• Note: For certain locations, program enrollment is onsite with online instruction.

  • This program is offered online.

  • Bachelor of Science in Environmental Policy and Management

    Pursue a path to sustainability by acquiring green-related knowledge and skills that could make you an asset to employers in a variety of settings.* Our Bachelor of Science in Environmental Policy and Management degree offers an interdisciplinary opportunity to study environmental issues and policy by exploring the interrelationship between public and private sectors and society, economics, and the environment.

    Explore the latest case studies, research, and knowledge as you learn from professors with real-world expertise in the environmental and sustainability fields. And enjoy collaborating with professors and classmates via live seminars, discussions boards, and one-on-one instructor interaction.

    Bachelor of Science in Environmental Policy and Management Program Highlights

    You will have the opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the environmental policy-making process and develop the knowledge base to create and enforce policies in a variety of fields. This degree program curriculum focuses on the environment in conjunction with a set of core courses in science, economics, and policy. 

    This program is designed to teach you:

    • Research Methods: Apply methods and tools to retrieve, analyze, and utilize primary and secondary sources of information and data
    • Socially Responsible Leadership: Apply principles of social responsibility to decision-making actions and interactions
    • Environmental Management: Apply concepts, theories, and principles of environmental management to evaluate and recommend solutions for managing the environment
    • Environmental Policy and Law: Assess environmental policy and its impact on local, state, and national systems and communities
    • Global Environmental Issues: Analyze issues of the environment within the context of the global arena 

    Fast Track to Your Master’s Degree

    Eligible students in this bachelor's degree program who want to continue on to pursue a master's degree within the School of Public Safety or School of Legal Studies may be interested in the accelerated master's degree option. Students complete graduate-level courses within this undergraduate plan of study. Once accepted to the master’s degree program, students transfer in the graduate courses and matriculate into a shortened degree plan. This accelerated option allows students to complete both their bachelor's degree and master's degree in less time and at a lower cost than completing both programs separately. Accelerated options are offered for the following programs. Qualification for accelerated options is subject to eligibility requirements

    Your Degree Could Lead to Greener Career Paths

    The green economy expansion has created a cluster of new occupations.† Make an impact in the green economy with a degree program that could help prepare you to pursue a career in industries ranging from environmentally regulated businesses to government agencies to nonprofit environmental advocacy groups. Explore a range of careers in the environmental field including: sustainability coordinator, corporate environmental specialist, environmental policy consultant or advisor, compliance specialist, or environmental planner.*

    Advanced Start Option

    If you already have an associate's degree from another accredited institution, our advanced start program may help you earn a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Policy and Management in as little as two years.‡  

  • Kaplan University offers multiple start dates, giving you greater flexibility with your education, life, and work schedules.

    Jul 31

    Online Start Date
    Jul 31, 2013

    Oct 16

    Online Start Date
    Oct 16, 2013

    View the Academic Calendar

  • Curriculum: Standard Track

    Core

    100/200 LEVEL: COMMUNICATION COURSE (5  Credits)

    Total Core Credits: 33
    Total Program Credits: 180

    100/200 LEVEL: MATHEMATICS COURSE (5 Credits)

    Total Core Credits: 33
    Total Program Credits: 180

    200 LEVEL: COMMUNICATION COURSE (5 Credits)

    Total Core Credits: 33
    Total Program Credits: 180

    300/400 LEVEL: ARTS AND HUMANITIES COURSE (6 Credits)

    Total Core Credits: 33
    Total Program Credits: 180

    300/400 LEVEL: PHYSICAL SCIENCE COURSE (6 Credits)

    Total Core Credits: 33
    Total Program Credits: 180

    300/400 LEVEL: SOCIAL SCIENCE COURSE (6 Credits)

    Total Core Credits: 33
    Total Program Credits: 180

    Major

    LS 100: EIGHT SKILLS OF THE EFFECTIVE LEGAL STUDIES STUDENT (5 Credits)

    This course is an important component of the new student experience in the School of Legal Studies' legal studies program at Kaplan University. It is designed to ensure legal studies students' successful social and academic transition into and pursuit of academic excellence within the Kaplan University community and provide a foundation for success within the profession. Students will be introduced to eight key skills (reading, writing, research, planning, thinking, organizing, interviewing, and communicating) through dynamic and engaging interactions and presentations by practicing professionals. "Real-life" examples and interactions with practicing professionals will provide students with a sense of the culture and nuances of the field. The goal of this course is for students to become academically, personally, and socially successful within and beyond this intellectual community.

    Total Major Credits: 93
    Total Program Credits: 180

    EM 101: INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND MANAGEMENT (5 Credits)

    This course will explore the origins of the major environmental laws and their intent, structure, and limitations in the United States. It will examine the laws' evolution and implementation over the past few decades with particular focus on the relationship between the federal government and the states. The course will also address the subsequent rise of the environmental movement and its influence on legislation.

    Total Major Credits: 93
    Total Program Credits: 180

    EM 205: THE POLITICS OF MANAGING THE ENVIRONMENT (5 Credits)

    This course is designed to provide an introduction to the study of environmental politics and policy in the United States from federal to state and local levels. It explores the role of key policy groups in environmental policy formation and implementation. Additionally, there is an examination of the role of grassroots movements in shaping public policies.

    Prerequisites Required: EM 101

    Total Major Credits: 93
    Total Program Credits: 180

    MM 207: STATISTICS (5 Credits)

    This course serves as an introduction to collecting, organizing and summarizing, and analyzing data using statistical software. Topics include basic terminology, measurement, sampling procedures, graphical and numerical descriptions of data, basic probability, and making inferences from a sample to the population. Statistical software is provided in the course and extensive use of that software is required. The course focuses on “thinking with” statistics rather than “computing” statistics.

    Total Major Credits: 93
    Total Program Credits: 180

    PP 110: ETHICS AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (5 Credits)

    This course will introduce students to the basic concepts, principles, and theories of ethics and demonstrate the role that these might play in the formation of public policy. The course will also survey various social issues, explore current policies that deal with them, and subject these policies to an ethics analysis. The overall aim of the course is to assist students in developing their critical thinking skills and to persuasively argue their position on the ethics of individual public policy programs.

    Prerequisites Required:

    Total Major Credits: 93
    Total Program Credits: 180

    PP 201: INTRODUCTION TO POLICY MAKING (5 Credits)

    This course will focus on legislative policy making and all the components that dictate whether a particular proposal becomes law. Students will examine how the elected official's desires, both political and otherwise, interact with the goals of colleagues, special interest groups, staff members, the media, and the legislative process to create legislation.

    Prerequisites Required:

    Total Major Credits: 93
    Total Program Credits: 180

    PP 205: INTRODUCTION TO ADMINISTRATIVE LAW (5 Credits)

    Administrative law is the body of law that defines and describes the behavior of agencies. Students will study the legal relationship of government agencies to the legislatures, the courts, and private parties. This course is designed through the public policy lens and will probe into the legislative, legal, and political aspects of regulating in the public interest.

    Total Major Credits: 93
    Total Program Credits: 180

    PP 220: SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP (5 Credits)

    This course is intended to enable participants to understand, evaluate, and reflect on leadership as well as develop their own leadership skills through experiential exercises. It will examine the nature and varieties of leadership by elected and appointed officials in government, officials and volunteers in nonprofit organizations, leaders of political movements, and community groups.

    Total Major Credits: 93
    Total Program Credits: 180

    SC 225: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-ECOSYSTEMS, RESOURCES, AND CARBON FOOTPRINTS (5 Credits)

    This course offers students a chance to apply basic scientific principles to an exploration of the environment and the role of humans within it. The course addresses the interrelationships between natural systems and the increasingly industrial, technological societies humans create. Students will examine a variety of ethical and cultural perspectives on nature and the environment, with an eye toward giving students the skills to think critically about global challenges such as energy, food, population, and climate change. As part of this ongoing analysis, students will examine how they might be able to apply sustainable living concepts to their personal lives and reduce their own carbon footprint.

    Total Major Credits: 93
    Total Program Credits: 180

    EM 305: THE ECONOMICS OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (6 Credits)

    This course will focus on environmental policy analysis from the perspective of economics and management. Students will examine the economic concepts of efficiency, valuation criteria, instrument design, and cost analysis. Particular attention will be paid to the application of economic principles and related techniques to support decision making and policy in pursuit of sustainable development.

    Prerequisites Required: MM 207

    Total Major Credits: 93
    Total Program Credits: 180

    EM 410: THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT (6 Credits)

    This course will explore the impact of social and economic processes on the global environment. Students will examine global ecological interdependence and its implications for the institutions of governance, both nationally and internationally.

    Total Major Credits: 93
    Total Program Credits: 180

    EM 430: ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ANALYSIS (6 Credits)

    Students will examine how developing and analyzing environmental policies involves balancing social, political, and economic considerations. This course encompasses the process of policy analysis, stakeholder impact, methods of analyzing and selecting the most appropriate policy response, and the effective communication of results to constituents and policymakers.

    Prerequisites Required: EM 101

    Total Major Credits: 93
    Total Program Credits: 180

    LS 302: ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND POLICY (6 Credits)

    This course is an exploration of the statutory and regulatory basis of environmental law and will provide a basic overview of the major state and federal acts and regulations governing environmental law.

    Prerequisites Required:

    EM  101, LS 102, PA 101, PO 101, or PP 101

    Total Major Credits: 93
    Total Program Credits: 180

    PP 310: FINANCE AND BUDGETING IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR (6 Credits)

    This course examines the public budgetary process and related financial management techniques. It reviews the rationale for government intervention in the marketplace and rationale for sources of public revenue. The course will equip students with the knowledge, vocabulary, skills, and practical tools needed to participate skillfully and ethically in public finance decision making, and to assume a leadership role in guiding dialogue about resource acquisition and allocation choices.

    Total Major Credits: 93
    Total Program Credits: 180

    PP 420: PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS (6 Credits)

    Public-private partnerships provide a unique way for the government and private developers to work together to create sustainable and profitable urban infill developments. This course explores the structure of private and public sector partnerships and their unique interrelationship in support of government and municipal projects.

    Total Major Credits: 93
    Total Program Credits: 180

    EM 499: BACHELOR'S CAPSTONE IN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND MANAGEMENT (6 Credits)

    This capstone course is the culminating experience for the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Policy and Management. This course builds on the concepts of all the courses students have taken within the program of study. The capstone course provides students with the opportunity to integrate and synthesize the knowledge and skills required throughout their coursework in an original comprehensive project, and to assess their level of mastery of the stated outcomes of their degree program. Students will conduct an approved research project under the supervision of a program chair or full-time faculty member in the school.

    Prerequisites Required: Last term or permission on the Dean

    Total Major Credits: 93
    Total Program Credits: 180

    PP 460: GRANT WRITING (6 Credits)

    This course covers the essentials of writing to acquire grants for private, public, or government use. Students will learn how to interpret the RFP, shape proposal concepts, and create needs statements, goals, objectives, strategies, and program budgets. Topics include writing, researching, and obtaining and maintaining operations and strategies within the grant system.

    Prerequisites Required:

    PP 450: PROGRAM EVALUATION (6 Credits)

    Students will study the methods and techniques used to assess effectiveness and monitor the performance of programs. Specific attention is given to theories, research, and practice related to program evaluation. The skills learned in this course will assist the practitioner in determining the effectiveness of new or existing programs in public organizations.

    Total Major Credits: 93
    Total Program Credits: 180

    Electives

    OPEN ELECTIVES (54 Credits)

    Total Electives Credits: 54
    Total Program Credits: 180

    Eligible students who choose to complete the accelerated master's degree option will take four graduate-level courses in addition to selected undergraduate electives.

    Prior Degree

    Total Prior Degree Credits (90 Credits)

    Total Prior Degree Credits: 90
    Total Program Credits: 90

    *Comparability is determined by a course-by-course examination of the prior associate's or bachelor's degree against the core requirements of a Kaplan University associate’s degree.

    Prerequisites

    EM 101: INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND MANAGEMENT (5 Credits)

    This course will explore the origins of the major environmental laws and their intent, structure, and limitations in the United States. It will examine the laws' evolution and implementation over the past few decades with particular focus on the relationship between the federal government and the states. The course will also address the subsequent rise of the environmental movement and its influence on legislation.

    Total Prerequisites Credits: 15
    Total Program Credits: 90

    MM 207: STATISTICS (5 Credits)

    This course serves as an introduction to collecting, organizing and summarizing, and analyzing data using statistical software. Topics include basic terminology, measurement, sampling procedures, graphical and numerical descriptions of data, basic probability, and making inferences from a sample to the population. Statistical software is provided in the course and extensive use of that software is required. The course focuses on “thinking with” statistics rather than “computing” statistics.

    Total Prerequisites Credits: 15
    Total Program Credits: 90

    SC 225: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-ECOSYSTEMS, RESOURCES, AND CARBON FOOTPRINTS (5 Credits)

    This course offers students a chance to apply basic scientific principles to an exploration of the environment and the role of humans within it. The course addresses the interrelationships between natural systems and the increasingly industrial, technological societies humans create. Students will examine a variety of ethical and cultural perspectives on nature and the environment, with an eye toward giving students the skills to think critically about global challenges such as energy, food, population, and climate change. As part of this ongoing analysis, students will examine how they might be able to apply sustainable living concepts to their personal lives and reduce their own carbon footprint.

    Total Prerequisites Credits: 15
    Total Program Credits: 90

    Core

    300/400 LEVEL: ARTS AND HUMANITIES COURSE (6 Credits)

    Total Core Credits: 18
    Total Program Credits: 90

    300/400 LEVEL: PHYSICAL SCIENCE COURSE (6 Credits)

    Total Core Credits: 18
    Total Program Credits: 90

    300/400 LEVEL: SOCIAL SCIENCE COURSE (6 Credits)

    Total Core Credits: 18
    Total Program Credits: 90

    Major

    EM 305: THE ECONOMICS OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (6 Credits)

    This course will focus on environmental policy analysis from the perspective of economics and management. Students will examine the economic concepts of efficiency, valuation criteria, instrument design, and cost analysis. Particular attention will be paid to the application of economic principles and related techniques to support decision making and policy in pursuit of sustainable development.

    Prerequisites Required: MM 207

    Total Major Credits: 48
    Total Program Credits: 90

    EM 410: THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT (6 Credits)

    This course will explore the impact of social and economic processes on the global environment. Students will examine global ecological interdependence and its implications for the institutions of governance, both nationally and internationally.

    Total Major Credits: 48
    Total Program Credits: 90

    EM 430: ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ANALYSIS (6 Credits)

    Students will examine how developing and analyzing environmental policies involves balancing social, political, and economic considerations. This course encompasses the process of policy analysis, stakeholder impact, methods of analyzing and selecting the most appropriate policy response, and the effective communication of results to constituents and policymakers.

    Prerequisites Required: EM 101

    Total Major Credits: 48
    Total Program Credits: 90

    LS 302: ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND POLICY (6 Credits)

    This course is an exploration of the statutory and regulatory basis of environmental law and will provide a basic overview of the major state and federal acts and regulations governing environmental law.

    Prerequisites Required:

    EM  101, LS 102, PA 101, PO 101, or PP 101

    Total Major Credits: 48
    Total Program Credits: 90

    PP 310: FINANCE AND BUDGETING IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR (6 Credits)

    This course examines the public budgetary process and related financial management techniques. It reviews the rationale for government intervention in the marketplace and rationale for sources of public revenue. The course will equip students with the knowledge, vocabulary, skills, and practical tools needed to participate skillfully and ethically in public finance decision making, and to assume a leadership role in guiding dialogue about resource acquisition and allocation choices.

    Total Major Credits: 48
    Total Program Credits: 90

    PP 420: PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS (6 Credits)

    Public-private partnerships provide a unique way for the government and private developers to work together to create sustainable and profitable urban infill developments. This course explores the structure of private and public sector partnerships and their unique interrelationship in support of government and municipal projects.

    Total Major Credits: 48
    Total Program Credits: 90

    EM 499: BACHELOR'S CAPSTONE IN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND MANAGEMENT (6 Credits)

    This capstone course is the culminating experience for the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Policy and Management. This course builds on the concepts of all the courses students have taken within the program of study. The capstone course provides students with the opportunity to integrate and synthesize the knowledge and skills required throughout their coursework in an original comprehensive project, and to assess their level of mastery of the stated outcomes of their degree program. Students will conduct an approved research project under the supervision of a program chair or full-time faculty member in the school.

    Prerequisites Required: Last term or permission on the Dean

    Total Major Credits: 48
    Total Program Credits: 90

    PP 460: GRANT WRITING (6 Credits)

    This course covers the essentials of writing to acquire grants for private, public, or government use. Students will learn how to interpret the RFP, shape proposal concepts, and create needs statements, goals, objectives, strategies, and program budgets. Topics include writing, researching, and obtaining and maintaining operations and strategies within the grant system.

    Prerequisites Required:

    PP 450: PROGRAM EVALUATION (6 Credits)

    Students will study the methods and techniques used to assess effectiveness and monitor the performance of programs. Specific attention is given to theories, research, and practice related to program evaluation. The skills learned in this course will assist the practitioner in determining the effectiveness of new or existing programs in public organizations.

    Total Major Credits: 48
    Total Program Credits: 90

    Electives

    300/400 LEVEL: OPEN ELECTIVES (24 Credits)

    Total Electives Credits: 24
    Total Program Credits: 90

    Eligible students who choose to complete the accelerated master's degree option will take four graduate-level courses in addition to selected undergraduate electives.

    Tuition & Fees: Standard Track

    The 25% tuition reduction applies only to international students living outside of the United States. This discount does not apply to military students. Please check with your advisor to see if you are eligible. 

    The 25% tuition reduction applies only to international students living outside of the United States. This discount does not apply to military students. Please check with your advisor to see if you are eligible. 

    Standard Track Online &
    Learning Center     		Campus
    Cost Per Credit
    Number of Credits / Terms  
    Total Tuition Cost

    Tuition and Fees

    Some programs have additional associated fees that are not included in the price of tuition. Click here or check with an Admissions Advisor for more information. 

    Learn More about Kaplan University Tuition and Fees  

    Notice to Learning Center Students

    Kaplan University Learning Center students will only complete a portion of this program on site. You will need to complete at least 50% of the program requirements online, or through transfer credit awarded via prior learning assessment. If you have any questions about these requirements, please speak with an admissions advisor.

    Scholarships and Grants

    Learn more about grants and Kaplan University Scholarships and that may help reduce the cost of your education.

    Kaplan University tuition reductions (including active-duty, spouse, and veterans military tuition rates; scholarships; grants; vouchers; and alumni and alliance reductions) cannot be combined. 

    Tuition Rates for Military Students and Spouses

    Kaplan University has significantly reduced many of our tuition rates and fees for active-duty servicemembers, their spouses, and veterans. Click here for more information.
     

  • Some states have additional curricular requirements. Check the University Catalog or speak with an Admissions Advisor.

  • * Kaplan University cannot guarantee employment or career advancement.

    † Source: O*Net OnLine, The Green Economy, on the Internet at http://www.onetcenter.org/green.html?p=2. 

    ‡ Associate’s and bachelor’s degrees and credits considered to be remedial, occupational, or specialized may not be accepted for transfer. Average completion time based on a full-time schedule. Programs will take longer for part-time students to complete. Refer to the University Catalog for our Transfer of Credit policy.

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