Environmental Policy and Administration Emphasis
Master of Science in Environmental Science and Policy
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.
Environmental Policy and Administration (16-18 credits minimum)
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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses - complete 6 credits: | 9 | |
| Environmental & Natural Resource Economics | ||
| Environmental Policy and Administration | ||
| Social Research Methods | ||
| Administrative Organizations and Processes - complete 3 credits: | 3 | |
| Organizational Theory and Behavior | ||
| Intergovernmental Relations | ||
| Administrative Law | ||
| Environmental Law | ||
| Natural Resource Policy, Law, and Administration | ||
| Public and Nonprofit Budgeting | ||
| Public Policy - choose 3 credits: | 3 | |
| Economics of Sustainability | ||
| Environmental & Natural Resource Economics | ||
| Congress: Politics and Policy | ||
| Regulatory Policy and Administration | ||
| Environmental Planning | ||
| Water Resources Policy and Management | ||
| Environmental Law | ||
| Natural Resource Policy, Law, and Administration | ||
| Global Environmental Politics and Policy | ||
| Public Policy Analysis | ||
| Additional Courses | 3 | |
Select any combination from the courses listed here or above. | ||
Research Methods: | ||
| Environmental Data Analysis | ||
| Design of Experiments | ||
| Cost Benefit Analysis | ||
Environmental Science | ||
| Hazardous and Toxic Materials | ||
| Ecology and Management of Ecosystems | ||
| Landscape Ecology | ||
| Environmental Technology and Analysis | ||
| Environmental Systems | ||
| 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 | ||
| Internship or Thesis Option: | 6-9 | |
| Capstone in Environmental Science and Policy and Internship | ||
or ENV S&P 799 | Thesis | |
| Total Credits | 24-27 | |
