Environmental Studies - Environmental Policy and Management

The mission of conservation biology is the conservation of life on earth, and thus to balance the needs of people and biodiversity. To understand the promise and peril of conservation biology’s mission in a rapidly globalizing world, the course introduces students to the elements of the contemporary biodiversity crisis, the applied practices of professional conservationists, and the values and scientific theories that provide the discipline’s foundation. Coursework is designed to develop practical skills and disciplinary knowledge through interactive lectures, field trips, and group and individual projects.

This course examines contemporary efforts and initiatives to address the challenges of sustainability, health, and equity in our agri-food systems. Globalization  and neoliberalism, rapid technological change, human population growth and migration, environmental and resource degradation, climate change, and rising  social inequalities together form an important backdrop for growing concern among consumers, citizens, civil society groups and social movements worldwide about the conditions and outcomes of agri-food systems. 

This course examines the concepts and practices used to maintain and develop Earth’s natural systems and humanity’s built environments. Specifically, the course is designed to review how the human and natural systems critical to biodiversity and human well-being can be developed and managed sustainably. Course topics include ecosystem and wildlife management, urban planning, climate change mitigation, and global environmental governance. An emphasis is placed on understanding how people individually and collectively influencenatural and built environments, as well as developing knowledge and skills useful to contemporary environmental managers. The course format includes class discussions, projects, and interactive lectures.

This course is designed as a survey of the principles and practices of environmental policy. Using the case study approach, theories of public policy are linked to its application to understand existing approaches to environmental policy and how these approaches influence, and are influenced by, social and environmental change. An emphasis is placed on the design and evaluation of policy instruments, the diversity and trade-offs of environmental governance systems, and the democratic engagement required to achieve environmental sustainability. Students will learn the language of public policy and develop transferable professional skills, including memo writing and policy analysis.