The ESM emphasis features courses designed to cultivate the synthetic thinking necessary to manage natural resources sustainably. This emphasis stresses the fundamental interactions between biological systems, of which humans are an important component, and the physical systems that they are dependent upon. By using an ecosystem framework we can evaluate environmental issues across a variety of scales, from individual plots to the globe. This approach is critical for those interested in sustainable resource management because it emphasizes an understanding of the feedbacks and interactions necessary to maintain ecosystem functioning.

The ESM emphasis draws on courses from a variety of disciplines to provide the background necessary to appreciate all of the factors influencing ecosystems, including biology, geology, soils, water resources, and several others. It is designed for flexibility to accommodate students with diverse interests and backgrounds. In addition to core courses that provide skills in ecosystem management and assessment, the curriculum allows for the choice of four courses that provide exposure to the tools necessary to understand ecosystems. Potential courses include: