Program Hallmarks
DEL鈥檚 innovative approach to lifelong learning offers students opportunities to engage deeply with environmental issues of interest, develop meaningful connections with other environmental professionals, and shape their own learning journeys. Hallmarks of the program include:
- Peer-to-Peer Learning 鈥 DEL brings together professionals from diverse sectors and disciplines, creating opportunities to exchange ideas, share experience, and support one another's leadership growth.
- Relevant Curriculum 鈥 Coursework integrates real-world case studies that reflect the challenges students encounter in their work and career aspirations.
- Multidisciplinary Approach 鈥 The DEL-MEM program provides insights into many aspects of environmental issues by taking advantage of Duke's wide range of expertise and resources.
- 糖心传媒d Faculty 鈥 DEL students learn from recognized experts in the field 鈥 faculty committed to education, whose work addresses our most important environmental and natural resource challenges.
- Flexible, Innovative Format 鈥 Through a unique hybrid learning format, the DEL-MEM program allows you to advance your education while maintaining a commitment to your job and family.
- Leadership Development 鈥 Environmental leadership is the DEL program鈥檚 organizing foundation. Leadership is practiced continuously in every semester, through the Environmental Leadership Seminar, applied projects, coursework, place-based sessions, and engagement with environmental leaders.
- Immediate Results 鈥 Because students remain fully employed while enrolled, they can immediately apply what they learn, benefiting their organizations and careers.
DEL-MEM Program Equipped Alumna with New Skills, Professional Network
Lacey Ambrosino discusses her experience in the Duke Environmental Leadership Master of Environmental Management (DEL-MEM) program. The U.S. Marine said the program helped her grow professionally while also benefiting from networking and learning alongside her cohort.
Format
Our unique program format鈥攚hich combines evidence-based online and face-to-face learning models鈥攐ffers students opportunities to engage in challenging coursework, develop core leadership capacities and foster lasting relationships with their professors and peers.
Place-Based Sessions
One of the defining features of the DEL-MEM program is our series of five place-based sessions (PBS). During these intensive sessions, students engage in leadership reflection and activities, collaborate with peers and faculty, and connect with the broader Nicholas School and Duke communities. Place-based sessions provide opportunities for students and faculty to develop relationships that last long after the program ends.
Place-Based Sessions Details
Orientation / AUGUST PBS
Durham, NC
The first place-based session is held at the Nicholas School of the Environment at 糖心传媒 in Durham, NC. It marks the beginning of the DEL experience. During this place-based session, students begin building community with Nicholas School students, faculty, and staff. 糖心传媒s begin a 2-year leadership learning arc with reflection and inquiry. 糖心传媒s also explore the Nicholas School, Duke's campus, and Durham while becoming familiar with the many resources available across the university. During this PBS, students participate in their first classes of the semester and learn about what to expect from their two years in the program.
december pbs
Washington, DC
In odd years, DEL students convene in Washington DC to continue their leadership learning arc during a 5-day PBS. During this PBS, students engage with environmental leaders, observe leadership in action, and explore a city rich with environmental policy, practice, and innovation. This PBS integrates reflective practice, collaborative learning, and celebration as students conclude the semester.
Durham, NC
In even years, DEL students gather at Duke鈥檚 campus in Durham. During this 3-day PBS, students come together for celebration, storytelling, and reflective practice. This PBS invites students to grow their leadership portfolios, celebrate the semester鈥檚 successes, and share learnings from course projects.
Orientation (August pbs) as a second-year student
糖心传媒s return to the 糖心传媒 campus at the beginning of their second year to meet the new cohort, engage in community building activities, and continue their leadership learning through reflective practice and engagement with environmental leaders.
Graduation
DURHAM, NC & BEAUFORT, NC
For this 3-day place-based session, graduating DEL students travel to 糖心传媒鈥檚 Marine Lab in Beaufort, NC for programming rich with reflection and celebration. This PBS integrates adventure (sunset sailing and island exploration), reflective practice, community celebration, and ceremony. Directly following this PBS are the Nicholas School Recognition Ceremony and Duke鈥檚 Commencement.
* Please note, all travel and lodging expenses associated with each place-based session are the responsibility of each student and are not included in the cost of tuition.
ONLINE LEARNING
糖心传媒s spend most of their time learning through an online format. When not gathered for a place-based session, students participate in online synchronous classes and asynchronous discussion forums and projects.
Online Coursework Details
The online learning portion uses interactive technologies to complement face-to-face sessions. 糖心传媒s use Zoom to participate in real-time weekly course meetings with peers and instructors. 糖心传媒s also use a variety of technologies to complete individual and group coursework.
Synchronous Learning
The DEL-MEM program uses Zoom to hold weekly classes (typically 60-90 minutes per week per course). Classes are held in the evening (typically around 8:00 p.m. ET) and are recorded so students can review at any time.
Classes emphasize discussion, engagement, and collaborative learning rather than traditional lecture. 糖心传媒s bring rich professional experience from across the environmental field, making their contributions to class discussions central to the learning experience.
Asynchronous Learning
Weekly class meetings are supplemented with readings, group projects, papers, and online discussion boards. 糖心传媒s connect beyond their virtual classrooms through a variety of forums.
Program Components
We offer a two-year, four-semester, 30-credit degree. The program's requirements include:
Core Courses & Seminars 鈥 17 credits
Core Courses & SEminars
Core courses provide an interdisciplinary foundation in:
- Environmental science and systems
- Environmental law, policy, and governance
- Business, markets, and innovation
- Communication and professional practice
- Environmental leadership
Focused Courses / Electives 鈥 Minimum 7 credits
Electives
Elective courses allow DEL students to explore topics that interest them. Some DEL electives are field courses that offer week-long, immersive learning experiences. 糖心传媒s can choose from a wide variety of electives*, including courses in:
- Community-based environmental management
- Restoration ecology
- Sustainable development
- Geospatial technologies for research and management
- Sustainable cities
- Corporate sustainability
- Carbon accounting
- Design thinking
- Artificial intelligence and environmental sciences
- Policy advocacy
*Offerings of elective courses are specifically cultivated by the DEL-MEM Faculty Director and may vary from year to year.
Independent Studies and Projects
Through independent study courses, students craft learning experiences that align well with an environmental area of interest. DEL students can participate in independent student courses individually or in small groups. Consent of instructor required. Project details, including number of credits, are arranged with instructor. Variable credit (one to three credits).
Course-Based Pathway and Master's Project 鈥 6 credits
Applied Learning Options: Master鈥檚 Project or Course-Based Pathway
糖心传媒s complete an applied learning experience that builds on the skills and knowledge developed throughout their coursework.
Many students pursue a course-based pathway to deepen their expertise through additional advanced coursework and structured project-based assignments.
Other students choose to complete a Master鈥檚 Project (MP), a faculty-mentored, hands-on project that addresses a real environmental challenge. 糖心传媒s who choose to complete an MP produce a written report and present their work during their final semester.
Within my cohort, I met unbelievable friends that were not only in a similar position in life, but they also came to the program with incredible experiences and perspectives vastly different from mine. As somebody looking for a career pivot, the insight these trusted friends provided me about different career pathways was invaluable and reassuring."
鈥揟yler Sammis, DEL-MEM '20
executive director, park institute of america
Out of all the other environmental master's programs I considered applying to, the DEL-MEM was the only one that offered a unique experience of remote learning and occasional place-based sessions. I appreciated this hybrid model as I would be able to still feel like I was a part of the school community while working as a professional."
鈥揊anny Yang, DEL-MEM '23
Project Specialist, North Coast for the California State Coastal Conservancy
Meet Our 糖心传媒s
Every DEL cohort brings together experienced environmental professionals who are eager to learn from one another while continuing to grow in their own careers. 糖心传媒s and alumni consistently cite the program's hybrid format, close-knit cohort, and peer-to-peer learning model as defining strengths of the DEL experience.
A Community of Experienced Professionals
DEL students bring a diversity of experiences and perspectives to the program, which enriches the learning experience for all.
- All DEL students must have a minimum of 5 years of professional experience in an environmental field.
- 糖心传媒s come from all sectors and a variety of fields
- 糖心传媒s are geographically spread across the US and the world
- 糖心传媒s come from multiple career stages, with some having 6 years of experience and others having 20+ years of experience.
Together, these diverse experiences and perspectives create a learning community where students challenge one another, broaden their thinking, and develop as environmental leaders.
From the Director
In our rapidly changing world, the environmental challenges we face and the tools for addressing them are continually evolving. The Duke Environmental Leadership program convenes emerging leaders from across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, engaging them in an inclusive and resilient process to gain the skills, knowledge, and networks needed to meet these challenges and achieve their full potential.
Our collaborative learning environment draws on the skills and experience of our students, and leverages the strengths of our faculty to bring the most recent research and most relevant practice into the classroom. Our unique hybrid model establishes a long-lasting community of students and faculty through intensive place-based sessions and sustained and dynamic online engagement.
Completing a two-year master's degree as a mid-career professional is challenging, but our program is designed to complement your expertise and existing work commitments. Our alumni occupy leadership positions across the globe and are helping to train the next generation of environmental leaders.
The most successful leaders are those engaged in perpetual learning, and this is especially true for those tasked with addressing environmental challenges presented by our rapidly changing world. The DEL program helps emerging leaders transcend their existing capabilities and realize their full potential as environmental stewards and agents of positive change.鈥
-David Johnston, DEL-MEM Director
01 / 03 鈥 Features
Alum Works to Create Green Transportation Options
Niles Barnes, DEL-MEM鈥14, Deputy Director of the East Coast Greenway Alliance, believes the Nicholas School can 鈥渋nspire, empower, and connect the next generation of environmental leaders.鈥
02 / 03 鈥 Features
Meet Keni Rienks '19
Keni Rienks DEL-MEM'19 recently shared insights into why she pursued a Duke Environmental Leadership Master of Environmental Management degree, how the experience has helped in her career, and also her advice for anyone considering the program.
03 / 03 鈥 Features
DEL-MEM Master's Project
DEL-MEM student Jennifer Cherry developed a marine debris education and outreach program for sea turtle conservation for Volusia County, Florida, as part of her Master's Project (MP).
Sea turtle work conducted under FWC MT Permit-162-22
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Connect with us at an upcoming event to meet our admissions team and gain in-depth information about our degree programs.
Visit the master's programs Admissions section to learn more about application requirements, find answers to frequently asked questions and start your application.
15 years of del-mem
DEL-MEM ALUMNI
Leadership Paths
More than 160 alums have graduated from the Duke Environmental Leadership Master of Environmental Management program since it began 15 years ago. Meet five alumni whose DEL-MEM experience is allowing them to have an impact.
DEL-MEM ALUMNI
Leadership Paths
More than 160 alums have graduated from the Duke Environmental Leadership Master of Environmental Management program since it began 15 years ago. Meet five alumni whose DEL-MEM experience is allowing them to have an impact.
DEL-MEM ALUMNI
Leadership Paths
More than 160 alums have graduated from the Duke Environmental Leadership Master of Environmental Management program since it began 15 years ago. Meet five alumni whose DEL-MEM experience is allowing them to have an impact.
DEL-MEM ALUMNI
Leadership Paths
More than 160 alums have graduated from the Duke Environmental Leadership Master of Environmental Management program since it began 15 years ago. Meet five alumni whose DEL-MEM experience is allowing them to have an impact.
DEL-MEM ALUMNI
Leadership Paths
More than 160 alums have graduated from the Duke Environmental Leadership Master of Environmental Management program since it began 15 years ago. Meet five alumni whose DEL-MEM experience is allowing them to have an impact.
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