ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION at Pennsylvania State University Park Campus

The M.P.S. program in Ecosystem Management and Administration is designed to provide ecosystem and natural resources managers in a variety of fields a combination of leadership, business, and technical skills that are critical for higher-level management and leadership positions. The program is designed to provide students with the training they need to cope with rapid changes in technology and management methodologies and provide them with the expanded expertise they will need as they progress in their careers. The program is designed to provide students with 1) essential skills in working with spatial data and using geographic information management systems; 2) a better understanding of how ecosystems are inventoried and monitored and the ability to analyze common natural resources data sets to support decision-making; 3) project planning and management skills, including knowledge of decision support systems commonly used in natural resources planning and management; 4) improved communication, conflict resolution, negotiation and leadership skills; 5) the ability to apply natural resources economics principles and cost-benefit analysis to common natural resources management problems; and 6) a deeper understanding of the legal and policy framework within which ecosystem management decisions are made.