The Smithsonian Institution and George Mason University partnered to establish the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation (SMSC) to provide innovative education for current and future generations of global conservation professionals, leaders, and practitioners.
SMSC offers a range of residential, hands-on, interdisciplinary programs in conservation biology for undergraduate and graduate students and professionals on the grounds of SCBI in Front Royal, Virginia. Highly qualified world experts, including Smithsonian scientists, Mason faculty, and colleagues from other U.S. and international conservation organizations, provide students with direct connections to the most current teaching, research techniques, and work in the field.
Undergraduate Program
The Smithsonian-Mason Semester offers undergraduate programs in which students can earn a Conservation Studies Minor (CHSS), or apply credits to certain Mason degrees. There are currently three 16 credit programs: “Conservation, Biodiversity and Society”, “Wildlife Ecology and Conservation”, and "Endangered Species Conservation". See the Programs of Study section of this catalog for details on the minor and the Courses section for details on the courses (select the course prefix CONS). Grounded in natural science, this interdisciplinary semester brings public policy, sociology, conflict resolution, and global awareness to the learning environment. Students majoring in the Integrative Studies, BS, Biology, BS, Environmental Science, BS, Environmental and Sustainability Studies, BA (CHSS), Applied Science, BAS, and Global Affairs, BA can fulfill major requirements and/or Mason Core requirements with Smithsonian-Mason Semester (CONS) credits subject to college approval.
Graduate Program
Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation graduate courses offer in-depth explorations of advanced and highly specialized topics in applied conservation studies. Courses cover a diverse selection of topics focusing on biodiversity conservation, ranging from adaptive management to statistics in ecology and conservation, to non-invasive genetic techniques. All current courses take place as intensive one or two-week sessions and participants are in residence on the SMSC grounds in Front Royal, VA.
Although the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation does not presently offer a graduate degree, coursework may be applied to George Mason University’s Environmental Science and Policy, MS concentration in Conservation Science and Policy. In many cases, graduate students will have the unique opportunity to learn alongside conservation professionals currently working in the field. The unparalleled resources at the facilities draw researchers and practitioners from around the world, and this offers a rare opportunity for students and professionals to interact to mutual benefit in a hands-on situation and to receive informal mentoring from experienced practitioners.
Administration
Cody W Edwards, Executive Director, SMSC
Robert Barrett, Assistant Director of Recruitment and Outreach
Sharon Spradling, Academic Program Coordinator
Ricardo Stanoss, Academic Program Manager
Anastasia Triplett, Business Manager
Faculty
Term Assistant Professors
Davis, DeLuycker, Lessard-Pilon, McNeil
Affiliate Faculty
Akre, Alonso, Brown, Buff, Christen, Dallmeier, Freeman, Kolowski, Leimgruber, Luther, McShea, Monfort, Pukazhenthi
Conservation Studies (CONS)
All courses are based at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia.
100 Level Courses
CONS 100: Introduction to Field Conservation Ecology. 2 credits.
In this immersive I-week experience, students will acquire firsthand exposure to fieldwork in conservation and how conservation professionals contribute to survival of species in natural habitats. Through a combination of lectures, discussions, fieldwork and outdoor adventure students will be introduced to major concepts of ecology (including diversity, succession, species interactions, communities, populations and ecosystems) in the context of species and habitat conservation. Offered by
Provost's Office. Limited to three attempts.
CONS 110: Special Topics in Conservation. 1-3 credits.
Students acquire first-hand exposure to a specific topic in conservation and how conservation professionals contribute to the long-term survival of species. Through a combination of lectures, discussions, and field/lab work, students explore current questions, methods and applications related to a particular topic in conservation. Course Format: Sections of this Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation course will be taught as an intensive, mixed-format (lectures, lab exercises, field exercises) offerings, in residential, full-day, 1-3-week sessions held at the 3,200 acre Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, VA. Students may also be required to complete pre-course reading assignments, and carry out and submit final projects during (or within six weeks after) the onsite session. Offered by
Provost's Office. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
300 Level Courses
CONS 320: Conservation in Practice. 3 credits.
Work with a conservation mentor in a practicum experience. Create a portfolio documenting professional development. Notes: Must be taken concurrently with
CONS 401,
CONS 402,
CONS 410, and
CONS 490 or CONS 403,
CONS 404, CONS 411, and
CONS 491. Only offered through the Smithsonian-Mason Semester. Offered by
Provost's Office. Limited to three attempts.
400 Level Courses
CONS 400: Conservation Seminar. 2 credits.
Examines key conservation issues, based on readings and discussions from the primary literature. Teaches professional development skills for scientists in conservation including fundraising, poster presentations, and interpretation of findings for diverse audiences. Develops skills for obtaining internships, jobs, or graduate positions. Offered by
Provost's Office. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits. Equivalent to
BIOL 351.
CONS 401: Conservation Theory. 3 credits.
Introduces the field of conservation biology and science-based management of threatened wildlife, habitats, and human landscapes. Provides theoretical background for understanding the importance of biodiversity conservation and sustainability. Notes: Must be taken concurrently with
CONS 320,
CONS 402,
CONS 410, and
CONS 490. Only offered through the Smithsonian-Mason Semester. Students cannot get credit for this course and Biology 318 or NCLC 401. Offered by
Provost's Office. Limited to three attempts.
CONS 402: Applied Conservation. 4 credits.
A practical scientific approach to the nature of biodiversity and species loss. Students participate in field conservation exercises in a variety of settings, as well as endocrine and reproductive technology labs. Students apply field and laboratory experiences to understanding science's connection to management decision-making for conservation. Notes: Must be taken concurrently with
CONS 320,
CONS 401,
CONS 410, and
CONS 490. Only offered through the Smithsonian-Mason Semester. Offered by
Provost's Office. Limited to three attempts.
CONS 404: Biodiversity Monitoring. 4 credits.
Covers the assessment, monitoring and conservation of species and habitats as well as the tools for sampling species and habitats and the evaluation of those tools' effectiveness. Students use this practical, hands-on knowledge to prepare a series of reports and recommendations for future work. Offered by
Provost's Office. Limited to three attempts.
CONS 405: Landscape and Macrosystems Ecology. 4 credits.
Identify and characterize patterns in landscapes, investigate how they form and change over time, and consider anthropogenic influences. Model populations and communities across landscapes, and consider ways of managing them to achieve goals in managing species and ecosystem processes at local, regional, and continental scales. Offered by
Provost's Office. Limited to three attempts.
CONS 406: Small Population Management. 4 credits.
Investigates species vulnerability to extinction and the methodologies of preserving genetic diversity in small populations, both in the wild and in captivity. Teaches modeling and laboratory techniques that promote successful captive breeding, such as hormone analysis and assisted reproductive techniques. Examines captive species in the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute to learn husbandry practices and skills from keepers and biologists. Offered by
Provost's Office. Limited to three attempts.
CONS 410: Human Dimensions in Conservation. 3 credits.
Provides sociological, local and global perspectives on conservation issues including adaptive management, conflict resolution, environmental economics, sustainability, public policy, environmental values and public opinion, and conservation ethics. Notes: Must be taken concurrently with
CONS 320,
CONS 401,
CONS 402, and
CONS 490. Only offered through the Smithsonian-Mason Semester. Offered by
Provost's Office. Limited to three attempts.
CONS 440: Ecology Field Skills. 4 credits.
Directed field studies emphasizing ecology and behavior. Topics vary but include design of field manipulation , data collection and analysis, and introduction to organisms of study site. May include field trips. Offered by
Provost's Office. Limited to three attempts. Equivalent to
BIOL 357,
EVPP 440.
CONS 460: Statistics and Study Design in Ecology and Conservation. 3 credits.
An understanding of statistics and study design is essential to success in the fields of ecology and conservation. However, many of the analyses of greatest utility for ecological data are frequently unable to be addressed in introductory courses, while advanced courses often delve deeply into a limited set of techniques. This course bridges this gap: building on knowledge obtained in introductory courses, additional techniques appropriate to many forms of ecological data and more advanced approaches will be introduced. This course will address the fundamentals of study design, linking choices made when establishing a research project to the types of analyses appropriate to the chosen design. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the output of analyses, and separating statistical significance from biological or ecological significance. Additionally, skills in data manipulation, analyses, and graphics using the R statistical computing environment will be developed. Offered by
Provost's Office. Limited to three attempts.
CONS 480: Primate Behavior, Ecology and Conservation. 3 credits.
Using primates as a focal taxon, this two-week course examines the theoretical background on how ecology, behavior, and life history influence primate abundance, distribution, and population dynamics. Teaches data collection methods for primate behavior studies, survey methods and habitat assessment techniques. Topics include several conservation-related case studies. Includes the development of a research proposal concerning primate socio-ecological strategies to address larger conservation issues.
Notes: Students have the option to register for an “add-on” field experience course,
CONS 497 “Primate Behavior and Conservation in Peru”, through the Mason Study Abroad Global Education Office (GEO). In this course, students conduct independent research on primate species in the wild. The course takes place at the Los Amigos Biological Research Station in Peru. Offered by
Provost's Office. Limited to three attempts.
CONS 490: RS: Integrated Conservation Strategies. 3 credits.
Integrates the course work of the Smithsonian-Mason Semester through study of current conservation issues. Students incorporate interdisciplinary aspects of conservation into a summative group case study on a chosen conservation issue and present formally before a faculty panel. Notes: Must be taken concurrently with
CONS 320,
CONS 401,
CONS 402, and
CONS 410. Only offered through the Smithsonian-Mason Semester. Offered by
Provost's Office. Limited to three attempts.
CONS 491: RS: Conservation Management Planning. 4 credits.
Explores strategies and decisions that help secure the long-term survival of threatened species and habitats. Focuses on the planning tools necessary to define and set conservation goals and quantitatively assess species and areas of conservation value and prioritization. Offered by
Provost's Office. Limited to three attempts.
CONS 496: Research in Conservation. 6 credits.
One-on-one research experience with a conservation practitioner over 5 weeks (about 36 hours per week) on a conservation research project associated with that practitioner's program. Offered by
Provost's Office. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 12 credits.
CONS 497: Special Topics in Conservation. 1-4 credits.
Topics of current relevance to the field of conservation. Offered by
Provost's Office. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 9 credits.
CONS 498: Internship. 1-3 credits.
Directed readings and final reflective paper or project in conjunction with an internship subject to instructor approval. Permission to enroll must be obtained from the Mason Center for Conservation Studies at least two weeks prior to the start of the semester. Offered by
Provost's Office. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 9 credits.
CONS 499: Independent Study/Research. 1-3 credits.
An independent project or directed exploration into an area of conservation not covered by other courses. Offered by
Provost's Office. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 9 credits.
500 Level Courses
CONS 540: Ecology Field Skills. 4 credits.
Graduate level directed field studies emphasizing ecology and behavior. Topics vary but include design of field manipulations, data collection and analysis, and introduction to organisms of study site. May include field trips. Offered by
Provost's Office. May not be repeated for credit.
CONS 560: Statistics and Study Design in Ecology and Conservation. 3 credits.
An understanding of statistics and study design is essential to success in the fields of ecology and conservation. However, many of the analyses of greatest utility for ecological data are frequently unable to be addressed in introductory courses, while advanced courses often delve deeply into a limited set of techniques. This course bridges this gap: building on knowledge obtained in introductory courses, additional techniques appropriate to many forms of ecological data and more advanced approaches will be introduced. This course will address the fundamentals of study design, linking choices made when establishing a research project to the types of analyses appropriate to the chosen design. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the output of analyses, and separating statistical significance from biological or ecological significance. Additionally, skills in data manipulation, analyses, and graphics using the R statistical computing environment will be developed. Offered by
Provost's Office. Limited to three attempts.
CONS 580: Primate Behavior, Ecology and Conservation. 3 credits.
Using primates as a focal taxon, this two-week course examines the theoretical background on how ecology, behavior, and life history influence primate abundance, distribution, and population dynamics. Teaches data collection methods for primate behavior studies, survey methods and habitat assessment techniques. Topics include several conservation-related case studies. Includes the development of a research proposal concerning primate socio-ecological strategies to address larger conservation issues.
Notes: Students have the option to register for an “add-on” field experience course,
CONS 497 “Primate Behavior and Conservation in Peru”, through the Mason Study Abroad Global Education Office (GEO). In this course, students conduct independent research on primate species in the wild. The course takes place at the Los Amigos Biological Research Station in Peru. Offered by
Provost's Office. May not be repeated for credit.
CONS 597: Special Topics in Conservation. 1-4 credits.
Topics of current relevance to the field of conservation. Offered by
Provost's Office. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 9 credits.
600 Level Courses
CONS 625: Statistics for Ecology and Conservation Biology. 3 credits.
Provides an overview of experimental design and analysis techniques used in cutting-edge ecological research and conservation. Focuses on increasing knowledge of statistical tests, interpretation of results, and ability to disseminate and clearly explain these results. Students gain an overview of applied monitoring and analysis techniques such as distance sampling, genetic analysis, niche and species distribution modeling, and spatial analysis. Notes: Offered through the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation in cooperation with the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute on site in Front Royal, VA. Course Format: This course is taught as an intensive, mixed format (lectures and computer work) offering, in a residential full-day (8:30am-6pm), 1 week, 10 day or 2 week session. Students complete pre-course assignments, and are graded in participation, computer exercises and a final exam. Some night sessions may occur. Offered by
Provost's Office. May not be repeated for credit.
CONS 630: Species Monitoring & Conservation. 3 credits.
Explores monitoring and conservation research methods and approaches for specific taxa through lectures, case studies, lab exercises, and field work. Focuses on conservation science and conservation outreach techniques. Notes: Offered through the Smithsonian - Mason School of Conservation Studies in cooperation with the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute on site in Front Royal, VA. Course Format: This course is taught as an intensive, mixed format (lectures and computer work) offering, in a residential full-day (8:30am-6pm), 1 week, 10 day or 2 week session. Students complete pre-course assignments, and are graded in participation, computer exercises and a final exam. Some night sessions may occur. Offered by
Provost's Office. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 9 credits.
CONS 645: Estimating Animal Abundance and Occupancy. 3 credits.
Provides a strong theoretical and analytical background to the current and accepted methods of estimating population parameters including abundance, survival, and population change. The course teaches study design, implementation and analysis of data from distance sampling, mark-recapture, and occupancy modeling techniques, with a strong focus on the practical use of field data in the programs DISTANCE MARK and PRESENCE. Notes: Offered through the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation in cooperation with the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute on site in Front Royal, VA. Course Format: This course is taught as an intensive, mixed format (lectures and computer work) offering, in a residential full-day (8:30am-6pm), 1 week, 10 day or 2-week session. Students complete pre-course assignments, and are graded in participation, computer exercises and a final exam. Some night sessions may occur. Offered by
Provost's Office. May not be repeated for credit.
CONS 697: Special Topics in Conservation. 1-3 credits.
Topics of current relevance to the field of conservation. Notes: May be repeated for credit with approval of the Smithsonian Mason School of Conservation. Notes: May be repeated for credit with approval of the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation. Offered through the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation in cooperation with the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute on site in Front Royal, VA. Course Format: This course is taught as an intensive, mixed format (lectures and computer work) offering, in a residential full-day (8:30am-6pm), 1 week, 10 day or 2 week session. Students complete pre-course assignments, and are graded in participation, computer exercises and a final exam. Some night sessions may occur. Offered by
Provost's Office. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 9 credits.
