Environmental Policy & Sustainability

Earn an MPA with an Environmental Policy and Sustainability concentration

The Environmental Policy and Sustainability concentration prepares students with the ideas and technical skills needed to address the challenges and opportunities found in handling environmental and sustainability issues in cities, nonprofits, and corporations.

This Environmental Policy and Sustainability concentration leverages the expertise of our faculty and has an above average expected job growth average (11 percent) in the environmental fields between 2014 and 2024. Those projections are based on the heightened interest of the public in hazards caused by the environment and population growth.

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Environmental issues in current events

An oil rig in the ocean

Over the past decades, events such as the Flint water crisis or the Deepwater Horizon oil spill have brought environmental protection to the center of attention.

Environmental issues span jurisdictional boundaries. The list of issues is long and includes matters such as air and water protection at or near industrial sites, mercury and lead exposure, environmental justice, urban green space, and climate change.

Degree requirements

In addition to the MPA core, management, and finance requirements, students that choose to pursue a concentration in Environmental Policy and Sustainability must complete the following required courses:

SPEA-V 502: Public Management

Analysis of concepts, methods, and procedures involved in managing public organizations. Problems of organization, planning, decision-making, performance evaluation, and management of human resources are considered. Cases are drawn from a variety of public services found at federal, state, and local levels of government.

SPEA-V 525: Management in the Nonprofit Sector

An examination of nonprofit organizations and their role in society. Management issues and public policy affecting these organizations are discussed. Primary emphasis is on U.S. organizations, but attention is given to the global nature of the sector.

An examination of the role of public affairs professionals in policy processes. Focuses on relationships with political actors in various policy areas.

Advanced topics related to environmental governance and natural resource issues. Current research related to environmental policy instruments, natural resource use, and environmental institutions will be covered in a setting focusing heavily on discussions and presentations. Highlights interactions between society, the economy, politics, and the environment in the U.S. and in non-U.S. settings.

This course studies the interrelationships among social, technical, and natural systems, theories of growth, and causes and implications of environmental problems. Alternative policies and mechanisms for environmental control and bases for choice are also examined.

Conceptual and technical overview of geographic information systems (GIS). Applications in various fields of public affairs and environmental science.

Some courses required for your concentration may count toward the MPA core curriculum. When this occurs, you may choose elective courses that match your interests and career goals while still meeting the degree requirements. All students pursuing the Master of Public Affairs (MPA) degree are required to complete 39 credit hours.

Solve problems at the crossroads of policy, management, and science.