WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND MANAGEMENT?

The Environmental Policy and Management (EPM) major represents social sciences applied to addressing environmental and natural resource problems. This major draws on a variety of social science disciplines and fields, including public administration, decision making, planning, communication, risk management, economics, policy, and law. The EPM major focuses on the development and maintenance of long-term natural resource use and environmental quality in the face of increasing human demands on resources and the environment. This interdisciplinary major addresses interactions of the public and private sectors in making resource management decisions, stressing policy formulation, implementation, and impact assessment. Students must select at least one complementary intermediate level course in political science, psychology, or sociology. The major also requires students to gain depth in one of the School’s emphasized natural resource fields, either soils, water, forests, or wildlife.

Students may select one of the following specialized career tracks:

Environmental Consulting
The Environmental Consulting career track prepares students to work in the consulting industry as authorities on statutes, regulations, and procedures relevant to natural resources remediation and rehabilitation. Students will learn to work as engineers, scientists and politicians to manage and direct projects.

Environmental Health and Safety
The Environmental Health and Safety career track is for students with interest in the environmental and public health arena. Students will take specialization courses related to environmental and medical health environmental safety, city and regional planning, environmental compliance enforcement, hazardous waste policy management, soil and water policy management, and food and environmental security.

Resource Management Agencies
The Resource Management Agencies career track is for students who are interested in working for a local, state or federal agency. Students will enroll in a variety of courses that will prepare them for understanding environmental management in an agency context. Also, students will formulate a basic understanding of the functions and processes of public affairs as well as the collaborative efforts of the government and shareholders.

Non-Profit Sector
The Non-Profit Sector career track prepares students to work with non-profit and non-government organizations. Courses will include business administration, professional writing, as well as many environmental management based classes. Students interested in this area should be familiar with grassroots activism as well as public service. An internship and practicum is recommended for this career track.

Graduate School Preparation
The Graduate School Preparation track will prepare students who are interested in obtaining a higher education degree in a natural science field. Students will be required to take upper level undergraduate and some graduate level coursework. Also, students will have the opportunity to selects courses that further their academic interests, have opportunities to participate in undergraduate research, and have increased exposure to scientific journals.

Law School Preparation
The Law School Preparation career track is for students who are planning to pursue a professional law degree in environmental or natural resources law. The coursework in this career track will focus on environmental legislation as well as scholarly writing and policy analysis. Students will take courses that emphasize policy formation, historical context and future implications.

Curriculum Guide