The year-and-a-half MGP with a Specialization in Environmental Policy offers students a dynamic opportunity to explore the intersection of international affairs and the environment. The MGP with a Specialization in Environmental Policy prepares students for environmental negotiation while also providing training in a variety of environmental issues. Elective coursework enables students to develop regional or thematic expertise that complements their environmental studies.
Students complete a set of universal requirements, including core courses on quantitative analysis, international economics, negotiation and diplomacy, and global policy analysis. In their final semester, students take a four-credit course as part of a capstone project.
Actual year-to-year course offerings vary depending on faculty availability. Most classes are taught once per year, but some may be taught less frequently.
Curriculum
The MA in Global Policy requires a total of 48 credits divided among core global policy courses (16 credits), functional specialization coursework (16 credits), a final capstone course (4 credits) and sufficient elective coursework to bring the student’s credit total to at least 48.
Core Courses
GLOBAL POLICY CORE (16 CREDITS)
- GRS IR 602 B* Quantitative Analysis for Global Affairs
- GRS IR 603 B* Economics for Global Policy
- GRS IR 604 Negotiation and Diplomacy
- GRS IR 605 Global Policy Analysis
*MGP students are required to take the B sections of these courses.
Environmental Policy Specialization Courses
Students in the MGP Environmental Policy Specialization must take one required course (4 credits):
- CAS IR/EE 594 Global Environmental Policy and Negotiation
Students in the MGP with a Specialization in Environmental Policy take an additional three courses (12 credits) from the list of pre-approved courses below (or other courses with pre-approval from the Associate Dean for Studies:
- CAS EE 510 Physical Principles of the Environment
- CAS EE 516 Multivariate Analysis for Geographers
- CAS EE 519 Energy, Society, and the Environment
- CAS EE 521 Environmental Law and Policy
- CAS EE 522 The Development of Sustainable Environmental Responsibility
- CAS EE 550 Modeling Environmental and Social Systems
- CAS IR/EE 597 Development and Environment in Latin America
- CAS IR/EE 599 Science, Politics and Climate Change
- GRS EE 600 Environment and Development
- GRS IR 626 NGOs and the Practice of Development
- CAS EE545/GRS EE 620 Methods of Environmental Policy Analysis
- GRS EE 700 Research Methods in Human-Environment Interactions
Electives
Students in the MGP with Specialization in Environmental Policy take three approved elective courses (12 credits) based on their specific interests. Students may choose their elective coursework from the specialization listing above, from the graduate level offerings of the Pardee School, or from the list of approved electives below. Students may also request approval from the Associate Dean for Studies to take other coursework, provided that coursework fits with the intent of the degree program and contributes to the preparation of students for their intended career paths:
- CAS IR 573 Introduction to Public International Law
- CAS IR/EE 599 Science, Politics and Climate Change
- CAS EE 505 Geographic Information Systems
- CAS EE 510 Physical Principles of the Environment
- CAS EE 516 Multivariate Analysis for Geographers
- CAS EE 519 Energy, Society, and the Environment
- CAS EE 521 Environmental Law and Policy
- CAS EE 522 The Development of Sustainable Environmental Responsibility
- CAS EE 550 Modeling Environmental and Social Systems
- CAS EE 555 World Oil Markets
- CAS EE 560 Energy Transitions
- GRS EE 600 Environment and Development
- GRS EE 620 Methods of Environmental Policy Analysis
- GRS EE 625 U.S. Environmental Policy
- GRS EE 660 Food, Energy and Water Policy
- GRS EE 675 Urban Ecology
- GRS EE 700 Research Methods in Human-Environment Interactions
- GRS EE 712 Regional Energy Models
Foreign Language
Students are required to demonstrate graduate-level reading proficiency in a foreign language prior to completion of the degree. Graduate-level proficiency is the ability to understand newspaper and professional journal articles in the field of foreign relations accurately, using standard reference materials. Language proficiency must be demonstrated through a language examination. Language exams are offered by the Pardee School Graduate Office several times per year.
In the case of non-native English speakers who were required to submit a TOEFL score report as part of their application for admission, knowledge of English fulfills this requirement.
Capstone
In their final semester, students take a capstone seminar (4-credits) in which research teams design and carry out an interdisciplinary policy analysis comparable to those performed for a government or nonprofit agency, often for a real-world client.