Program Overview

Environmental Studies — Policy, Politics, and Governance Concentration

The Environmental Studies – Environmental Policy, Politics, and Governance concentration is a future-oriented degree that trains students to understand environmental policies, political disagreements surrounding them, and what to do about these contentions. It teaches students to identify mutually-acceptable solutions that respect nature and help society achieve its goals.

Students will become familiar with how policies and politics change over time and how to effectively enact future change. Students will learn about regulatory processes, grassroots activism, collaborative governance, and market-based strategies for change. Coursework will emphasize how these processes can be used to promote environmental and climate justice.

With an Environmental Policy, Politics, and Governance concentration, students can make a difference working at non-profits, in the private sector, as a consultant, or in the government. In all these sectors, graduates are empowered with ethical frameworks, skills, and insights to work towards a more just and sustainable world. Students go on to work in natural resource management, environmental justice, conflict resolution, and related fields. Graduates are employed by government agencies at all levels, by nonprofit organizations, and by private sector companies. Other graduates go on to further study in environmental law, public policy and administration, and related fields.

Sample Careers

• Environmental consultant
• Environmental analyst
• Environmental and/or justice advocate
• Environmental communications specialist
• Emergency manager
• Students go on to establish careers with non-profit organizations; federal, tribal, and state agencies, such as Forest Service, NOAA, EPA, DNR, and Ecology; and with local municipalities.
• Additionally, graduates can pursue careers in international non-governmental organizations in the areas of humanitarian aid and international development.
• This concentration prepares students also for graduate work in social sciences, science and technology studies/policy, political ecology, disaster studies, natural resource management, environmental/energy law, public administration, international development, and related fields.

Requirements (21-24 credits)

Policy, Politics, and Governance Emphasis (9 credits)

• ENVS 450 - Science in the Policy Process Credits: 4
• UEPP 355 - Environmental Law and Policy Credits: 4
• One seminar course (1 credit) from:
  • ENVS 499D - Seminar: Readings in Environmental Justice Credits: 1
  • ENVS 499Y - Seminar Credits: 1-4
  • ENVS 499Z - Seminar Credits: 1-4
  • Note: ENVS 499Y or ENVS 499Z seminar topic should focus on policy, politics, governance; subject to faculty advisor approval.

Electives (12-15 credits)

• Choose three additional courses (12-15 credits) from the lists below. We strongly encourage you to choose at least one course in the Critical Environmental Politics area and at least one course in the Engagement and Applications area.

Critical Environment Politics

• ENRG 350 - Energy Policy and Politics Credits: 4
• or UEPP 350 - Energy Policy and Politics Credits: 4
• ENRG 352 - Climate Governance and Political Economy Credits: 4
• or ENVS 352 - Climate Governance and Political Economy Credits: 4
• ENRG 440 - Public and Stakeholder Engagement in Energy, Climate, and Environmental Policymaking Credits: 4
• or UEPP 440 - Public and Stakeholder Engagement in Energy, Climate, and Environmental Policymaking Credits: 4
• ENRG 459 - Advanced Energy Policy Credits: 4
• or ENVS 459 - Advanced Energy Policy Credits: 4
• ENVS 362 - U.S. Disaster Policy Credits: 4
• ENVS 441 - Society, Space, and Natural Resources Credits: 4
• or C/AM 441 - Society, Space, and Natural Resources Credits: 4
• ENVS 444 - Geography, Colonialism, and the Pacific Northwest Credits: 4
• or C/AM 442 - Geography, Colonialism, and the Pacific Northwest Credits: 4
• ENVS 451 - Public Land Conflict & Collaboration Credits: 4
• ENVS 458 - Environmental Politics Credits: 5
• or PLSC 420 - Environmental Politics Credits: 5
• ENVS 467 - Power, (in)Justice and the Environment Credits: 4

Engagement and Application

• ENRG 344 - Community Solutions to Climate Change Credits: 4
• or ENVS 344 - Community Solutions to Climate Change Credits: 4
• ENRG 449 - Northwest Energy Systems Transitions Credits: 4
• or ENVS 449 - Northwest Energy Systems Transitions Credits: 4
• ENVS 372 - Natural Hazards Planning Credits: 5
• ENVS 453 - Climate Politics and Governance Credits: 4
• ENVS 456 - Governing Innovation, Technology, and the Future Credits: 5
• ENVS 465 - Disaster Risk Reduction Credits: 4
• ESCI 404 - Indigenous Resource Management in the Salish Sea Credits: 5
• FAIR 336N - Topics in Science Credits: 4-5 (topics approved by advisor)
• MGMT 359 - Business and Sustainability Principles and Practice Credits: 4
• or UEPP 359 - Business and Sustainability Principles and Practice Credits: 4
• UEPP 454 - Environmental Policy Analysis Credits: 4
• UEPP 457 - Environmental Dispute Resolution Credits: 4