Graduate Specialization in Environmental Policy
The Graduate Specialization in Environmental Policy, which is administered by the College of Social Science, provides students with foundational skills and knowledge in environmental law, economics, and policy and an opportunity to gain substantive expertise in the fundamental aspects of environmental policy. This program is open to Master’s students enrolled in an MSU graduate program.
The graduate specialization is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in master’s degree programs at Michigan State University. With the approval of the department and college that administer the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the specialization may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the master’s or doctoral degree.
Students who plan to complete the requirements for the graduate specialization must consult the graduate advisor for the specialization in the College of Social Science.
REQUIREMENTS
Students in the program are required to:
1. Complete both of the following courses:
- AFRE 829 Economics of Environmental Resources
- PPL 807 Public Policy
2. Complete 3 credits of additional course work that focus on policy that meets the interests of the student. The course must be approved by the student’s academic advisor for the specialization.
3. Complete an examination consisting of a paper on the environmental policy aspects of a problem selected by the student and approved by the advisor for the specialization.
The ESPP GPD serves as the advisor for the specialization for ESPP. Students should work with their major professor and guidance committee to identify the additional course that focuses on policy that meets the interests of the student. Once a course has been identified, the student should complete the Specialization course form and submit it to the ESPP GPD for approval. For the examination, students should work under the guidance of the ESPP GPD and their major professor on a paper on the environmental policy aspects of a problem selected by the student. Once the paper is complete, students should submit a copy of the paper and completion form to the ESPP GPD for approval.
FORMS
Please note that applications for the Fall Semester are due February 1 and applications for the Spring Semester are due October 15.