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Academics at ESF: Undergraduate Minors
Environmental Policy and Communication Minor

Coordinator: Dr. Andrea Feldpausch-Parker

The minor in Environmental Policy and Communication is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills to navigate the environmental policy process, to effectively communicate with diverse stakeholders in public and private spheres, and to critically reflect on and elucidate the interactions between scientific knowledge, social processes, and environmental problem-solving.

The Environmental Policy and Communication Minor is available to all ESF undergraduates.

Twelve credit hours are required. All students must take a course on the Fundamentals of Environmental Policy (typically EST 321, Government and the Environment). Additionally, to complete the minor, students must take a course in Environmental Communication; an Upper Level Course in Environmental Policy, Leadership, or Decision Making; and a course in Critical Perspectives on Environment & Society. Admission to the minor requires sophomore status with a cumulative GPA of 2.70 or better.

Students in the Environmental Studies department pursuing the Options in either Environment, Communication and Society or Environmental Policy, Planning and Law should work with their advisor and the Environmental Policy and Communication Program Lead to ensure that the minor is complementary rather than redundant with their option. No more than 6 credits may be double-counted for both the Minor and an Option.

Required Courses (12 credits total):

1) A Course in the Fundamentals of Environmental Policy (3 Credits)

  • Government and the Environment (EST 321)

2) A Course in Environmental or Science Communication (3 Credits)

  • Public Communication of Science & Technology (EST 395)
  • Environmental Communication Workshop (EST 493)

3) An Upper Level Course in Environmental Policy or Decision Making (3 Credits)

  • Community Planning & Sustainability (EST 426)
  • Environmental & Energy Auditing (EST 427)
  • Land Use Law (EST 460)
  • Environmental Impact Analysis (EST 550)
  • Comprehensive Land Planning (LSA 451)

4) A Course on Critical Perspectives on Environment & Society (3 Credits)

  • Environmental Justice (EST 415)
  • Attitudes, Values & The Environment (EST 366)
  • Social Processes of the Environment (EST 390)
  • Indigenous Issues and the Environment (EFB 305)

Additional relevant 300 and 400-level courses (from ESF or SU) may be acceptable