Master of Arts in Political Science

The Environmental Politics and Policy Analysis concentration is designed to offer an understanding of the interplay among policy, politics, and economics in the environmental realm. Through an interdisciplinary curriculum, the concentration provides students with the methodological and analytic skills necessary to analyze environmental policy issues.

Graduate Bulletin Concentration Description

Concentration Requirements

• P S 5001 - Scope and Methods (3)

• P S 5002 - Research Methods and Statistics (3)

• P S 5900 - Internship in Public Affairs (3-6)*

• P S 5670 - Advanced Environmental Politics (3)

• ECO 5621 - Environmental Economics and Policy (3)

• ECO 5660 - Benefit-Cost Analysis (3)

• P A 5180 - Public Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation (3)

• 9-12 hours of graduate electives in consultation with the program director; with at least one from the following: 

  • Policy and Governance

    
    P_A 5060 - Seminar in Public Administration (3)
    P_S 5010 - Seminar in Political Philosophy (3)
    P_S 5020 - Pro-Seminar in International Relations (3)
    P_S 5030 - Seminar in American Government and Politics (3)
    P_S 5040 - Pro-Seminar in Comparative Politics (3)
    P_S 5150 - Seminar in Public Policy (3)
    P_S 5330 - Problems in State and Local Government (3)
    P_S 5675 - Readings and Research in Environmental Policy (3)

  • Professional Skills

    GHY 5810 - Satellites, Drones, and Spatial Analysis (3) [DL]
    GHY 5812 - GIS Analysis and Modeling (3) [DL]
    P_A 5271 - Grants Strategies and Preparation (3)
    P_A 5460 - Budgeting and Fiscal Administration (3)

    PLN 5425 - Task-Oriented Group Facilitation Methods (3) [CL]
    or

    COM 5425 - Task-Oriented Group Facilitation Methods (3) [CL]

    PLN 5470 - Community and Economic Development (3)
    P_S 5675 - Readings and Research in Environmental Policy (3)
    P_S 5800 - Directed Research (3)
    TEC 5129 - Project Management (3)

  • Scientific Principles
    BIO 5222 - Communities and Ecosystem Ecology (4)
    BIO 5502 - Freshwater Ecology (4)
    BIO 5575 - Ecotoxicology (4) [DL]
    GHY 5820 - Geographical Hydrology (3) [DL]
    G_S 5510 - Environmental Problems (3)
    P_S 5675 - Readings and Research in Environmental Policy (3)
    TEC 5605 - Sustainable Resource Management (3)
    TEC 5606 - Sustainable Water and Wastewater Technology (3)

Environmental Politics and Economics Faculty 

University Centers and Academic Units related to the Environment

• Research Institute for Environment, Energy, and Economics (RIEEE)

• Center for Economic Research and Policy Analysis (CERPA)

• Appalachian State University Energy Center (AEC)

• Southern Appalachian Environmental Research and Education Center (SAEREC)

• Appalachian State Department of Economics 

Recent Alumni Placement

• Social Scientist at South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Charleston, SC

• Managing Editor at PS: Political Science & Politics, Washington D.C.

• Finance and Administration Manager at U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, Washington D.C.

• Administrative Assistant for Kids in Parks at Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, Asheville, NC

• Government Relations Associate at Patient Services, Inc., Richmond, VA

• Transportation Analyst at Wake County Government, Raleigh, NC

• Doctoral Student, Purdue University

• Doctoral Candidate, Michigan State University

• Doctoral Candidate, University of North Carolina at Charlotte