MA in Public Policy with concentration in Environmental & Resource Policy

The Environmental and Resource Policy Program examines environmental and resource situations in their multidisciplinary complexity. The program introduces and assesses the contributions made by the various disciplines, and teaches techniques appropriate for conducting multidisciplinary research and making multidisciplinary decisions and recommendations.

The curriculum consists of 38 hours of course work.

Prerequisite: a bachelor's degree with a B average (or equivalent) in a social science, natural science, or other relevant area from an accredited college or university and an introductory course in statistics.

Required Core Courses:

Students choose 26 credits from the following:
BiSc 208      Bioenergetics(3 or 4 credits)
BiSc 243      Seminar: Ecology (3 credits)
Econ 217      Survey of Economics (3 credits)
Econ 237      Economics of Environment and Natural Resources (3 credits)
E&RP 210      Seminar in Environmental and Resource Policy (3 credits)
E&RP 240      Environmental Impact Statement Procedures and Environmental Law (3 credits)
PSc 203      Approaches to Public Policy Analysis (3 credits)
PAd 201      Introduction to Public Service and Administration (3 credits)
Stat 183      Intermediate Statistical Laboratory: Statistical Computing Packages (3 credits)

Elective Field: Earth Sciences, Ecology, Energy, Resource Management

Students select one elective field, taking 12 credits to complete the requirement.

Comprehensive Project

Undertaken at the completion of the student's program, the comprehensive project is the investigation of a specific problem in environmental and resource policy and the development of a proposed solution in a manner that integrates the core curriculum with the course work in the elective field.

How does this program differ from the MPP?

The core curriculum for this Master of Arts program includes courses in the biological sciences as well in economics and policy analysis, where the elective field is also science-based. This approach gives students a strong foundation in environmental and resource policy.

The Master of Public Policy core curriculum consists of courses in the social sciences; students can pursue a field of study in environmental and resource policy. This approach gives students a strong foundation in public policy. Graduates can pursue careers in environmental policy but their broader academic preparation allows them to shift policy areas with greater ease.

For More Information

Prof. Henry Merchant
Director, Environmental and Resource Policy
The George Washington University
202-994-7123
hmerchnt@gwu.edu