses may be taken after admission to the program.

Application Deadline and Materials: students must comply with all deadlines and procedures for “applying to CWU” in the graduate admissions section of this catalog.

Program Requirements
Graduate Committee: The student will have at least a three-member graduate committee, to be selected in consultation with the program coordinator and the dean of Graduate Studies and Research.

Thesis: Each candidate must successfully complete and defend a thesis that involves original research within the fields of cultural and environmental resource management.

Program Learner Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

• demonstrate an ability to effectively communicate through written and oral modes about cultural and environmental resource management issues;
• compare and contrast U.S. environmental and cultural resource laws, policy and regulations;
• analyze and apply knowledge of appropriate procedures for cultural and environmental analysis;
• summarize and evaluate causes, character, affected parties, and resolution of resource-based conflicts;
• propose, perform, and compose a significant unique written work in the field of cultural and environmental research; and
• practice professional networking skills by engaging in activities such as internships, conferences, service learning activities, and the Cultural and Environmental Resource Management Association student club.