M.S. in Environmental Science and Policy

Ecosystems Studies 

Students who select the Ecosystems Studies emphasis may study general features of ecosystems such as nutrient regeneration, productivity, or trophic relationships. They may also focus on specific questions related to endangered species, predation and competition. Natural, managed, and disturbed ecosystems are examined in classroom and field activities. Studies on aquatic systems take advantage of the University’s location on Green Bay, participation in the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Program, and the on-campus Cofrin Center for Biodiversity. The University’s proximity to large areas of northern forests and the Door County Peninsula provides convenient locations for the study of diverse ecosystems. The Ecosystems Studies area of emphasis prepares students to:

  • design and conduct scientific investigations;
  • collect, evaluate, and interpret data;
  • make responsible decisions to implement appropriate technologies and strategies to solve environmental problems; and
  • effectively communicate the results of environmental studies to other scientists, decision makers and the general public.

Graduates typically work as scientists, environmental specialists, or project managers with industry, commercial laboratories, engineering firms, or government agencies, where their work involves analysis, research, consulting, compliance, or enforcement. Students who pursue the Ecosystems Studies area of emphasis are expected to have completed biology courses beyond introductory courses, typically the equivalent to a minor or major in biology (taken elsewhere or prior to entrance). These courses should include an ecology course.

Ecosystems Studies

Emphasis Prerequisites

Students who pursue the Ecosystems Studies area of emphasis are expected to have completed biology courses beyond introductory courses, typically the equivalent to a minor or major in biology (taken elsewhere or prior to entrance). These courses should include an ecology course.

General Core Requirements9
Perspectives in Environmental Science and Policy
Choose one of the following repeatable courses( 2 credits)
Stable Isotopes in the Environment
Seminar in Ecology and Evolution
Special Topics
Environmental Science
Ecology and Management of Ecosystems
Environmental Technology and Analysis
Public Policy
Environmental Economics and Sustainability
Freshwater and Marine Policy & Law
Wildlife Law and Policy
Environmental Policy and Administration
Required Quantitative Course4
Environmental Data Analysis
Choose one of the following required ecology courses:3
Conservation Biology
Ecology and Management of Ecosystems
Ecology and Analysis of Communities and Landscapes
Additional Courses - complete 9 credits9
Choose any combination from the courses listed here or above.
Biology:
Plant Biodiversity
Plant Physiology
Mycology
Field Botany
Environmental Microbiology
Ornithology
Mammalogy
Entomology
Marine Biology
Aquatic Invertebrates
Fish and Wildlife Population Dynamics
Advanced Microbiology
Wetland Ecology
Environmental Science:
The Soil Environment
Hydrology
Stream Ecology
Limnology
Glacial Geology & Landscapes
Environmental Policy and Planning:
Environmental Economics and Sustainability
Environmental Policy and Administration
Natural Resource Policy, Law, and Administration
Environmental Law
Global Environmental Politics and Policy
Environmental Planning
Math and Statistics:
Applied Regression Analysis
Design of Experiments
Seminar and Special Topics:
Seminar in Ecology and Evolution
Special Topics
Stable Isotopes in the Environment
Completion Track - Select one of the following (Thesis, Internship, or Course Based):6-12
Thesis: (6 credits)
Thesis
Internship: (9 credits)
Capstone in Environmental Science and Policy
and Internship
Course Based: (12 credits)
Capstone in Environmental Science and Policy
Seminar in Ecology and Evolution
Special Topics
Ecology and Management of Ecosystems
Ecology and Analysis of Communities and Landscapes
Environmental Technology and Analysis
3-5 additional elective credits
Total Credits31-37

Environmental Policy and Administration

Students who select the Environmental Policy and Administration emphasis may study the characteristics and operation of government institutions; organizational policy, design and evaluation; and substantive policies in regulation, environmental protection, science and technology, and energy and natural resources. Courses emphasize environmental problem analysis and planning, policy analysis and formulation, environmental law and implementation, program evaluation, statistical analysis and the application of social science research methods to environmental issues. Studies benefit from interaction with the Center for Public Affairs and the Cofrin Center for Biodiversity.

The Environmental Policy and Administration area of emphasis prepares students to:

  • identify and analyze policy-relevant problems of major importance;
  • collect, assess, and interpret policy-relevant data;
  • design, evaluate, and implement strategies and programs for addressing such problems; and
  • effectively communicate the results of policy analyses and evaluations to diverse audiences, including environmental scientists, policy makers, and the general public.

Graduates typically enter governmental agencies at the national, state or local level, or nonprofit organizations, where their work involves policy analysis, planning, or administration. Some prefer positions in legislative bodies, environmental organizations, or industry where administrative or analytical work is combined with politics, public relations, education or advocacy.

Emphasis Prerequisites

Students who pursue Environmental Policy and Administration come from a variety of undergraduate backgrounds such as economics, engineering, environmental planning, environmental policy, political science, public administration, sociology, or more traditional science disciplines. The appropriate undergraduate course preparation is dictated by the prerequisites for the courses to be included in a program of study and the thesis topic area. It would normally be expected that students would have the equivalent of one year of undergraduate course work in political science, public administration, or economics.

General Core Requirements9
Perspectives in Environmental Science and Policy
Choose one of the following repeatable courses (2 credits)
Stable Isotopes in the Environment
Seminar in Ecology and Evolution
Special Topics
Environmental Science
Ecology and Management of Ecosystems
Environmental Technology and Analysis
Public Policy
Environmental Economics and Sustainability
Freshwater and Marine Policy & Law
Wildlife Law and Policy
Environmental Policy and Administration
Required Courses - complete 6 credits:6
Environmental Economics and Sustainability
Environmental Policy and Administration
Administrative Organizations and Processes - complete 3 credits:3
Environmental Law
Natural Resource Policy, Law, and Administration
Intergovernmental Relations
Administrative Law
Public Policy - choose 3 credits:3
Environmental Economics and Sustainability
Water Resources Policy and Management
Natural Resource Policy, Law, and Administration
Congress: Politics and Policy
Environmental Law
Global Environmental Politics and Policy
Regulatory Policy and Administration
Environmental Planning
Additional Courses4
Select any combination from the courses listed here or above.
Research Methods:
Environmental Data Analysis
Design of Experiments
Environmental Science
Hazardous and Toxic Materials
Ecology and Management of Ecosystems
Ecology and Analysis of Communities and Landscapes
Environmental Technology and Analysis
Environmental Fate and Transport
Pollution Control
Pollution Prevention
Resource Management Strategy
Ground Water: Resources and Regulations
Environmental Planning and Geographic Information Systems:
Advanced Geographic Information Systems
Seminar and Special Topics:
Seminar in Ecology and Evolution
Special Topics
Completion Track (Thesis, Internship, or 12 additional elective credits):6-12
Thesis: (6 credits)
Thesis
Internship: (9 credits)
Capstone in Environmental Science and Policy
and Internship
Course Based: (12 credits)
Capstone in Environmental Science and Policy
Seminar in Ecology and Evolution
Special Topics
Ecology and Management of Ecosystems
Ecology and Analysis of Communities and Landscapes
Environmental Technology and Analysis
3-5 additional elective credits
Total Credits31-37

Environmental Technology and Analysis 

Students who select the Environmental Technology and Analysis emphasis may study concepts of: environmental modeling and remediation; municipal, industrial, and agricultural waste transformation, utilization and disposal; alternative energy systems and energy efficiency; or chemical, biological and geological aspects of ground or surface water systems. Students may be involved with evaluating alternative technologies and strategies for effective planning and policy implementation for the future. Principles and techniques of quantitative and qualitative analysis are applied to problems of supply, distribution, and utilization of natural resources and to the optimization of treatment and management costs in the context of public agencies, consulting firms and industries.

The Environmental Technology and Analysis area of emphasis prepares students to:

  • design and conduct scientific investigations;
  • collect, evaluate, and interpret data;
  • make responsible decisions to implement appropriate technologies and strategies to solve environmental problems; and
  • effectively communicate the results of environmental studies to other scientists, decision makers and the general public.

Graduates typically work as scientists, environmental specialists, or project managers with industry, commercial laboratories, engineering firms, or government agencies, where their work involves analysis, research, consulting, compliance, or enforcement.

General Core Requirements9
Perspectives in Environmental Science and Policy
Choose one of the following repeatable courses (2 credits)
Stable Isotopes in the Environment
Seminar in Ecology and Evolution
Special Topics
Environmental Science
Ecology and Management of Ecosystems
Environmental Technology and Analysis
Public Policy
Environmental Economics and Sustainability
Freshwater and Marine Policy & Law
Wildlife Law and Policy
Environmental Policy and Administration
Required Quantitative Course:4
Environmental Data Analysis
Additional Courses - 12 credits12
Choose any combination of the following courses listed below:
Chemistry
Thermodynamics and Kinetics
Therymodynamics and Kinetics Laboratory
Biochemistry
Biochemistry Laboratory
Advanced Organic Chemistry
Advanced Organic Chemistry Laboratory
Instrumental Analysis
Environmental Science:
Environmental Microbiology
Environmental Fate and Transport
Pollution Control
The Soil Environment
Pollution Prevention
Hydrology
Water and Waste Water Treatment
Solar and Alternate Energy Systems
Resource Management Strategy
Ground Water: Resources and Regulations
Atmospheric Pollution and Abatement
Hazardous and Toxic Materials
Ecology and Management of Ecosystems
Environmental Technology and Analysis
Geoscience Field Trip
Hydrogeology
Glacial Geology & Landscapes
Environmental Policy and Planning:
Environmental Economics and Sustainability
Environmental Policy and Administration
Water Resources Policy and Management
Natural Resource Policy, Law, and Administration
Environmental Law
Global Environmental Politics and Policy
Math and Statistics
Applied Regression Analysis
Design of Experiments
Seminar and Special Topics:
Seminar in Ecology and Evolution
Special Topics
Stable Isotopes in the Environment
Completion Track (Thesis, Internship, or 12 additional elective credits):6-12
Thesis: (6 credits)
Thesis
Internship: (9 credits)
Capstone in Environmental Science and Policy
and Internship
Course Based: (12 credits)
Capstone in Environmental Science and Policy
Seminar in Ecology and Evolution
Special Topics
Ecology and Management of Ecosystems
Ecology and Analysis of Communities and Landscapes
Environmental Technology and Analysis
3-5 additional elective credits
Total Credits31-37

Personal Program of Study 

Personal programs of study must conform to Environmental Science and Policy program guidelines and be approved in advance  by the student’s graduate committee, the Environmental Science and Policy program chair, and the Associate Vice Chancellor for Graduate Studies and Research. These programs must include the entire 18-credit program core requirements, at least one quantitative course ENV S&P 755 and include a minimum of 34 total credits.

It is possible, even necessary depending on area requirements, that students will include one or two four-credit statistics courses in their academic program. In those cases, only seven credits would be needed in one semester which could be satisfied by ENV S&P 715 or ENV S&P 795, or an independent study or internship. If a regular course is selected, the academic program would include a total of 36 credits.

General Core Requirements9
Perspectives in Environmental Science and Policy
Choose one of the following repeatable courses (2 credits)
Stable Isotopes in the Environment
Seminar in Ecology and Evolution
Special Topics
Environmental Science
Ecology and Management of Ecosystems
Environmental Technology and Analysis
Public Policy
Environmental Economics and Sustainability
Freshwater and Marine Policy & Law
Wildlife Law and Policy
Environmental Policy and Administration
Required:3
Environmental Data Analysis
Pre-approved individual courses: 113
Personal programs of study must conform to Environmental Science and Policy program guidelines and be approved in advance by the student’s graduate committee, the Environmental Science and Policy program chair, and the Associate Vice Chancellor for Graduate Studies and Research.
Completion Track (Thesis, Internship, or 12 additional elective credits):6-12
Thesis: (6 credits)
Thesis
Internship: (9 credits)
Capstone in Environmental Science and Policy
and Internship
Course Based: (12 credits)
Capstone in Environmental Science and Policy
Seminar in Ecology and Evolution
Special Topics
Ecology and Management of Ecosystems
Ecology and Analysis of Communities and Landscapes
Environmental Technology and Analysis
3-5 additional elective credits
Total Credits31-37
1

 If ENV S&P 755 is completed, only 12 additional credits of pre-approved coursework is required.