Master of Arts [M.A] [Global Environmental Policy] From American University

During this two-year program, students master theoretical and conceptual frameworks for analyzing environmental problems, gain experience in the practice of policy formation and implementation, and develop research, writing and professional communication skills to enable them to participate in the global environmental policy process.

Recent graduates have undertaken career tracks in government agencies, non-governmental organizations, multilateral lending institutions, environmental activist groups, consulting firms, and for-profit entities.

The Global Environmental Policy program is comprised of courses in global policy studies, environmental science, economics, international environmental politics, and environmental law. The policy component includes both classroom and experiential learning opportunities that build a strong foundation in the legal and political dimensions of policy formation and implementation. The natural science component consists of a two-semester sequence of environmental science courses in which students study the biophysical dimensions of environmental challenges. The economics component aims to provide a general overview of economic theory plus a specific awareness of the relationships among economics, natural resources, and the environment. Elective courses drawn from a rich selection of offerings permit students to deepen their expertise in particular areas of global environmental policy.

Depth of knowledge is ensured through the relatively small size of the Global Environmental Policy program and the fact that most classes are seminars, providing frequent opportunity for student-faculty interchange. As students proceed through the Program, they work closely with individual faculty members to develop their own substantive area of interest.

Offered by the School of International Service, the Global Environmental Policy program provides an in-depth understanding of both the biophysical dimensions of environmental issues and the socioeconomic and political processes that shape the relationship between human beings and the natural world. Graduates are equipped to engage in the policymaking process and develop policy-formulation skills for an increasingly complex, threatened, and interdependent world.