At the Colorado Mountain College board meeting in October, board members approved a new Bachelor of Science in Ecosystem Science and Stewardship.

Once the program is approved by the state and the Higher Education Commission, the new program will bring the total number of bachelor’s degrees offered at the college to six. The college also offers bachelor’s degrees in business administration, education, leadership and management, nursing, and sustainability studies.

Students in the Ecosystem Science and Stewardship program will focus on intensive science courses, including ecology, biology, and watershed science.

“This degree will lead to careers in conservation biology, forestry, environmental science and more,” said Colorado Mountain College associate professor Dr. Nathan Stewart. “Many public and private sector employers in our mountain communities are hiring for these high paying jobs, and we are delighted to offer this degree to our students. “

An internal program development team, working with 25 external partners, has worked over the past two years to consider adding the Ecosystem Science and Stewardship program. This process took into consideration the needs of the community, the current academic skills of the college and the potential for essential local and regional industrial partnerships.

The Bachelor of Science in Ecosystem Science and Stewardship draws on the many strengths and expertise of the college’s faculty and programming in sustainability, biology, natural resources, and geographic information systems. Students will benefit from both a dynamic group of faculty and a curriculum that prepares students with the skills needed to embark on careers that tackle solutions to the ever-growing climate change crisis.

The new degree will be available for the fall semester 2022, pending state and HLC approval.