Learning Outcomes

Students who earn a degree in environmental policy and planning will be able to:

• critically analyze complex environmental problems to identify how they result from interactions among the physical environment and human societies, economies, and political systems;
• identify ways in which humans impact and are impacted by the environment;
• identify key stakeholders and sources of information in the natural and social sciences to consider in developing solutions to environmental problems;
• explain the role of policy and planning in addressing environmental issues locally, regionally, and globally;
• work collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams to design approaches to managing environmental problems; and
• identify and implement key tools and methods for environmental planning and policy making.

The Bachelor of Arts with a major in environmental policy and planning requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including at least 49-54 s.h. of work for the major. Credit required for the major depends on a student's choice of track. Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 2.00 in all courses for the major and in all UI courses for the major. They also must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences GE CLAS Core. Transfer students must complete at least 21 s.h. of work for the major in residence at the University of Iowa.

The major in environmental policy and planning concentrates on the social science and policy dimensions of environmental problems, which often are caused by people and may have significant economic effects. Environmental issues are embedded in a complex mesh of economics, politics, culture, history, and behavior. Planners and policy makers must understand the human dimensions of these factors in order to solve environmental problems.

The environmental policy and planning major is interdisciplinary; it draws courses from geographical and sustainability sciences, anthropology, economics, political science, history, and other disciplines. Work for the major includes introductory courses, methods courses, intermediate courses, and one of two tracks: the planning track or the policy track.

The Pomerantz Career Center offers multiple resources to help students find internships and jobs..