Environmental Policy

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

The course will examine national and international environmental policies and the role that each of them plays within the public discourse over time and during different U.S. Administrations. The focus of the course will be on the science behind environmental regulations and how policy has changed within federal institutions (President, Congress, the Courts). The course will also cover the role of state and local governments, as well as how environmental governance involves private sector environmental policies and practices. Students will gain an appreciation for science, technology, and public policy dilemmas, including fracking, food production and water security; urban sustainability; and the viability of using market solutions to address policy challenges such as climate change. The course will include an in-depth analysis of global issues like the effectiveness of foreign aide to the developing world, increasing global energy demands, and China's quest for a green economy.