Master of Arts in Global Policy (MGP) Environmental Policy Specialization

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Why Specialize Your MGP in Environmental Policy at the Pardee School?

As a concentration within Boston University’s Pardee School of Global Studies’ Master of Arts in Global Policy program, the Specialization in Environmental Policy immerses you in an intensive graduate education designed to strengthen your professional skills and deepen your understanding of how global affairs intersect with environmental matters.

In this year-and-a-half graduate program, you investigate international policy development, current environmental challenges, and sustainability measures’ social, political, and environmental implications. And with this enriched understanding, you begin generating transformative solutions to promote a safer, more sustainable world for all.

Through our interdisciplinary approach, hands-on learning experiences, and engagement with real-world issues, you emerge as an expert in environmental policy and an advocate for meaningful change that will impact future generations.

What Is Environmental Policy?

Environmental policy refers to the laws, guidelines, and regulations enacted by a government or private or public organizations to address environmental issues and advance sustainability. This type of legislation often incorporates initiatives and measures to reduce pollution, promote the proper management of natural resources, protect ecosystems, and ensure communities thrive in safe, healthy environments.

Program Curriculum

The landscape of environmental policy in the US and abroad is complex and ever-changing. With pressing ecological challenges adding up, the demand for knowledgeable leaders who can provide actionable and practical strategies grows.

At the Pardee School, we’ve designed our curriculum for the MGP with a Specialization in Environmental Policy as a dynamic, interdisciplinary exploration of international affairs and the environment. In the program’s core classes, you study the fundamentals of policy negotiation, development, and analysis, as well as the economics of international policy. In your specialization courses and electives, you dive into the intricacies of environmental policy as it relates to the global market, social systems, law, and ecology.

Along with developing regional or thematic expertise, you also acquire advanced skills in critical thinking, communication, and research methodologies. This highly focused training equips you with the professional competencies necessary to excel in the global workforce.

During your time in the environmental policy specialization program, you complete a total of 48 credits, broken down into the following:

• Core global policy courses (16 credits)
• Functional specialization coursework (16 credits)
• Final capstone course (4 credits)
• Elective courses (as many as necessary to meet the 48 credit total)

Additionally, you must demonstrate graduate-level reading proficiency in a foreign language through a language examination before completing the degree.

Careers in Environmental Policy

With your specialized training in environmental policy, you can work in government agencies, consulting firms, nonprofit organizations, academia, international organizations, and numerous other sectors. These industries play different roles in instituting sustainability measures, gauging the effectiveness of policies and corporations’ ability to adhere to them, and raising awareness of ongoing issues. Still, all share a similar commitment to creating a cleaner, safer environment.

Your research capabilities, critical thinking, and vast knowledge of policy development and negotiation all equip you to take on a career as an:

• Advocate
• Consultant
• Educator
• Environmental compliance officer
• Policy advisor
• Policy researcher and analyst
• Policymaker

Whatever career in environmental policy you pursue, you can rest assured that your efforts can enact positive change in local and global communities.

Featured Alumni

See what our alumni do.

Admission Requirements

When applying to the Pardee School’s MPG-Environmental Policy program, you must submit an online application and a $95 application fee, as well as the following materials:

• Unofficial transcripts for all prior universities you attended for any period.
• Three (3) letters of recommendation.
• A statement of purpose.
• A résumé or CV.

Please refer to our Graduate Application Requirements page for a comprehensive overview of admissions procedures and dates.

Tuition & Financial Aid

At the Pardee School, we believe you and your education are worth the investment. That’s why we work hard to help you fund your graduate degree. When you apply for full-time enrollment, we automatically consider you for merit-based scholarships to help cover the cost of your MPG degree, which is $64,712 per year. If you receive a scholarship, we will notify you when issuing your admissions decision.

Connect with the Financial Aid office to learn more about available funding opportunities.

Up to $5K Internship Stipend

As a graduate student at the Pardee School, you have the opportunity to apply for the coveted Michael T. Corgan Internship Fund, which awards a stipend to selected students as they embark on an unpaid summer internship in the international affairs discipline.

Through this internship fund, you have the exciting opportunity to gain career-advancing experience while also receiving additional financial support of up to $5,000.

Learn more about the Michael T. Corgan Internship Fund, eligibility requirements, and how to apply.

Make a Lasting Global Impact—Specialize Your Master’s in Environmental Policy

The Pardee School’s Master of Arts in Global Policy with a Specialization in Environmental Policy offers an experiential graduate education that accelerates your career growth.

With an emphasis on real-world application, the Environmental Policy specialization program builds your fundamental knowledge of global environmental legislation and human-environment interaction while strengthening specialized skills and critical thinking. Upon completing the master’s program, you can tackle global challenges with sustainable, equitable solutions.

Ready to begin your graduate journey? Apply to the Pardee School’s MA in Global Policy program today! If you have questions or need more information, we encourage you to submit an RFI form.