International Conservation and Development (ICD) is an M.S. degree option in Resource Conservation that addresses ecological and social aspects of environmental change, biodiversity conservation and rural development.  ICD allows students to pursue independent conservation and development projects through international professional field assignments.  The ICD core curriculum and overseas experience integrate biophysical and social dimensions of land and resource management in the context economic development and social justice. Defining features of ICD include:

• Opportunity to combine graduate coursework with international field research
• Flexibility to identify and develop independent projects
• Committed, interdisciplinary faculty 
• An integrated core curriculum
• Close collaboration among a cohort of graduate students
• M.S. degree in Resource Conservation, International Conservation and Development

ICD students have addressed a wide range of issues around the world, including protected area management in Bhutan, community conservation in Belize, watershed management in Nicaragua, non-timber forest products management in Ethiopia, agroforestry in Zambia, reduced impact logging in Bolivia and wildlife conservation in Mongolia. See M.S. student theses/professional papers.  Students utilize a variety of approaches and generate diverse products based on their fieldwork, including: extension education materials, field guides and peer-reviewed publications.  74 students have completed ICD studies and program graduates are employed by international and domestic organizations in both the public and private sectors, including Conservation International, WOOF, USAID, the US Forest Service, international consulting firms, while others completed doctoral studies and are now university faculty members.

Master of Science - Resource Conservation; International Conservation and Development Concentration

Degree Specific Credits: 30-36 (professional paper option: 30 credits; thesis option: 30 credits; non-thesis option: 36 credits)

Required Cumulative GPA: 3.0

The ICD Option involves completion of a core curriculum (13 credits), additional coursework in an area of academic and professional interest, and completion of an international assignment with an international conservation and development organization or the US Peace Corps.

Specialized coursework is available within the College of Forestry and Conservation in broad disciplines of protected area management, environmental sciences, forest management, watershed management, wildlife biology, range management, recreation management, and remote sensing/geographic information systems. In addition, students can complete relevant coursework in any department or program at UM, including Anthropology, Biological Sciences, Conflict Resolution, Environmental Studies, Geography, and Sociology.

Core Curriculum

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NRSM 571	International Conservation & Development	3
NRSM 575	Environment & Development	3
FORS 535	Applied Forest Ecology	3
or FORS 540	Disturbance Ecology
or NRSM 465	Foundations of Restoration Ecology
Graduatuate Research Methods (quantitative or qualitative)		3
Graduate Seminar		1
Total Hours		13