Environmental Sciences and Policy, Master of Science

About this programme

Climate change, population growth, energy consumption, habitat loss, water depletion and degradation, air pollution, and species extinction are increasingly top-of-mind for citizens around the world. To manage the Earth’s environment effectively, there is a need to understand the processes that shape the planet’s surface, control the chemistry of its air and water, and generate the natural resources on which humans depend. The Master of Science in Environmental Sciences and Policy program is distinct in its focus on the interplay between science and policy. This program is founded on the premise that rational solutions to complex 21st-century environmental challenges require an in-depth understanding of applicable scientific principles and an appreciation for relevant political, ethical, economic, legal, and historical contexts. Graduates of the program develop combined expertise in science and policy that empowers them to become change agents and leaders in public and private organizations responsible for safeguarding our environment. Many of the program’s students are currently employed in environmental fields but wish to enhance their knowledge or move in new directions. Others seek to transition into the arena of environmental science and policy.