Two-Year M.S. in Environmental Science and Policy
Overview
The Irving B. Harris Graduate School and the Physical Sciences Division jointly offer the Master of
Science degree in Environmental Science and Policy. The broad objective of the program is to provide students with the
academic background in both policy and environmental science required for informed decision making in business and government.
To a large extent, the curriculum of this program draws upon courses already in place in the Harris School and in the Physical
Sciences Division, although an introductory overview course and an independent study are designed to integrate the policy and
science aspects of the program.
There is a need both in the public and private sectors for professionals with the skills to develop and
implement environmental policies based in part on scientific criteria. This is in addition to consideration of economic,
technological, and social factors. At the local level a business might have to consider environmental impacts of its waste disposal.
At the national level, energy use strategies and urban air pollutants have implications related to economics and public health.
Finally, at the global level international policies must address topics such as the release of chemicals implicated in climate
change.
The rationale for the Master of Science program is that students who seek to become policy makers in
government and industry would benefit from an academic program which combines rigorous treatments of both environmental science
and environmental policy. Such students should appreciate the concepts and methods of environmental research at a level which
facilitates the creation and implementation of policy. A distinguishing feature of the joint Harris School-Physical Sciences
initiative is the inclusion of environmental science at a rigorous level as an integral part of the program. The scientific
portion of the curriculum seeks to develop the student's understanding of the processes which control the state of the natural
environment and its response to perturbations, particularly those brought about by human activities as a consequence of policy
decisions.
Students and Curriculum
Students who enter the Environmental Science and Policy
program should have previous exposure to physical science at the undergraduate
level, although their career objectives will most likely lie in policy
rather than in science. Desirable undergraduate majors for entering
students would be in physics, chemistry, applied mathematics, Earth sciences or engineering,
although students with good backgrounds in science, but whose concentrations
are in other areas, will be considered for admission. The faculty of the Harris School and the Physical
Sciences Division must approve all admissions.
The curriculum combines elements of science and policy
to meet the needs of the students described above. The structure of
the two-year Master of Science degree program is outlined below.
Course Structure of the Environmental Science and
Policy Program
- Introductory Overview course: PP389 Environmental Science and Policy
- 6 courses in public policy from the Harris School (PubPol 308, 310, 311, 316, 323, 324)
- 6 courses from the Physical Sciences Division. These may be chosen from the Department of the Geophysical Sciences or other
areas of the Physical Sciences Division. Courses may be selected to emphasize solid-earth science, atmosphere-ocean science
or other topics of interest to the student.
- 1 additional course in environmental policy from the Harris School. (PubPol 388, 390)
- 3 electives in public policy and/or physical sciences
- Completion of an independent study project which integrates course work in environmental science and policy (students may
enroll in PP520 Independent Study/Research to work on this project)
A total of 18 courses are required for the M.S. degree.
The required courses in public policy are the following:
- PubPol 308. Political Economy for Public Policy I: Formal Models
- PubPol 310. Statistical Methods for Policy Research I or PubPol 312. Statistics for Policy Research I
- PubPol 311. Statistical Methods for Policy Research II or PubPol 313. Statistics for Policy Research II
- PubPol 316. Political Institutions and the Policy Process
- PubPol 323. Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy I
- PubPol 324. Principles of Microeconomics and Public Policy II
- PubPol 389. Environmental Policy I
Possible elective courses in public policy include the following:
- PubPol 314. Cost-Benefit Analysis
- PubPol 319. Organizational Theory and Public Management
- PubPol 325. Public Policy Workshop
- PubPol 329. Taxation and Public Finance
- PubPol 333. Public Budgeting
- PubPol 443. Environmental Controversies
- PubPol 520. Independent Study/Research
Students should consult the latest edition of the
Announcements of the Harris School for additional courses.
Courses taught by the Department of the Geophysical
Sciences can provide the environmental science portion of the curriculum,
although considerable flexibility is possible in the selection of courses
from other departments of the Physical Sciences Division. Each student
is encouraged to communicate with faculty members in the design of an
individualized scientific curriculum. Note that 200-level courses are
generally available to incoming graduate students who have no previous
background in the specific areas covered, although an undergraduate
background in physical science is required. The list below highlights
offerings in the Department of the Geophysical Sciences. Six courses
could be selected from this list, or the student can select from other
courses available in the Physical Sciences Division. An additional course
can serve as an elective.
Courses in the Solid-Earth Sciences:
- GeoSci 212. Physics of the Earth
- GeoSci 217. Introduction to Mineralogy
- GeoSci 218. Introduction to Petrology
- GeoSci 228. Field Course in Geology and Geophysics
- GeoSci 229. Field Course in Modern Carbonate Environments
Courses in the Atmosphere-Ocean Sciences:
- GeoSci 231. Physics and Chemistry of the Atmosphere
- GeoSci 232. Dynamics and Phenomenology of Planetary Atmospheres
- GeoSci 233. Physical Oceanography
- GeoSci 234. Chemical Oceanography
- GeoSci 236. Data Analysis in the Earth Sciences
- GeoSci 239. Environmental Chemistry
Students in the program will have an Advisory Committee
composed of three or more faculty members, including representation
from both the Harris School and the Physical Sciences Division. Each
student will meet formally with the Advisory Committee at least twice
per academic year, although less formal interactions should occur on
a regular basis. The Advisory Committee will also be responsible for
evaluating the student's independent study project to be completed near
the end of the final year of study.
|
