ECONOMICS AND POLITICS OF THE ENVIRONMENT (EPE)
Faculty Advisors: Sarah Anderson (2nd-years) and Charlie Kolstad (1st-years)
Specialization Description
The Economics and Politics of the Environment (EPE) specialization trains students to develop and implement public policies dealing with environmental problems, to manage public environmental resources, and to understand how firms and other organizations respond to these policies and management systems. EPE students acquire knowledge about interactions between the public sector and the private sector and about the impact of political processes on efforts to solve environmental problems. In the process, they learn how to identify and evaluate policy options and to communicate the results to policymakers and regulators in an effective manner. Broadly defined to encompass the full range of issues pertaining to environmental quality and natural resources, the EPE specialization addresses these concerns as they arise from the local level through the state and national levels to the international level. Students taking this specialization find employment with local, state, and national governments as well as with intergovernmental organizations, firms subject to environmental policies, and consulting groups dealing with the management of environmental resources.
COURSE WORK
EPE students should take the following courses:
ESM 242:
Natural Resource Economics and Policy
ESM 245:
Cost Benefit Analysis and Non-Market Valuation
EPE students should take at least one of the following courses:
ESM 243:
Environmental Policy Analysis
ESM 248: Environmental Institutions
EPE students should take at least one of the many law electives offered as:
ESM 294:
Advanced Topics in Environmental Law
EPE students should take at least two courses that will develop some depth in a substantive area.
For example EPE students with an interest in Conservation Planning should consider taking at least two of the four key courses (ESM 211, 212, 215, or 270) recommended for the CP specialization. Similarly, those having an interest in Coastal Marine Ecosystems, for example, should take two of the key courses for that specialization (ESM 254, 257, 260).
EPE students should take at least one methodology course in addition to those listed in the first
two sections (economics and policy) above. Some examples include the following:
ESM 232: Environmental Modeling ESM 261: Management of Scientific Data ESM 263: GIS ESM 266:
Remote Sensing of the Environment
ESM 269: Survey Design and Public Opinion Econ 240A: Introduction to Econometrics
The following variable topic courses may also provide curriculum opportunities of value for EPE students:
ESM 293: Advanced Special Topics in Energy and Climate ESM 296: Advanced Special Topics in Environmental Management ESM 297:
Advanced Special Topics in Environmental Policy
ESM 299: Advanced Special Topics in Enviromental Science ESM 430: Workshops in Environmental Science and Mangement ESM 436: Workshops in Legal Issue in Environmental Problem Solving ESM 437: Writing for Environmental Professionals ESM 440: Advanced Environmental Communication ESM 595A-Z: Seminars/Group Studies in Environmental Science & Management
In addition, there are some classes in other departments that may be appropriate for EPE students.
Some examples include:
ECON 114:
Economic Development
ECON 120:
Urban and Regional Economics
ECON 205AB:
Economic Decisions
ECON 208:
Topics in Macroeconomic Theory and Policy
GLOBL 221 :
Political Economy, Sustainable Development and the Environment GLOBL 277:
Organizational Policy and Management GLOBL 278:
Managing Development Organizations, Non-Profits and other NGOs GLOBL 271: Global Environmental Politics POLS 294: Environmental Politics and Policy
Sample Programs
Example I |
Example II |
ESM 242: Natural Resources Economics and Policy |
ESM 242: Natural Resources Economics and Policy |
ESM 245: Cost-Benefit Analysis |
ESM 245: Cost-Benefit Analysis |
ESM 294: Advanced Topics in Environmental Law |
ESM 248: Environmental Institutions |
| ESM 243: Environmental Policy Analysis | ESM 294: Advanced Topics in Env Law |
| ESM 270: Conservation Planning | ESM 283: Environmental Negotiation |
ESM 275: Principles & Practice of Land Use Planning |
ESM 260: Applied Marine Ecology |
ESM 263: GIS |
ESM 257: Coastal Marine Policy & Mgmt |
ESM 237: Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation |
ESM 232: Environmental Modeling |
ESM 269: Survey Design and Environmental Public Opinion |
ESM 243: Environmental Policy Analysis |
| ESM 436: Workshops in Legal Issues | ESM 437: Writing for Enviromental Professionals |