In the Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Policy and Planning, you’ll build a strong foundation in the political, economic and cultural approaches to studying the environment and identify the causes, as well as consequences, of unsustainable development. You’ll take courses about:
The following information comes from the official EWU catalog, which outlines all degree requirements and serves as the guide to earning a degree. Courses are designed to provide a well-rounded and versatile degree, covering a wide range of subject areas.
Environmental Policy and Planning Major, Bachelor of Arts (BA)
EWU's Environmental Policy and Planning (EPP) program combines the scientific study of climate change and of human interaction with their natural environment, with courses in Urban and Regional Planning and Political Science. Students begin by learning about the social and scientific dynamics of climate change, and how humans have organized themselves in communities across history. They then explore political and policy responses to climate change from the local to the global level, and learn about state and local governmental policies regarding sustainability, development, and conservation. Students graduate with a broad understanding of human-environmental relations but also with a concrete set of skills, such as Global Information Systems (GIS) mapping skills, policymaking and environmental review skills, and basic land use planning skills. The major prepares students for careers in state and local government, land use planning, policymaking, advocacy, and sustainable development.
World Language Requirement: Two years of a single high school world language or one year of a single college-level world language is required.
| Required Foundational Core | ||
| GEOS 113 | THE EARTH'S CLIMATE AND WEATHER | 5 |
| or GEOS 204 | HOT EARTH: PEOPLE AND CLIMATE CHANGE | |
| GEOS 200 | GLOBALIZATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT | 5 |
| PLAN 201 | INTRODUCTION TO URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING | 5 |
| POLI 100 | INTRODUCTION TO US POLITICS | 5 |
| POLI 203 | INTRODUCTION TO COMPARATIVE POLITICS | 5 |
| or POLI 204 | INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL POLITICS | |
| Required Disciplinary Core - choose four of the following courses | 20 | |
| ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING | ||
| INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS | ||
| INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY | ||
| COMPARATIVE AND INTERNATIONAL WATER POLICY | ||
| POLITICS OF DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY | ||
| GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS | ||
| Methods Requirement–choose two | 9-10 | |
| STATISTICS FOR THE SOCIAL SCIENCES | ||
| GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS I: SPATIAL ANALYSIS FOR SOCIAL SCIENCES | ||
| GIS FOR URBAN AND REGIONAL ANALYSIS | ||
| Electives–choose one course from the first category and at least two courses from the second category | ||
| Climate Change and Sustainability | 3-5 | |
| COMPARATIVE URBANIZATION | ||
| LAND USE PLANNING | ||
| SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES | ||
| TOPICS IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COMPARATIVE POLITICS (variable title) | ||
| Environmental Law, Policy, and Justice | 7-10 | |
| RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS | ||
| PLANNING, POLITICS AND PUBLIC POLICY | ||
| TRIBAL GOVERNANCE | ||
| TOPICS IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COMPARATIVE POLITICS (variable title) | ||
| Senior Capstone | 5 | |
| SENIOR CAPSTONE: PLANNING STUDIO | ||
or POLI 490 | SENIOR CAPSTONE | |
| Total Credits | 69-75 | |
The following plan of study is for a student with zero credits. Individual students may have different factors such as: credit through transfer work, Advanced Placement, Running Start, or any other type of college-level coursework that requires an individual plan.
Courses could be offered in different terms, checking the academic schedule is paramount in keeping an individual plan current. Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.
All Undergraduate students are required to meet the Undergraduate Degree Requirements.
This major requires the completion of the World Language requirement. Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree must complete two years of a single language in high school or one year of a single language in college.
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall Quarter | Credits | Winter Quarter | Credits | Spring Quarter | Credits |
| ENGL 101 | 5 | ENGL 201 | 5 | GEOS 200 (Social Science BACR 2) | 5 |
| PLAN 201 | 5 | POLI 100 (Social Science BACR 1) | 5 | MATH 107 | 5 |
| Humanities & Arts BACR 11 | 5 | Humanities & Arts BACR 21 | 5 | POLI 203 (Global Studies - graduation requirement) | 5 |
| 15 | 15 | 15 | |||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall Quarter | Credits | Winter Quarter | Credits | Spring Quarter | Credits |
| GEOS 113 (Natural Science BACR 1) | 5 | Natural Science BACR 21 | 5 | Elective - minor or general elective | 5 |
| Diversity - graduation requirement1 | 5 | Elective - minor or general elective | 5 | Elective - minor or general elective | 5 |
| Elective - minor or general elective | 5 | Elective - minor or general elective | 5 | Elective - minor or general elective | 5 |
| 15 | 15 | 15 | |||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall Quarter | Credits | Winter Quarter | Credits | Spring Quarter | Credits |
| CSBS 320, GEOS 321, or PLAN 464 | 5 | CSBS 320, GEOS 321, or PLAN 464 | 5 | Environmental Policy and Planning Disciplinary Core2 | 5 |
| Environmental Policy and Planning Disciplinary Core2 | 5 | Environmental Policy and Planning Disciplinary Core2 | 5 | Environmental Policy and Planning Elective3 | 5 |
| Elective - minor or general elective | 5 | Elective - minor or general elective | 5 | Elective - minor or general elective | 5 |
| 15 | 15 | 15 | |||
| Fourth Year | |||||
| Fall Quarter | Credits | Winter Quarter | Credits | Spring Quarter | Credits |
| Environmental Policy and Planning Disciplinary Core2 | 5 | POLI 490 or PLAN 490 (Senior Capstone - graduation requirement) | 5 | Environmental Policy and Planning Elective3 | 5 |
| Elective - minor or general elective | 5 | Environmental Policy and Planning Elective3 | 5 | Elective - minor or general elective | 5 |
| Elective - minor or general elective | 5 | Elective - minor or general elective | 5 | Elective - minor or general elective | 5 |
| 15 | 15 | 15 | |||
| Total Credits 180 | |||||
University Graduation Requirements (UGR) and Breadth Area Course Requirements (BACR) courses may be less than 5 credits and additional credits may be required to reach the required 180 total credits needed to graduate. Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.
Required Disciplinary Core - choose four courses from the approved list.
Electives–choose one course from the first category and at least two courses from the second category.
Pre-requisites: PLAN 201 or permission of the instructor.
Satisfies: a university graduation requirement–global studies.
A review of the nature of urbanization in developed and developing countries, examining planning-related issues associated with urbanization, overurbanization and counterurbanization in a variety of natural settings.
Pre-requisites: POLI 203 or POLI 204.
Explores major theories and practices of unsustainable economic growth models, which have created various forms of ecological, political, social, economic, and security crises. These crises have affected both the rich and poor nations, though in different ways. They have also produced a series of destabilizing resource, knowledge, technology, and capital gaps between and within the global north and south. This course examines these ecological crises and the varied responses to them.
Notes: may be stacked with PLAN 535.
Pre-requisites: PLAN 201 or instructor permission.
Studies planning as a profession permeated with political dilemmas in a context marked by social, political and economic disparities. Reviews planning in light of the politics of policy-making and questions the role of urban and regional planning in a democratic governance process.
An Environmental Policy and Planning major focuses on the development and implementation of policies to address environmental issues, such as conservation, sustainability, climate change, and natural resource management.
In this program, you’ll explore key topics like environmental law, urban planning, and environmental justice. You’ll also examine the social and economic forces that shape what we do about the environment.
Throughout your studies, you’ll gain the skills to create policies that protect ecosystems, support communities, and balance ecological health with economic growth.
Graduates go on to work in government, nonprofits, or private companies. Wherever your path leads, you can help build a healthier, more sustainable future for both people and the planet.
Explore careers in Environmental Policy and Planning: