Program Overview

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Environmental Policy, BA

Introduction

Graduates with an environmental policy major will have completed coursework that studies the intersection of humans and resource/environmental use. Students also learn the intricacies of policies toward environmental/resource sustainability, and how the policies impact individuals and communities.

Why Consider an Environmental Policy Major?

Do you want to make a difference in protecting the environment and the public good, as well as diversify access to resources for everyone? WWU’s College of the Environments BA degree in Environmental Policy trains students in the policies and practices that make that happen. The program focuses on resource sustainability and environmental resilience, while at the same time querying positionalities and cultural-economic lenses around resource access in diverse populations and landscapes. Over 200 students have received this BA degree, many of whom have attained professional careers in policy management, program implementation, and action planning for positive environmental change.

The program focuses on problem solving and implementing shared visions to effect laws and policies that monitor and manage critical environmental problems, such as climate change, polluted landscapes, and food insecurity. Such laws and policies protect diverse, culturally appropriate, health-driven, and economically viable landscapes - in the United States and throughout the world. We are proud to offer this degree to our students and to continue our programs strong community partnerships worldwide, in which students apply their learning to assist communities in organizing for sustainable futures.

About the Program

This major supports students in exploring how stakeholders regulate pollution and manage natural resources to counter environmental disturbances and protect natural spaces. It emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach to solving urban problems that face communities.

With sustainability and climate change on the forefront of humanity’s greatest social and ethical problem, students studying environmental policy will acquire knowledge on “how” government works, and how to be most effective in addressing global issues.

The program prepares students with the knowledge and skills needed to make positive changes towards a socially and environmentally just world. Graduates are prepared for professional careers in policy agencies, consulting firms, and nonprofit organizations at the local, state, and federal levels of government, as well as for advanced graduate study.

Student Resources

• Department website: Urban and Environmental Planning and Policy
• Department advising: Visit the Urban Sustainability webpage for more information.
• Degree Works: Current students should also log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.
• Career Services Center: Connect major to a career
• Sample Careers:
  • Environmental Consultant
  • Natural Resources Manager
  • Environmental Attorney
  • City Administrator
  • Resource Manager Many graduates go on to work in environmental agencies at the federal, tribal, state, and local levels. Graduates also work in the non-profit sector, or go on to graduate studies in public administration, law, policy, or related fields.

How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process):

How to Apply as a Pre-Major:

At any time, you can declare yourself as a UEPP pre-major with interest in Environmental Policy in the College of the Environment advising office. There are several advantages to declaring as a pre-major during your first or second year. Once you are declared as a pre-major you are assigned a professional college advisor and a faculty advisor based on your academic interests. Your professional advisor can help you understand graduation requirements and how to navigate through the curriculum. Your faculty advisor guides you in which courses to take, and when, and gives you advice about internships and how to prepare for graduate school or a future career. As a pre-major, you are added to an email distribution list for College of the Environment majors to begin receiving event notifications, general announcements, internship opportunities, and job postings. The pre-major status also gives you access to priority registration for some classes.

How to Apply to the Major:

Before applying to the major, students should complete Environmental Policy Foundation courses:

• ECON 206 or ECON 207
• ESCI 225
• MATH 112 or above (or equivalent math placement score)
• PLSC 250
• UEPP 261 Students are welcome to contact the department for assistance.

Applications are accepted during fall, winter, and spring quarters and must be received by 5 p.m. on October 6 (for winter quarter admission), January 15 (for spring quarter admission), or April 18 (for summer or fall quarter admission). If the deadline falls on a weekend, applications are due the following Monday.

Grade Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required for a student’s major or minor courses, and supporting courses for majors and minors.

Requirements (70-72 credits)

Environmental Policy Foundation Courses (28 credits)

• UEPP 261 - Planning the American City Credits: 3
• 3 credits from:
  • UEPP 110 - Ecogastronomy: The Science and Sustainability of Food Credits: 2
  • and UEPP 111 - Ecogastronomy Discussion Credits: 1
  • or UEPP 202 - Introduction to Sustainability and Society Credits: 3
  • or UEPP 270 - Cities, Nature and Society Credits: 3
• MATH 112 - Functions and Algebraic Methods Credits: 5
• One course from:
  • HNRS 206 - Colloquium in Political Science Credits: 5
  • PLSC 250 - The American Political System Credits: 5
• One course from:
  • ECON 206 - Introduction to Microeconomics Credits: 4
  • ECON 207 - Introduction to Macroeconomics Credits: 4
• One course from:
  • ESCI 204 - The Oceans: Topics in Marine Science Credits: 4
  • ESCI 225 - Beginning Ecology Credits: 4
• One course from:
  • ENVS 203 - Physical Geography Credits: 4
  • GEOL 101 - Introduction to Geology Credits: 4
  • GEOL 110 - Natural Hazards and Disasters Credits: 4

Environmental Policy in Depth Courses (38-40 credits)

• UEPP 302 - Environmental Research and Public Communication Credits: 4
• UEPP 314 - Food security, policy, and practica: Special topics Credits: 2
• UEPP 350 - Energy Policy and Politics Credits: 4
• or ENRG 350 - Energy Policy and Politics Credits: 4
• UEPP 355 - Environmental Law and Policy Credits: 4
• UEPP 451 - Natural Resource Policy Credits: 4
• UEPP 454 - Environmental Policy Analysis Credits: 4
• UEPP 457 - Environmental Dispute Resolution Credits: 4
• Take three courses for a minimum of 12 credits from the following:
  • ECON 383 - Environmental Economics Credits: 4
  • ECON 384 - Energy Economics Credits: 4
  • or ENRG 384 - Energy Economics Credits: 4
  • ENRG 344 - Community Solutions to Climate Change Credits: 4
  • or ENVS 344 - Community Solutions to Climate Change Credits: 4
  • ENRG 352 - Climate Governance and Political Economy Credits: 4
  • or ENVS 352 - Climate Governance and Political Economy Credits: 4
  • ENVS 372 - Natural Hazards Planning Credits: 5
  • ESCI 404 - Indigenous Resource Management in the Salish Sea Credits: 5
  • UEPP 343 - Urbanization: Processes and Patterns Credits: 4
  • UEPP 359 - Business and Sustainability Principles and Practice Credits: 4
  • or MGMT 359 - Business and Sustainability Principles and Practice Credits: 4
  • UEPP 375 - Indigenous Placemaking: Decolonizing Space and Place Credits: 4
  • or C/AM 375 - Indigenous Placemaking: Decolonizing Space and Place Credits: 4
  • UEPP 411 - Agroecology and Resilient Communities Practicum Credits: 4
  • UEPP 415 - Planning Studio: Food Security and Resilient Communities Credits: 3
  • UEPP 440 - Public and Stakeholder Engagement in Energy, Climate, and Environmental Policymaking Credits: 4
  • or ENRG 440 - Public and Stakeholder Engagement in Energy, Climate, and Environmental Policymaking Credits: 4
  • UEPP 443 - Social Justice and the City Credits: 4
  • UEPP 463 - Native American Planning and Natural Resources Policy Credits: 3
  • UEPP 471 - Sustainability: Studio Credits: 3
  • or SUST 471 - Sustainability: Studio Credits: 3

Environmental Policy Experiential Courses (minimum 4 credits)

• One course from:
  • UEPP 437 - Faculty-Led Study Abroad Credits: 1-15
  • or ENVS 437 - Faculty-Led Study Abroad Credits: 1-15
  • UEPP 498A - Senior Thesis Credits: 1-15
  • UEPP 498B - Internship Credits: 1-15
  • UEPP 498C - Senior Project Credits: 1-15
  • UEPP 498D - International Study Credits: 1-15
  • Note: If approved by faculty advisor, any ENVS, ESCI, or UEPP capstone course with a CPST attribute can be applied towards the experiential requirement.

University Graduation Requirements

• General University Requirements
• Writing Proficiency Requirement (WP)
• 180 Minimum Total Credits
• 60 Minimum Upper Division Credits
• Residency Requirement
• Minimum Grade Requirements
• Final Quarter Requirement