The Master of Science in Environmental Science and Policy program emphasizes a broadly interdisciplinary and synthetic approach that integrates knowledge in the environmental sciences (conservation biology, climate change, fisheries science, ecosystem function, biodiversity, restoration ecology) with the social sciences (policy, economics, sociology, political science, and development) and humanities (environmental history, philosophy, and ethics). The goal of the program is to equip professionals with substantive breadth in knowledge and skills at the intersection of environmental science and policy. The program focuses on training students to think critically about the underlying causes of environmental problems and understanding the reciprocal relationships between coupled human-natural ecosystems and the interconnections between social and technological innovations. The program explores practical approaches and potential solutions that decision makers need to evaluate in policy debates related to promoting environmental sustainability.
Complete all courses and requirements listed below unless otherwise indicated.
Core Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Seminars | ||
| PPUA 6101 | Environmental Science and Policy Seminar 1 | 4 |
| ENVR 6102 | Environmental Science and Policy Seminar 2 | 4 |
| Skills Courses | ||
| Complete 2 courses from the following. At least one course needs to be taken from the College of Science Skills Course List and one course from the College of Social Sciences and Humanities Skills Course List. | 8 | |
| College of Science Skills Course List | ||
| Ecological Dynamics | ||
| Climate and Atmospheric Change | ||
| Experimental Design Marine Ecology | ||
| Environmental Planning | ||
| Sedimentary Basin Analysis | ||
| Geographical Information Systems | ||
| Biostatistics | ||
| College of Social Sciences and Humanities Skills Course List | ||
| Introduction to Computational Statistics | ||
| Research Methods in the Social Sciences | ||
| Quantitative Analysis | ||
| Strategizing Public Policy | ||
| Ecological Economics | ||
| Dynamic Modeling for Environmental Decision Making | ||
| Geographic Information Systems for Urban and Regional Policy | ||
| Research Toolkit for Urban and Regional Policy: Project Management | ||
| Research Toolkit for Urban and Regional Policy: Data Visualization | ||
| Research Toolkit for Urban and Regional Policy: Grant Writing | ||
| Economic Analysis for Policy and Planning | ||
| Public Budgeting and Financial Management | ||
| Techniques of Policy Analysis | ||
| Techniques of Program Evaluation | ||
| Institutions and Public Policy | ||
| Advanced Spatial Analysis of Urban Systems | ||
Electives
Complete five courses from the following list. At least one course must be taken from the College of Science Elective Course List and one courses from the College of Social Sciences and Humanities Elective Course List. Any skills course not taken to fulfill the skills courses requirement can be taken as an elective. Students may petition to enroll in other relevant graduate courses offered by other schools at Northeastern University.
College of Science Elective List
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EEMB 5130 - EEMB 8984 | ||
| ENVR 5115 - ENVR 6900 | ||
College of Social Sciences and Humanities Elective List
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Information Design and Visual Analytics | ||
| Climate and Development | ||
| Strategizing Public Policy | ||
| Cities, Sustainability, and Climate Change | ||
| Environmental Health | ||
| Global Health | ||
| The Open Classroom: Public Debates on Public Policy | ||
| Housing Policy | ||
| Land Use and Urban Growth Policy | ||
| Sustainable Urban Coastal Policy | ||
| Ecological Economics | ||
| Big Data for Cities | ||
| Energy Democracy and Climate Resilience: Technology, Policy, and Social Change | ||
| Urban Theory and Science | ||
| International Environmental Policy | ||
| Food Systems and Public Policy | ||
| Special Topics in Public Policy and Urban Affairs | ||
| The 21st-Century City: Urban Opportunities and Challenges in a Global Context | ||
| Public Budgeting and Financial Management | ||
| Techniques of Policy Analysis | ||
| Administrative Ethics and Public Management | ||
| Nonprofit Organizations and Social Change | ||
| The Nonprofit Sector in Civil Society and Public Affairs | ||
| Nonprofit Financial Resource Development | ||
| Internship with Research | ||
| Practicum | ||
| Resilient Cities | ||
| Capstone in Public Policy and Urban Affairs | ||
| Environment, Health, and Society | ||
| Social Movements in Health |
Program Credit/GPA Requirements
36 total semester hours required
Minimum 3.000 GPA required