Academics

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The Professional Science Masters in Resilience Practice is offered through Arizona Online and in-person at University of Arizona’s Main Campus, in the stunning ENR2 building.

Find all academic program details and policies in our Graduate Handbook.

View possible Plans of Study, including 18-month intensive, two-year full time, and three-year part time program options.

Courses

Course #	Course Title	Description
Core courses (10 units)
RESI501	Knowledge Systems for Environmental Resilience	Learn how inviting different ways of knowing can benefit environmental decision-making. You’ll explore case studies through the lenses of Indigenous science, western science, and community-based knowledge. This course prepares you to engage appropriately with communities and different knowledge systems with cultural humility and awareness.
RESI502	Systems Thinking	Learn how natural and human systems interact, from food and water cycles to communication and waste systems. You’ll explore leverage points, feedback loops, and tipping points to design systems-based solutions. This course prepares you to apply systems thinking skills in real-world resilience and sustainability roles.
RESI503	Shared Leadership	Explore leadership strategies that foster equitable, effective collaboration. You’ll learn to leverage your specific leadership strengths and practice skills like conflict resolution, group decision-making, and storytelling. This course prepares you to lead work teams, volunteer groups, organizations, and movements towards achieving shared goals.
RESI504	Sonoran Desert Resilience	Experience resilience and adaptation through virtual field trips in the Sonoran Desert, exploring how plants, animals, and communities adapt to environmental stressors. You’ll connect local examples to global resilience strategies through place-based learning. This course prepares you to apply resilience and adaptation strategies in environmental planning, conservation, and community engagement.
Capstone courses (8 units)
RESI597	Capstone Planning	Prepare for your capstone project by forming teams, connecting with mentors, and designing a project plan. You’ll build collaboration skills and establish communication strategies for successful teamwork. This course sets the foundation for a real-world applied experience in the Resilience Practice program.
RESI598A	Capstone Project	Work with a real-world partner to solve a challenge in environmental or community resilience. You’ll collaborate in teams, receive mentorship, and complete a project that supports an organization’s mission. This course prepares you to apply your skills in professional settings and builds your career network.
RESI598B	Capstone Communication	Learn how to communicate the impact of your capstone project to a broader audience. You’ll create a public-facing product that connects your work to national or global resilience strategies. This course prepares you to share your work professionally and advocate for change.
Emphasis courses (6 units) All students select an emphasis: Climate Adaptation and Mitigation, Water Conservation and Adaptation, or International Development, and take two 3-credit emphasis courses. Students are welcome to take additional emphasis courses as electives.
Emphasis	Courses	Course Descriptions
Climate Adaptation and Mitigation	RESI611: Climate Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction	Explore how communities prepare for and respond to climate-driven disasters like wildfires and floods. You’ll use contemporary tools and datasets to design strategies that reduce risk and build resilience. This course prepares you to apply these skills in emergency planning, climate adaptation, and public policy.
Climate Adaptation and Mitigation	PLG508: Climate Action Planning	Learn how cities plan for climate change through emissions tracking, vulnerability assessments, and context-specific adaptation strategies. You’ll explore planning approaches across neighborhoods, cities, and regions, with a focus on equity and inclusion. This course prepares you to apply these skills in urban planning, resilience consulting, and climate policy.
International Development	RESI611: Global Development and Resilience	Explore how the resilience framework has shaped international development efforts in response to global crises. You’ll analyze development program design, evaluate evidence, and engage with real-world case studies and practitioner insights. This course prepares you to apply these skills in global development and humanitarian aid organizations.
International Development	RESI612: Resilience Measurement and Evaluation	Learn how to design, monitor, and evaluate development programs that strengthen community resilience. You’ll work with real-world tools and case studies to assess impact and inform programmatic change. This course prepares you for resilience measurement and evaluation roles in private consulting, government agencies, or NGOs.
Water Conservation and Adaptation	RESI621: Arizona Water Conservation and Management	Learn how Arizona and other arid regions manage scarce water resources in a changing climate. You’ll engage with local experts, explore policy and infrastructure, and develop solutions for sustainable water use. This course prepares you to apply these skills in water conservation, resource management, and climate adaptation careers.
Water Conservation and Adaptation	RESI550: Green Infrastructure	Discover how nature-based solutions like green infrastructure can manage stormwater and improve urban environments. You’ll explore design, implementation, and maintenance strategies, with a focus on arid regions. This course prepares you to apply these skills in environmental planning, urban design, and sustainability management.
Electives (9 units) Choose from a wide range of electives - from remote sensing to human rights law, energy efficient building design, or language courses - to best meet your unique career goals. See a list of approved electives here, or find other courses from the UA Course Catalog or transfer graduate credits from other institutions, with advisor approval, to fulfill elective requirements.

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