Conservation Planning

THE WORLD NEEDS SKILLED CONSERVATION PLANNERS!

The natural world is facing unprecedented pressure from human and climate-based threats. As such, strategic, evidence-based conservation planning is more important than ever. Skilled conservation planners play a crucial role in the fight to protect natural resources for future generations. Learn the skills necessary to be an effective conservation planner!

PROGRAM SUMMARY

To earn a CWS conservation planning professional certificate, participants must earn 12 program credits, including six from core courses and six from electives. Courses are typically one credit, except for a two-credit capstone project, in which participants coordinate with a project manager from a conservation organization to draft a real strategic plan. Courses are graduate-level and are designed with academic rigor but flexible to meet the needs of full-time conservation practitioners, graduate students, and other natural resource professionals. All courses are offered virtually, with consistent participation and guidance from an instructor. Some courses will also be offered in-person from time to time, depending on interest and instructor availability.

Those interested in a certain career path may choose one of our three learning pathways: Landscape Planning, Species Planning, or Organizational Planning. Participants can also work with CWS staff to develop a custom program of study that meets a certain career path.

PROGRAM DETAILS:

  • minimum of 12 graduate-level credits

  • learn at your own pace with consistent participation and guidance from your instructor

  • all courses are accessible for 1 year

  • each course includes evaluations, including a final project or exam

  • courses can be used for academic credit with school approval

  • course may include an optional applied project related to work or school

  • Introduction to Conservation Standards is a prerequisite for all pathways

BENEFITS OF EARNING A PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE IN CONSERVATION PLANNING

  • Impactful Career: Make a lasting difference as you help leverage scarce resources and reduce critical threats to protect species and ecosystems.

  • Professional Growth: Enhance your skills and knowledge, gaining a competitive edge in the conservation sector.

  • Networking Opportunities: Connect with like-minded professionals and experts in the field, expanding your professional network and opening doors to new opportunities in government agencies, non-profit organizations, and consulting firms.

LEARN FROM THE BEST

All courses are taught by leading experts, most of whom remain actively engaged in their fields. Such real-world experience ensures you will gain job-ready skills and that course materials will be current, practical, and relevant. 

WHY EARNING A CERTIFICATE MATTERS

Achieving certification demonstrates to potential employers that you have a broad, up-to-date background in conservation planning methods and techniques and deep knowledge in your chosen area of focus.  These credentials will open doors to greater opportunities and enhanced impact within the conservation planning field.

All five core courses are required to earn a professional certificate in Conservation Planning.

Participants are also required to pass six additional 1-credit courses. Either choose a pathway in Species, Landscape, or Organizational Planning (see lists below) or design your own program of study by selecting electives from below.

Conservation Planning Pathways

Landscape Planning:

  • Spatial Analysis in QGIS

  • Introduction to Remote Sensing

  • Climate Change Planning

  • Systematic Conservation Planning (MARXAN)

  • Protected Area Planning

Species Planning:

  • U.S. Wildlife Law & Policy

  • Endangered Species Recovery

  • Population Viability Analysis

  • Wildlife Disease Risk Analysis

  • Miradi / Miradishare

Organizational Planning:

  • Conservation Finance

  • Protected Area Planning

  • Business Planning for Conservation Organizations

  • Conservation Economics

  • Multi-Media Conservation Communication

Other Electives:

  • Theory of Change

  • Healthy Country Planning

  • Scaling Conservation

  • Human Dimensions

  • Structured Decision Making

  • Writing for Impact and Influence

Applied Project

An Applied Project is project completed under the guidance of a CWS instructor. It can involve working on a project related to a school or work or one provided by a CWS instructor. Unlike the core Capstone course, an Applied Project is related to a course in the program.

All students in CWS’s Professional Certificate Program are eligible to enroll in 1-3 credits each term to work on their project. CWS instructors will work with participants to determine the appropriate number of credits needed each term to carry out the project.

At the end of their program, participants will have the option to present their work during a CWS research forum.

Go the the Applied Project page to learn more.

Program Flier

Share with your employer or post at your school.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The courses offered in the Conservation Planning Program focus on the skills that are commonly used by conservation planners in the real world. Many courses in this program can also be used as CEUs for ESA and TWS.

  • No, this program is designed for those with full-time employment. Our flexible program is open to anyone in the world and can be completed in as little as 1.5 years.

  • Yes, you must show proof of a post-secondary education and transcripts. Be sure to check prerequisites for each course before you enroll and when you are planning your program of study.

  • Develop a 12-credit program of study independently, with your employer, or with CWS staff. You must take the core courses but can choose a pathway from a variety of electives. Be sure to plan accordingly as some electives require core course completion as a prerequisite.

  • There is no application fee. Applications are evaluated each term by CWS Academic Affairs. You may begin when it is convenient for you.

  • Each course has an early-bird discount price break, which ends one month before the start of the course. Alternatively, you can receive a $1,000 discount on the full program if you pay for the training upfront.

  • Acceptance into the program can be deferred for one term (3 months) or longer, depending on your circumstance.

  • All CWS core courses that are taken in the past 2 years can be used towards your professional certificate but requires passing (B- or better) the final evaluation (exam or project).

  • Most courses in this program are open for at least two terms each year (Dec-Feb, Mar-May, June-Aug, Sept-Nov) for instructor support. View our online course ads for more details.

  • Program completion requires earning at least a B- in each course.

  • Participants must take a minimum of 3 credits each year and have up to 3 years to complete the program.

  • With support of your graduate committee and registrar, you can simultaneously earn a graduate degree by applying courses from your professional certificate to your graduate program of study.

  • Ten business days after completing all course requirements, we will send you your professional certificate!

  • After you are accepted into the program, you will have several options to lock in your price for a 3-year period.

  • Pathways are optional and are designed to help those who have a specific career interest to be prepared and marketable.

“Conservation is the foresight to preserve for future generations the natural resources and beauty we have today.”

- Gifford Pinchot

Apply Today

Tuition Information

  • Per credit, pay as you go

    $675 - Professional

    $575 - Student

  • Per credit, pay as you go

    $750 - Professional

    $650 - Student

  • $7,425 - Professional

    $6,325 - Student

Contact us wiith questions: procert@centerforwildlifestudies.org

*Tuition payment plans and scholarships for individual courses are available; inquire at procert@centerforwildlifestudies.org