Environmental Policy & Planning (EPP)

Courses

EPP 102. Environment and Society. 3 Credits.

Complex, energy-intensive societies are facing multiple challenges due to finite resources. This course examines the relationship between humans and the biophysical environment at local, national, and global levels. Emphasis is given to the impact of personal attitudes, cultural beliefs, economics, politics, technology and available resources on environmental problems and solutions. We use systems analysis to highlight how our biophysical environment conditions our human endeavors, and how we need to create resilient social systems to achieve a sustainable society.
Fall and Spring.

EPP 103. Environment and Society Lab. 1 Credit.

A natural science course describing the human alteration of the physical environment with the resulting effects on air, water, soils, vegetation, animal life, & humans. Field trip(s) may be required. Meets DPI requirements for environmental education at some UW baccalaureate institutions.
Spring.

EPP 152. Introduction to Graphic Display and Planning. 3 Credits.

This course introduces students to understand large information conveyed in graphics and to develop skills to create graphic design for the purpose of displaying, use and conveying/projecting accurate graphics. the course will give students the basic tools to successfully convey accurate messaging and vision.
Fall Only.

EPP 198. First Year Seminar. 3 Credits.

First Year Seminar, topics vary.
Reserved for New Incoming Freshman.

EPP 254. Introduction to Designing with Communities and Neighborhoods. 3 Credits.

The main objective of the course is to introduce students to the fundamentals of urban design and allow students to engage with and critically assess design elements that create places that foster community identity and place making. The course addresses the vexing problems in residential, commercial, office, recreational and public areas in small cities.
Fall Only.

EPP 323. Sustainable Land Use. 3 Credits.

How do we develop walkable, equitable communities and sustainable land use plans for urban and rural areas? This course uses a systems perspectives analysis of land use control methods, legal foundations, social implications, environmental impacts, financial influences, civil and property rights, cumulative impacts, and more. Land use is an increasingly contested topic due to external financial interests, growth pressures, shifting populations, and conditions placed on personal or property rights. Sustainable land use planning requires understanding the interplay between humans and the landscapes we live in or draw from and the constraints or opportunities we work with to fashion more sustainable land use at the local, regional, and national level.
P: None. REC: PU EN AF 202 or ENV SCI 102
Fall Even.

EPP 324. Transitioning to Sustainable Communities. 3 Credits.

Rising energy costs and climate change mean that we need resilient communities based on localizing inputs/outputs to support health, jobs, housing, transportation, schools, agriculture and city services. We emphasize the many facets of human settlements and the increasingly limited biophysical resources we depend on to structure our social, economic, and environmental systems, and how to make them self-sustaining, energy-efficient, and reliant on local control for job creation, wealth creation, food production and other land use issues. Systems analysis allows us new perspective of the complexities surrounding these interconnected problems. Applying innovative strategies in every sector of daily life will make communities more resilient as they face higher energy costs and climate variability.
P: None. REC: PU EN AF 202 or ENV SCI 102
Fall and Spring.

EPP 350. Transportation and the City. 3 Credits.

The impact of the transportation subsystem of the city upon other urban subsystems (residential, commercial) and upon urban dwellers.
P: jr st; and POL SCI 101 or PUB ADM 202 or SOCIOL 100
Fall Odd.

EPP 351. Water Resources Policy and Management. 3 Credits.

The world faces unprecedented challenges as vital water is used and abused, mismanaged and wasted. This course is a comprehensive analysis of the current state of water issues and future implications, introducing basics of water management and planning. Topics covered are: basic hydrological cycle, human impacts on the hydrologic cycle, water pollution, flood and drought, mining of aquifers, water conflicts, state water laws, historical municipal and irrigation development, dams and pipelines, water and wastewater treatment (and related laws), effects of land use, effects of climate change, FOOD-ENERGY-WATER nexus, economics of water, and contemporary strategies to improve water use and quality. Focus is mostly national, with many local and global examples.
Spring.

EPP 379. Natural Resources Policy, Law, and Administration. 3 Credits.

This course examines public land and resources policy, law and administration from multiple perspectives. It covers environmental and administrative decision making and various contemporary resource management problems and conflicts.
P: POL SCI 101 or Pu En Af 202
Spring Even.

EPP 390. Colloquium in Environmental Sustainability & Business. 1 Credit.

Required component of the Certificate in Sustainability and the Sustainability Minor. Focus is placed be upon the nature of systems thinking systems dynamics, and problem solving. Will address systems dynamics in natural world policy creation, human creativity and the arts, and business decision making. Latter half of class is applications focused. Course is non-repeatable for credit; course may be taken for 1 credit which is offered in the first 5 weeks of the semester to satisfy the 1 credit component of the Certificate of Sustainability and to satisfy the first of 3 required Colloquium credits taken for the Sustainability Minor.
EMBI certificate enrollment or sustainability minor enrollment
Fall and Spring.

EPP 391. Colloquium in Environmental Sustainability & Business II. 2 Credits.

Required component of the Sustainability Minor. Focus is placed be upon the nature of systems thinking systems dynamics, and problem solving. Will address systems dynamics in natural world policy creation, human creativity and the arts, and business decision making. Course is non-repeatable for credit; course must be taken for 2 credits which are offered in the last 9 weeks of the semester to satisfy the remaining 2 required Colloquium credits needed for the Sustainability Minor.
P: EPP 390
Fall and Spring.

EPP 412. Urban Planning. 3 Credits.

Examines current trends in Planning theory, focusing on City Planning, Urban Design, and Regional Planning.
P: jr st REC: POL SCI 101.
Fall Only.

EPP 431. Building Sustainable Landscapes. 3 Credits.

This course covers the principles, materials, and methods you need to know for building a wide variety of outdoor sustainable projects to create resilient environments. Topics cover remediating brownfields, healing injured soils, stabilizing slopes, using living materials, collecting and reusing water, raingardens and swales, porous pavements, materials origin and fate, embodied energy and maintenance energy costs, native plants and permaculture designs, urban agriculture and wildlife corridors, using light and darkness to your advantage, reducing noise, sustainable inputs to landscape maintenance, certification or other ways of measuring sustainable outcomes, pre-construction considerations, and more. Students will apply these concepts in a small demonstration project. No previous construction experience required.
Fall Odd.

EPP 452. Planning Theory and Methods. 3 Credits.

Planning for public and not-for-profit agencies: theory and practical significance of planning; the political and administrative setting of planning operations; and methods of planning analysis such as strategic planning.
P: BUS ADM 220 or PSYCH 205 or MATH 260
Fall Even.

EPP 461. Special Topics in Urban and Regional Studies. 3 Credits.

A multi-disciplinary investigation into a special topic within urban and regional studies. Includes topics such as education, employment, housing and transportation, and urban and regional policy. Course is repeatable for credit if topics differ. May be taken 2 times for a total of 6 earned credits.
P: written cons of inst.

EPP 478. Honors in the Major. 3 Credits.

Honors in the Major is designed to recognize student excellence within interdisciplinary and disciplinary academic programs.
P: min 3.50 all cses req for major and min gpa 3.75 all UL cses req for major.
Fall and Spring.

EPP 490. EMBI Co-Op/Experience. 3 Credits.

Required component of the Certificate in Environmental Sustainability and Business. Enrolled students will be placed by EMBI in a business, nonprofit, or governmental setting that involves interdisciplinary problem solving within an environmental sustainability context. This will be a special co-op/internship/project experience. Course is repeatable for credit; may be taken 2 times for a total of 6 credits.
P: Enrollment in Environmental Sustainability and Business certificate program.
Fall and Spring.

EPP 495. Teaching Assistantship. 1-6 Credits.

The student and supervising teacher must prepare a statement that identifies the course with which the assistantship will happen, objectives for the assistantship, and expectations in order to fulfill the course objectives. Students are not eligible to receive credit in both the course they assist the instructor with and the teaching assistantship in the same semester. Typically student has previously taken the course prior to enrollment in the assistantship. Course is repeatable for credit.
Fall and Spring.

EPP 496. Project/Research Assistantship. 1-6 Credits.

The student must prepare a research proposal, and both parties should identify the research arrangement and how the student will complete the work to fulfill the course objectives within the assigned term.

EPP 497. Internship. 1-12 Credits.

Supervised practical experience in an organization or activity appropriate to a student's career and educational interests. Internships are supervised by faculty members and require periodic student/faculty meetings. Course is repeatable for credit.
P: jr st.
Fall and Spring.

EPP 498. Independent Study. 1-4 Credits.

Independent study is offered on an individual basis at the student's request and consists of a program of learning activities planned in consultation with a faculty member. A student wishing to study or conduct research in an area not represented in available scheduled courses should develop a preliminary proposal and seek the sponsorship of a faculty member. The student's advisor can direct him or her to instructors with appropriate interests. A written report or equivalent is required for evaluation, and a short title describing the program must be sent early inthe semester to the registrar for entry on the student's transcript.
P: fr or so st with cum gpa > or = 2.50; or jr or sr st with cum gpa > or = 2.00.
Fall and Spring.

EPP 499. Travel Course. 1-6 Credits.

Travel courses are conducted to various parts of the world and are led by one or more faculty members. May be repeated to different locations.
P: cons of instr & prior trip arr & financial deposit.