Environmental Policy (BA)
Well-designed public policies are critical in maintaining and restoring a healthy environment. Public policies influence air and water quality, land use, biodiversity, and public health and shape crucial efforts to fight climate change. Our environmental policy program prepares students to craft and implement public policies that promote ecological conservation, environmental justice, and innovation toward a green economy.
CURRICULUM
Environmental Policy students complete coursework spanning a variety of disciplines pertinent to the understanding of environmental issues.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Curriculum | ||
| ENVS 137 | Foundations of Environmental Science I | 3 |
| ENVS 237 | Foundations of Environmental Science II | 3 |
| ENVS 238 | Foundations of Environmental Science Lab | 1 |
| ENVS 200 | Environmental Careers and Professional Skills | 1 |
| ENVS 203 | Environmental Statistics | 3 |
| ENVS 280 | Principles of Ecology | 3 |
| ENVS 286 | Principles of Ecology Lab | 1 |
| ENVS 310 | Introduction to Environmental Law & Policy | 3 |
| PLSC 101 | American Politics | 3 |
| PLSC 392 | Environmental Politics | 3 |
| Justice and Ethics Choice | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Environmental Justice | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Religious Ethics and the Ecological Crisis | ||
| Economics Choice | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| ENVS 335 | Ecological Economics | 3 |
| or ECON 328 | Environmental Economics | |
| Engaged Learning Choice | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Science & Conservation of Freshwater Ecosystems | ||
| Bird Conservation and Ecology | ||
| Field Ornithology | ||
| Energy and The Environment | ||
| Environmental Sustainability | ||
| Natural History of Belize | ||
| Conservation and Sustainability of Neotropical Ecosystems | ||
| Solutions to Environmental Problems: Water | ||
| Solutions to Environmental Problems: Biogas | ||
| Solutions to Environmental Problems: Climate Action | ||
| Solutions to Environmental Problems: Food Systems | ||
| Environmental Research | ||
| Environmental Internship | ||
| Capstone Choice | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Integrative Seminar | ||
| Independent Environmental Research (Capstone) | ||
| Environmental Internship (Capstone) | ||
| Electives | 18 | |
See designated elective categories below | ||
| Total Hours | 57 | |
Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Society, Ethics, and Justice | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Gender, Health & Environment | ||
| Climate and History | ||
| Environmental Justice | ||
| North American Environmental History | ||
| Special Topics (with SES approval) | ||
| Climate Change and Human Health | ||
| Solutions to Environmental Problems: Water | ||
| Solutions to Environmental Problems: Biogas | ||
| Solutions to Environmental Problems: Climate Action | ||
| Solutions to Environmental Problems: Food Systems | ||
| Human Dimensions of Conservation | ||
| Environmental Research (with SES approval) | ||
| Environmental Internship (with SES approval) | ||
| Special Topics (with SES approval) | ||
| Directed Readings (with SES approval) | ||
| Public Speaking & Critical Thinking | ||
| Environmental Journalism | ||
| Organizational Communication | ||
| Environmental Advocacy | ||
| Guerilla Media | ||
| Digital Sustainability | ||
| Nature in Literature | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Environmental Psychology | ||
| Science, Technology, & Society | ||
| Global Inequalities | ||
| Environmental Sociology | ||
| The Sociology and Politics of Food | ||
| Global Health | ||
| Religious Ethics and the Ecological Crisis | ||
| Theology and Ecology | ||
| Policy, Economics, and Resource Management | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Special Topics (with SES approval) | ||
| Introduction to Public Health | ||
| Natural Resources and Land Use Law & Policy | ||
| Water Law & Policy | ||
| Energy Law & Policy | ||
| Food Systems Analysis | ||
| Industrial Ecology | ||
| Introduction to the Circular Economy | ||
| Ecological Economics | ||
| Design for Circular & Sustainable Business | ||
| Climate Change and Human Health | ||
| Sustainable Business Management | ||
| Sustainability Management in the Global Context | ||
| Human Dimensions of Conservation | ||
| Conservation Economics | ||
| Ecological Risk Assessment | ||
| Environmental Research (with SES approval) | ||
| Environmental Internship (with SES approval) | ||
| Special Topics (with SES approval) | ||
| Directed Readings (with SES approval) | ||
| Environmental Economics | ||
| Globalization and Environmental Sustainability | ||
| Managing People and Organizations | ||
| Global Environmental Politics | ||
| Methods and Analysis | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Environmental Journalism | ||
| Special Topics (with SES approval) | ||
| Food Systems Analysis | ||
| Sustainability Assessment & Reporting I | ||
| Sustainability Assessment & Reporting II | ||
| Sustainability Plan Development & Reporting | ||
| Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Advanced GIS Applications | ||
| Remote Sensing | ||
| Conservation Economics | ||
| Applied Environmental Statistics | ||
| Ecological Risk Assessment | ||
| Environmental Research | ||
| Environmental Internship | ||
| Special Topics (with SES approval) | ||
| Directed Readings | ||
| Ethnographic Methods | ||
| Intro to Biostatistics | ||
| Conflict Management and Communication | ||
| Interviewing for Communication | ||
| Organizational Communication | ||
| Research Methods in Advertising/Public Relations | ||
| Marketing for Environmental Sustainability | ||
| Principles of Social Research | ||
| Statistics for Social Research | ||
| Qualitative Research | ||
| Introduction to Probability & Statistics | ||
| SAS Programming & Applied Statistics | ||
| Environmental Electives | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Environmental Journalism | ||
| Gender, Health & Environment | ||
| Plants and Civilization | ||
| Ornithology | ||
| Biodiversity & Biogeography | ||
| Soil Ecology | ||
| Climate & Climate Change | ||
| Science & Conservation of Freshwater Ecosystems | ||
| Ecology of the Mediterranean Sea | ||
| Bird Conservation and Ecology | ||
| Energy and The Environment | ||
| Chemistry of the Natural Environment | ||
| Hydrology | ||
| Climate and History | ||
| Environmental Sustainability | ||
| North American Environmental History | ||
| Special Topics (with SES approval) | ||
| Introduction to Public Health | ||
| Environmental Health | ||
| Introduction to Epidemiology | ||
| Natural Resources and Land Use Law & Policy | ||
| Water Law & Policy | ||
| Energy Law & Policy | ||
| Winter Ecology | ||
| Conservation Biology | ||
| Invasive Species | ||
| Environmental Microbiology | ||
| Sustainable Agriculture | ||
| Agroecosystems | ||
| Food Systems Analysis | ||
| Restoration Ecology | ||
| Climate Change and Human Health | ||
| Natural History of Belize | ||
| Conservation and Sustainability of Neotropical Ecosystems | ||
| Solutions to Environmental Problems: Water | ||
| Solutions to Environmental Problems: Biogas | ||
| Solutions to Environmental Problems: Climate Action | ||
| Solutions to Environmental Problems: Food Systems | ||
| Introduction to Sustainability Concepts & Impacts | ||
| Sustainability Assessment & Reporting I | ||
| Sustainability Assessment & Reporting II | ||
| Sustainability Plan Development & Reporting | ||
| Field Ornithology | ||
| Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Advanced GIS Applications | ||
| Introduction to Global Health | ||
| Principles of Ecotoxicology | ||
| Applied Environmental Statistics | ||
| Ecological Risk Assessment | ||
| Environmental Research (with SES approval) | ||
| Environmental Internship (with SES approval) | ||
| Special Topics (with SES approval) | ||
| Directed Readings (with SES approval) | ||
| The Human Ecological Footprint | ||
| People and Conservation | ||
BIOL, CHEM, PHYS 300-level courses (with SES approval) | ||
| Total Hours | 18 | |
Suggested Sequence of Courses
The below sequence of courses is meant to be used as a suggested path for completing coursework. An individual student’s completion of requirements depends on course offerings in a given term as well as the start term for a major or graduate study. Students should consult their advisor for assistance with course selection.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| ENVS 137 | Foundations of Environmental Science I | 3 |
| PLSC 101 | American Politics | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENVS 203 | Environmental Statistics | 3 |
| ENVS 237 | Foundations of Environmental Science II | 3 |
| ENVS 238 | Foundations of Environmental Science Lab | 1 |
| Justice & Ethics Choice | 3 | |
| Hours | 10 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| ENVS 200 | Environmental Careers and Professional Skills | 1 |
| ENVS 280 | Principles of Ecology | 3 |
| ENVS 286 | Principles of Ecology Lab | 1 |
| Hours | 5 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENVS 310 or PLSC 392 |
Introduction to Environmental Law & Policy or Environmental Politics |
3 |
| Environmental Science Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| ENVS 310 or PLSC 392 |
Introduction to Environmental Law & Policy or Environmental Politics |
3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENVS 335 or ECON 328 |
Ecological Economics or Environmental Economics |
3 |
| Society, Ethics, & Justice Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| Engaged Learning Choice | 3 | |
| Policy, Economics, & Resource Management Elective | 3 | |
| Methods & Analysis Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| Capstone Choice | 3 | |
| Policy, Economics, & Resource Management Elective | 3 | |
| Environmental Science Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 54 | |
School of Environmental Sustainability Graduation Requirements
All SES students are required to complete a foreign language requirement and a writing intensive requirement. The SES language requirement can be fulfilled by 1) earning college credit at the 102-level or above; or 2) demonstrating proficiency via the SES foreign language proficiency examination. The SES writing intensive requirement is fulfilled by successfully completing two Loyola WI courses (max of one per semester). Writing intensive courses have a “W” in the section number.
Additional Undergraduate Graduation Requirements
All Undergraduate students are required to complete the University Core, at least one Engaged Learning course, and UNIV 101. SCPS students are not required to take UNIV 101. Nursing students in the Accelerated BSN program are not required to take core or UNIV 101. You can find more information in the University Requirements area.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
- Describe the need for government intervention and the policy process.
- Explain the major US federal environmental laws and international agreements.
- Recognize the role of state and local innovation in environmental policy.
- Engage in environmental policy advocacy, development, and implementation.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of the policy toward environmental sustainability.
SES Shared Learning Outcomes
All SES majors share the following Program Learning Objectives, in addition to their unique major-specific Program Learning Objectives:
1. Articulate the foundational principles of natural and social sciences and humanities essential to solving environmental problems.
2. Critically evaluate the accuracy and credibility of information relating to environmental topics.
3. Employ knowledge and skills to design and implement solutions that contribute to a just and sustainable world.
4. Exemplify the values of environmental and social justice through actions to care for our common home and one another.