Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation

Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation Transformative programs in conservation based at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute All courses take place as intensive one or two-week sessions.

The Smithsonian Mason School of Conservation (SMSC) offers a range of compelling residential, hands-on interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary programs in conservation biology for undergraduate and graduate students and professionals from around the world. Current programming includes the residential undergraduate semester programs and graduate and professional courses and certificate programs.

New offerings are always being planned as the School of Conservation works to address the changing threats to and opportunities for conserving biodiversity, the interests of students, and requirements of employers.

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Undergraduate programs:
The SMSC is proud to offer two 16-credit programs for undergraduates committed to the study of conservation:

- Applied Conservation Strategies
- Ecology for Effective Conservation Practices

Each semester-long program offers five integrated courses that include a practicum work experience with researchers at the SCBI, as well as classes focusing on conservation theory and applications. More information about the programs can be found at:

http://smconservation.gmu.edu

Email: [email protected]

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Graduate and Professional programs:
Graduate students and professionals in conservation-related fields can gain training in the tools, knowledge, and skills needed to address today’s most pressing conservation challenges in courses offered through the SMSC. Participants are in residence at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, VA. For more information about course offerings visit:

http://smconservation.gmu.edu

Email: [email protected]

Undergrads in the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation's exciting summer field skills course recently visited Leopol...
06/03/2026

Undergrads in the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation's exciting summer field skills course recently visited Leopold's Preserve to explore connections between forests, wetlands, and watersheds through hands-on fieldwork.

Students investigated the impacts of deer browsing by comparing vegetation inside and outside a deer exclosure, visited a rare upland depression swamp, and joined Park Manager Nick Davis for a tour of an active beaver wetland.

A trip highlight was seeing the beavers' engineering up close. The site features three levels of ponds, where it's possible to look up from one pond to view a dam holding back water in the pond above. From lodges to dams, students thoroughly enjoyed this firsthand look at how beavers shape the landscape around them.

Applications for our Fall 2026 Residential Semester-Away Programs are open—but the deadline is approaching fast. Apply b...
06/02/2026

Applications for our Fall 2026 Residential Semester-Away Programs are open—but the deadline is approaching fast. Apply by July 15!

As an SMSC student, you'll:
✅ Earn 16 undergraduate credits
✅ Gain hands-on field and lab experience
✅ Learn alongside leading conservation scientists
✅ Live and study at a world-renowned research center
✅ Build skills for your future career

Open to current undergraduates and recent graduates from any major.

Don't miss your chance to spend a semester making a difference. Apply on our website under the Programs tab.

🧐 Sometimes the best way to interact with wildlife is simply to observe.Our Field Ecology and Conservation students were...
06/01/2026

🧐 Sometimes the best way to interact with wildlife is simply to observe.

Our Field Ecology and Conservation students were excited to admire this non-venomous snake from a respectful distance during a recent field activity. Unlike last week's box turtle photo, this encounter called for a 'look, don't touch' moment. 🐍

Your mission: find the turtle 🐢📡Mission accomplished! ✅️Participants in our first course of the summer, Field Skills in ...
05/29/2026

Your mission: find the turtle 🐢📡

Mission accomplished! ✅️

Participants in our first course of the summer, Field Skills in Ecology, used radiotelemetry to track down this box turtle as part of wildlife monitoring exercise. Handling slow-moving, seemingly docile wildlife can be tempting, but in our program, it's always done carefully and under the guidance of trained faculty, with the animal’s welfare always the priority.

Congratulations to our alumni Ryan Brittenham and Elle Farina on their newly published article in Frontiers in Conservat...
05/26/2026

Congratulations to our alumni Ryan Brittenham and Elle Farina on their newly published article in Frontiers in Conservation Science: “Ecological grief: crying out for science on common ground.”

Their work explores the emerging field of ecological grief—the emotional response people experience in the face of biodiversity loss, environmental change, and the disappearance of meaningful landscapes. It’s a fascinating and increasingly important area of conservation science that connects ecology, psychology, and well-being in deeply human ways.

We love seeing alumni tackling innovative, interdisciplinary topics like this, and we’re excited to follow where this growing field of research goes next. Read the article via the link in our comments. Congrats again, Ryan and Elle!

Ryan (right) and Elle (left) were photographed during their semester in Endangered Species Conservation by fellow student Rin. 📸

Today is International Day for Biological Diversity, a observance created to raise awareness about the importance of pr...
05/22/2026

Today is International Day for Biological Diversity, a observance created to raise awareness about the importance of protecting the vast variety of life on Earth. Celebrated each year on May 22, the day serves as a reminder that healthy ecosystems, species diversity, and conservation efforts are deeply connected to our collective future.

At SMSC, biodiversity is more than a concept studied in the classroom; it is something our students engage with firsthand through research, fieldwork, and experiential learning opportunities.

Here in Virginia's forests, salamanders are a powerful example of that biodiversity in action. Among the most abundant vertebrates in many Appalachian ecosystems, they play an essential role in nutrient cycling and serve as sensitive indicators of environmental health. Studying species like these helps students understand the intricate connections that sustain forest ecosystems, and why protecting even the smallest forms of life matters.

Last week, Advisory Board members, friends, family, and other champions of conservation gathered at the home of our Chai...
05/22/2026

Last week, Advisory Board members, friends, family, and other champions of conservation gathered at the home of our Chair for a special afternoon celebrating the work and mission of our school. Set against a beautiful backdrop of nature, the event reflected so much of who we are as an institution: community, curiosity, and connection to the environment around us.

Guests had the opportunity to learn more about our programs and hear directly from two stellar students, whose personal stories highlighted the transformative impact of experiential learning and research opportunities. Student research posters were also on display, showcasing the breadth of innovation and inquiry taking place throughout our community.

The gathering was a reminder of the power of bringing people together around a shared commitment to education, conservation, and the future of our students.

More CONS 440 students got a close look at a female American Kestrel during our field experience with wildlife experts. ...
05/21/2026

More CONS 440 students got a close look at a female American Kestrel during our field experience with wildlife experts. American kestrels may be North America’s smallest falcon, but they are fierce predators with incredible eyesight, able to see even ultraviolet light to help track prey!

This female has been nesting nearby and incubating eggs in her nest box while researchers monitor local kestrel populations and breeding success. Course participants learned how scientists carefully place identification bands on kestrels’ legs so researchers can track where the birds travel, whether they migrate, and how populations change over time.

Tiny falcon. Big personality. Incredible learning experience. ✨🪶

Our exciting summer course, Field Skills in Ecology, is off to a terrific start! Students got an up-close look at Americ...
05/21/2026

Our exciting summer course, Field Skills in Ecology, is off to a terrific start! Students got an up-close look at American kestrel research following an overview by SMSC's Dr. Joe Kolowski, and a live demonstration by The Clifton Institute's raptor conservation technician Sylvia.

Course participants learned how researchers safely handle kestrels, take measurements, estimate age based on plumage characteristics, and apply identification bands used for long-term monitoring and conservation research. They also had the chance to observe safe handling techniques and experience these remarkable birds up close.

The American kestrel is North America’s smallest falcon, but also one of its most efficient predators. Kestrels can spot prey from surprising distances and are known for their signature hovering behavior while hunting.

Hands-on experiences like these connect classroom learning with real-world conservation research and wildlife management.

Psychology + animal behavior + conservation 🌍🐒This summer, explore social behavior, communication, parenting, cognition,...
05/19/2026

Psychology + animal behavior + conservation 🌍🐒

This summer, explore social behavior, communication, parenting, cognition, and ecology through the study of primates—our closest living relatives. Examine how primates interact with each other, their environments, and an increasingly human-dominated world.

🗓 June 29–July 31, 2026
💻 Online | 5-week summer course
🧠 Ideal for students interested in psychology, behavioral science, animal behavior, evolution, anthropology, and conservation

From cooperation and conflict to infant care and group dynamics, primates offer powerful insight into the evolution of behavior, including our own. Open to undergrads and graduate students from any institution! George Mason University students, register now in Patriot Web.

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1500 Remount Road
Front Royal, VA
22630

Telephone

+15406350115

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