The Environmental Policy and Planning major concentrates on the social science and policy dimensions of environmental problems, which often are caused by people and may have significant economic effects.
The Environmental Policy and Planning major concentrates on the social science and policy dimensions of environmental problems, which often are caused by people and may have significant economic effects.
Environmental issues are embedded in a complex mesh of economics, politics, culture, and behavior. Planners and policy makers must understand the human dimensions of these factors in order to solve environmental problems.
The Environmental Policy and Planning major integrates courses that provide a coherent approach to the study of the human dimensions of environmental problems.
Several courses in the School of Urban and Regional Planning are available for undergraduates, and individual environmental classes have been added in other departments such as American Studies. The Department of Political Science offers relevant classes about policy and politics.
Students in this major need to meet the requirements for admission to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Information
Iowa graduates have a 95 percent job/grad school placement rate within six months of graduation. Our Pomerantz Career Center offers multiple resources to help students find internships and jobs.
In addition to more than 500 student organizations, Iowa students choose from more than 100 study abroad programs and multiple undergraduate research opportunities.
The University of Iowa provides a variety of scholarships to eligible undergraduate students through the Iowa Scholarship Portal. Scholarships are available to first-year, transfer, and currently enrolled students. For additional details on scholarships for your program of study, check directly with the department or college.
The Office of Admissions and the Office of Student Financial Aid are great resources for students seeking scholarships.
Students may pursue a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BS) in this major, which is offered by the UI Department of Geography in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. All students must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences GE CLAS Core requirements.
Environmental Policy and Planning is an interdisciplinary major that draws courses from Geography, Anthropology, Economics, Political Science, and other disciplines.
Work for this major includes introductory and intermediate courses, methods courses, and completion of requirements for one of two tracks offered: planning or policy. Course work required for the major depends on the student's choice of track.
The Planning track covers courses primarily in Urban and Regional Planning and Geography. Courses in the Policy track focus on Political Science and Geography. Both tracks have relevant courses in Anthropology.
See Environmental Policy and Planning in the UI General Catalog to learn more about required course work and graduating with honors.