Minor in Environmental Analysis & Policy

Contact

For contact information, please visit the Department of Earth & Environment website.

NOTE: In academic year 2020–2021, the Department of Earth & Environment recoded all courses from ES and GE to EE.

A minor in Environmental Analysis & Policy trains students in the social sciences with a clearly defined specialization in the environmental field. Students learn about the social and institutional framework in which environmental and natural resource planning, management, and policymaking take place. Students take classes in the natural and physical sciences to ensure they understand the biophysical basis of environmental issues. Students gain a strong set of analytical tools that are needed by a growing number of government agencies, consulting firms, and nonprofit sectors that all deal with a wide range of environmental analysis or energy and environmental policymaking.

Learning Outcomes

  • Demonstrate knowledge of (a) current environmental issues, and the manner in which they are related to (b) fundamental concepts from social science disciplines (microeconomics as well as one or more of sociology, anthropology, political science/international relations, or law), and (c) fundamental concepts from natural science disciplines (one or more of physics, chemistry, biology).
  • Demonstrate knowledge of quantitative and qualitative theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches used to analyze environmental problems and understand the effectiveness of policy interventions.
  • Quantitatively analyze data and perform simulation modeling to characterize the effects of anthropogenic stressors (e.g., pollution)—and policy interventions to address them—on human and natural systems.
  • Communicate effectively concepts in the natural and social sciences as they relate to environmental issues, both in writing and verbally, and demonstrate understanding of the broader societal impacts of environmental problems and policies.
  • Apply a range of analysis methods toward solving qualitative and quantitative problems in the design and implementation of policies to address environmental issues.

Requirements

The minor in Environmental Analysis & Policy requires a total of five courses as specified below. Students minoring in Environmental Analysis & Policy, through coursework, will satisfy BU Hub requirements in Social Inquiry; Ethical Reasoning; Scientific Inquiry; and Research & Information Literacy. Up to two courses taken as part of a student’s major requirements may be used to fulfill the requirements of the minor in Environmental Analysis & Policy. Courses taken to fulfill minor requirements must be completed with a grade of C or higher.

Unless otherwise noted, all required courses are 4 credit hours.

Principal Courses (3)

  • CAS EC 101 Introductory Microeconomic Analysis
  • CAS EE 100 Environmental Change and Sustainability
  • CAS EE 309 Intermediate Environmental Analysis and Policy

Electives (2)

  • One course in quantitative environmental modeling, chosen from: CAS EE 302, 365, 375, 420, 422, or 550
  • One course chosen from: CAS EE 201, 250, 304, 375, 394, 400, 425, 460, 508, 519, 521, 524, 532 (if taken twice at 2 credits each), 533, 534, 535, 555, 560, 594, 597, 599; CAS HI 351; CAS IR 390, 395, 594, 597