This is an archived copy of the 2020-2021 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.uwgb.edu.

Environmental Policy and Planning

https://www.uwgb.edu/environmental-policy-planning/

(Bachelor of Science)

Environmental Policy and Planning is an environmental studies program based in the social sciences. It is designed to prepare students for a variety of challenging professions involving the planning, analysis, design, and administration of policies and programs dealing with the natural and human-made environment. Students who major in Environmental Policy and Planning consider environmental challenges through the lens of law, politics, and economics. The program provides students with a solid background in environmental policy, environmental law, environmental planning, environmental design, and an introduction to sustainable development and community-based environmental protection. It also prepares students for graduate work in environmental studies, public policy, public administration, law, community planning, and related fields.

Environmental Policy and Planning majors engage in both theoretical and applied study in their courses, and have flexibility to choose from different emphases. Students may serve as interns in planning agencies in local governments, work in teams with a professor to conduct community planning and design, work with environmental organizations, or develop programs for sustainable communities. The three program emphases from which majors can choose are public policy, environmental planning (managing resources in the natural environment), and environmental design (creating the built environment).

The major in Environmental Policy and Planning consists of two sets of requirements: 1) required supporting and analytical courses and 2) upper-level courses within an area of emphasis. Students should discuss these Emphases with their program advisor when establishing an academic plan.

The public policy emphasis focuses on environmental policy development and implementation; methods of policy analysis; and political, administrative, legal, and economic issues in environmental policy. It provides students with a strong background in the public policy and administrative aspects of environmental studies. This emphasis prepares students for employment in the public, nonprofit, and private market sectors as environmental policy analysts, specialists in public information, environmental management, government relations, and related careers, as well as for graduate work in environmental studies, public policy, public affairs, administration, and law.

The environmental planning emphasis focuses on sustainable and resilient land use and planning methods for human settlements and our surrounding environments in an era of climate change and resource scarcity. This emphasis teaches you skills in management of land and natural resources, techniques in geographic information systems, and how to adapt to the accelerating human influences on our environment. Students interested in learning skills in designing and planning community redevelopment; protection and management of farmland, forests, air, waters, flora and fauna at the community and regional levels; and developing comprehensive environmental impact studies may want to select this emphasis. It helps prepare students for careers and graduate work in environmental planning, community and regional planning, community-based environmental management, geography, and related fields.

The regional planning and environmental design emphasis focuses on creative problem-solving techniques in defining, analyzing, and solving problems in the built environment at human scale.  Emphasizes basic graphic and verbal presentation techniques and relationships between form, the natural environment, people and function.  Students interested in developing skills in the planning and urban design at the community and regional levels may want to select this emphasis. It helps prepare students for careers and graduate work in architecture, environmental planning, urban and regional planning, and community-based non-profit organizations that work in community development, geography, and related fields

A minor in Environmental Policy and Planning is similar to the major in developing knowledge and skills in planning, decision-making, public policy, environmental design, political and economic processes, as well as the analytic capacities to participate in decision-making. An interdisciplinary minor in Environmental Policy and Planning is a good choice for students who wish to major in Environmental Science, Public Administration, Political Science, Economics, Urban Studies, Democracy and Justice Studies, or a number of other programs.

Considering a Double Major or Certificate?

Some students may want to consider a double major, combining Environmental Policy and Planning with Public Administration. Other popular second majors include Political Science, Urban Studies, and Economics. A double major or a minor in one of these fields complements the Environmental Policy and Planning curriculum, and makes students stronger candidates when seeking careers or entry into graduate programs. 

A certificate in Environmental Sustainability and Business fits well with a major or minor in Environmental Policy and Planning. Likewise, students interested in working in an non-governmental or non-profit organization might explore the certificate in Nonprofit Management.  Students should contact a faculty adviser early in their academic careers for advice on these options.

Students may study abroad or at other campuses in the United States through UW-Green Bay’s participation in international exchange programs and National Student Exchange. Travel courses are another option for obtaining academic credits and completing requirements. For more information, contact the Office of International Education at (920) 465-2190 or see http://www.uwgb.edu/international/.

Major Area of Emphasis

Students must complete requirements in one of the following areas of emphasis:

  • Regional Planning & Environmental Design
  • Environmental Planning
  • Environmental Policy
    • Environmental Policy (Accelerated) / Integrated with graduate Environmental Science & Policy program

Minor

Supporting Courses11
Required:
Environment and Society
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Choose two of the following courses:
Micro Economic Analysis
Introduction to Public Policy
Introduction to Public Administration
Upper-Level Courses14-15
Complete these required courses:
Environmental Politics and Policy
Environmental Planning
Complete three of the following courses:
Natural Resources Economic Policy
Regulatory Policy and Administration
Sustainable Land Use
Transitioning to Sustainable Communities
GIS in Public and Environmental Policy
Water Resources Policy and Management
Environmental Law
Natural Resources Policy, Law, and Administration
Public Policy Analysis
Building Sustainable Landscapes
Internship
Total Credits25-26

Curriculum Guide

An academic plan for a major in Public Administration may vary, depending upon student interests, needs, and specialization within the major. The courses listed below, and the sequence in which they are listed, represent the faculty's recommendation for the general array of courses taken by all students in the program. Of particular importance is that lower-level prerequisites be completed before enrollment in upper-level courses. Students should pay particular attention to those required courses included in their academic plans that are offered only in alternate years.

As part of the general education requirements of the University, all majors will be completing 36 to 42 credits of work, including 9 credits or 3 courses each in the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences, 3 credits in Other Cultures, 3 credits of Ethnic Studies and 4 courses certified for the Writing Emphasis requirement. Some of these requirements are satisfied by courses taken as part of the major. Beyond these, we encourage Public Administration majors to discuss their preferences for general education courses, as well as other electives, with the PEA faculty. In general, we recommend that students become thoroughly acquainted with the major ideas, findings, and methods of inquiry in each domain of knowledge. We especially encourage majors to take introductory courses in the social sciences beyond those required as lower-level prerequisites (e.g., in sociology, psychology, and political science).

An example: Four year plan for Environmental Policy and Planning Major
120 credits necessary to graduate.
Plan is a representation and categories of classes can be switched. Check with your advisor.

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
FallCredits
ENV SCI 102 Introduction to Environmental Sciences 3
POL SCI 101 American Government and Politics 3
First Year Seminar 3
General Ed 3
General Ed 3
 Credits15
Spring
PU EN AF 202 Introduction to Public Policy 3
Science Lower Level Elective 3
General Ed 3
General Ed 3
General Ed 3
 Credits15
Sophomore
Fall
ECON 203 Micro Economic Analysis 3
Science Lower Level Elective 3
Science Lower Level Elective 3
General Ed 3
General Ed 3
 Credits15
Spring
BUS ADM 220
Business Statistics
or Introductory Statistics
or Social Science Statistics
3-4
Science Lower Level Elective 3
General Ed 3
General Ed 3
General Ed 3
 Credits15-16
Junior
Fall
PU EN AF 378 Environmental Law 3
PU EN AF 350
GIS in Public and Environmental Policy
or Public Policy Analysis
2-3
Environmental Science Upper Level Elective 3
Environmental Policy and Planning Upper Level Elective 3
General Ed 3
 Credits14-15
Spring
PU EN AF 301 Environmental Politics and Policy 3
PU EN AF 322 Environmental Planning 3
Environmental Science Upper Level Elective 3
Environmental Policy and Planning Upper Level Elective 3
General Ed 3
 Credits15
Senior
Fall
PU EN AF 497 Internship (or Applied Learning) 3
Environmental Policy and Planning Upper Level Elective 3
Environmental Policy and Planning Upper Level Elective 3
General Ed 3
General Ed 3
 Credits15
Spring
PU EN AF 497 Internship (or Applied Learning) 3
Environmental Policy and Planning Upper Level Elective 3
Environmental Policy and Planning Upper Level Elective 3
General Ed 3
General Ed 3
 Credits15
 Total Credits119-121

Faculty

Ray Hutchison; Professor; Ph.D., University of Chicago

John R Stoll; Professor; Ph.D., University of Kentucky, chair*

Aaron C Weinschenk; Professor; Ph.D., University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee*

Marcelo P Cruz; Associate Professor; Ph.D., University of California - Los Angeles

David J Helpap; Associate Professor; Ph.D., University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee*

Thomas S Nesslein; Associate Professor; Ph.D., University of Washington - Seattle

Laurel E Phoenix; Associate Professor; Ph.D., State University of New York - College of Environmental Science and Forestry*

Lora H Warner; Associate Professor; Ph.D., Virginia Commonwealth University

Elizabeth E Wheat; Associate Professor; Ph.D., Western Michigan University*