Environmental Science and Policy, BA/MS

Overview

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The future of the planet is at stake: we must challenge convention

Right now, communities across the globe are facing existential threats to their ecosystems, with dire consequences for their health and wellbeing. The convergent challenges of toxic pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change undermine our food, water, health, and energy systems, deepening social and economic inequities.

At Clark University, we are not daunted by these challenges - our creativity and resolve are inspired by them. Our Master of Science degree in Environmental Science & Policy will equip you with the knowledge and skills to make a difference.

A distinctive approach to address environmental challenges

The Environmental Science & Policy program will prepare you to enact just and sustainable solutions through collaboration and experiential learning. Our students learn by working alongside those most impacted by social and ecological inequities.

Grounded in rigorous environmental science, you will learn how to integrate diverse forms of knowledge, forge meaningful partnerships, and catalyze change in systems and structures.

Chart a just and sustainable future

Our curriculum focuses on the interaction between environmental knowledge, governance, and justice. You will learn to navigate and influence the complex governance structures that shape decision-making at local, national, and international scales. Internships, studio courses, and field work provide real-world experiences and insights.

STEM Designated Program. If you are an international student with an MS in Environmental Science and Policy, you may be eligible to work in the US for up to 36 months on Optional Practical Training (OPT).

The Accelerated BA/MS Program in ES&P offers intense graduate-level study, using a liberal arts BA degree as the springboard.

Eligibility Requirements

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Students in any undergraduate field are eligible to apply for the BA/MS degree, though Environmental Science (ES) undergraduate majors have a significant advantage in preparation. Majors in other disciplines are required to take the preparatory courses listed below:

Requirements for non-ES, non-science majors:

• One introductory ES&P course: e.g. EN 101  or EN 120  
• One semester of statistics: e.g. GEOG 110  or BIOL 106  
• One introductory science course from the following list: BIOL 101  ; BIOL 102  ; CHEM 101  ; CHEM 102  ;PHYS 110  ; PHYS 111  
• Two elective science courses, chosen from the list of Science electives for the ES&P track in the undergraduate ES major or from the list of Natural Science electives for the undergraduate GES major.

Requirements for non-ES, science majors:

• Two social science courses from the list of social science electives for the  ES&P track in the undergraduate ES major.

Students are required to meet with the ES&P Accelerated Degree Program advisor prior to April 1 as a formal part of the admissions process. This meeting is intended to assist prospective students in assessing the appropriateness of the degree to their professional aspirations. The student applies to the MS program by completing the Online Application no later than April 15 of the junior year. Please note that application deadlines differ for students who are graduating off cycle (either a semester early or late) or who have advanced standing; such students should contact Graduate Admissions for alternative dates.

Program Adviser

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In the Junior year, students applying to the BA/MS Program are required to meet with the designated program adviser and have them sign the Accelerated Degree Program Adviser Form. The signed form confirms the student and program adviser have discussed the requirements of the program. This form is also available on the Graduate Admissions website. 

The designated program adviser is:

Professor Cynthia Caron
SSJ Department
ccaron@clarku.edu
508-793-8879

*Once you have started your MS year, you may be assigned a different faculty advisor.

Any students considering applying to the Accelerated Degree Program should read and understand the Accelerated Degree Program Policies and Procedures .

Fees

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This program is eligible for up to 100% tuition remission rate for a student’s fifth year graduate program.  There is a one-time program fee in the first semester of graduate study.  The student continues to be responsible for paying other enrollment and activity fees as well as their housing, books and personal items.  Tuition and fees are set annually by the Board of Trustees.

For those working to complete their research-based 10th unit beyond the MS year, there is a $200 fee (per semester) for non-residency status registration.

Program of Study

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The master’s degree in ES&P requires 10 graduate course units. Students will take the following:

Core Courses (2 units), Sustainability Studies (1 unit), Social Change and Institutional Transformation (1 unit), Fundamental Skills (2 units), Methods of Inquiry and Subject Matter Electives (2 units), Intersectionality (0.5 units), Common Seminar (0.5 unit) and one Experiential Learning unit.

As a small, vibrant interdisciplinary research university, Clark strongly encourages its students to take advantage of the courses offered within SSJ, as well as associated departments: Geography, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Economics, and Management.

ES&P Program Requirements

The two core courses provide ES&P graduate students with a common academic foundation in science, policy, and integration of the two:

• SSJ 30287 - Fundamentals of Environmental Science  . Required. This foundation science class gives students the literacy and skills needed to understand the science behind environmental problems that affect us all: water pollution; air pollution; environmental health risks; population growth and the over-exploitation of natural resources. It also strengthens math skills and quantitative ability. Principles from science (especially Physics and Chemistry), as well as mathematical tools, are used to address two main types of environmental problem: a) problems of pollution; and b) problems of natural resource over-exploitation

AND EITHER

• SSJ 30118 - Science Meets Policy in the Real World  . Option. This workshop-style course explores the intersection of science and policy using case studies. Real-world problems are inherently complex: this course considers how to better understand such problems from multiple perspectives, then use this knowledge to inform how society may respond in the form of policies, programs, projects and practices.

OR

• SSJ 31218 - Environmental Governance and Justice  . Option.This course explores the principles, structures, and practices of environmental governance at various levels, from local to global with a focus on justice and equity. Students will examine the role of governments, non-governmental organizations, and community stakeholders in shaping environmental policies and regulations. Students will also learn how to assess environmental governance through the lens of justice and ethics. The course is divided into three parts, covering concepts and frameworks, actors and stakeholders, and environmental governance case studies.

 

Sustainability Studies (select 1 unit)

• SSJ 367 - Climate Change Adaptation  
• SSJ 365 - Cities, Regions, Climate Change & Health  
• SSJ 332 - Sustainable Development Assessment and Planning  
• SSJ 334 - Planning and Zoning for Community Developers  
• SSJ 30701 - Beyond the Population Bomb: Rethinking Population and The Environment in an Era of Climate Change  
• SSJ 30245 - Natural Resource Management  
• SSJ 30205 - Climate Change, Energy and Development  
• SSJ 30117 - Place-Based Ecological Knowledge  

 

Social Change and Institutional Transformation (select 1 unit)

• SSJ 3xx - Climate Change and Social Justice
• SSJ 30297 - Refugees, Forced Migration, and Belonging  
• SSJ 341 - Nongovernment Organizations: Catalysts for Development  
• SSJ 309 - Policy Analysis  
• SSJ 30115 - Community Power, Community Change  
• SSJ 30247 - Development Economics, its Discontents and Alternatives  
• SSJ 30101 - The Political Economy of Food and the Ethics of Eating  

 

Fundamental Skills (select 2 units)

• Project Management
  • SSJ 361 - Project Management for Social Change  
• Monitoring and Evaluation
  • SSJ 319 - Quantitative Methods and Statistics For Evaluators  
  • SSJ 30281 - Community Needs and Resource Analysis  
  • SSJ 30229 - Program Monitoring and Evaluation Fundamentals  
  • SSJ 30203 - Program Evaluation for Youth and Community Development Initiatives  
• Spatial Analysis
  • SSJ 388 - Advanced Vector GIS  
  • SSJ 376 - Spatial Database Development  
  • SSJ 310 - Intro to Geographic Information Science  
  • SSJ 30393 - Social Applications of GIS  
  • SSJ 30306 - GIS for International Development  
  • SSJ 30274 - Computer Programming for GIS  
  • SSJ 30262 - Web Mapping and Open Source GIS  
  • SSJ 302 - Python Programming  
• Organizational Change and Leadership
  • SSJ 335 - Strategies for Community Organizing  
  • SSJ 341 - Nongovernment Organizations: Catalysts for Development  
  • SSJ 345 - CDP Practice: Reflection and Deliberate Practice  
  • SSJ 31118 - Non Profit Resource Development  
  • SSJ 30296 - Nonprofit Management  

 

Methods of Inquiry and Subject Matter Electives (select 2 units)

• Research Methods and Design
  • SSJ 30291 - Qualitative Research Methods  
• Human Rights and Mobilities Inquiry
  • SSJ 347 - Human Rights Strategy, Tactics, and Practice  
  • SSJ 330 - Theory and Methods in Genocide and Human Rights Studies  
  • SSJ 30108 - Research Methods for Forced Migration  
• Climate Change and Justice Inquiry
  • SSJ 30334 - Special Topics   (Climate Narratives)
• Independent Research Options
  • SSJ 399 - Directed Study   
• Development
  • SSJ 395 - Culture, Environment, and Development  
  • SSJ 333 - Development Mgmt in Developing Countries  
  • SSJ 329 - Property and Community  
  • SSJ 30204 - Advanced Community Development Finance and Research  
  • SSJ 30112 - Housing Policy and Practice  
• Global and Community Health
  • SSJ 377 - Approaches to Global Health  
  • SSJ 308 - Health (in)Equity: Social Determinants and Policy Solutions  
• Refugees, Migrants, and Human Rights
  • SSJ 30235 - Trafficking: Globalization and Its Illicit Commodities  
  • SSJ 30231 - Humanitarian Assistances in Complex Emergencies/Disasters  
  • SSJ 30107 - Forced Migration and the City  
• Education, Youth, and Development
  • SSJ 314 - Education and Youth in a Global Context  
  • SSJ 340 - Fundamentals of Youth Work  
  • SSJ 30365 - Global Issues in Education  

 

Intersectionality (0.5 units)

• SSJ 31119 - Intersectional Justice Movements  

 

 Common Seminar (0.5 units)

• SSJ 30180 - Principles and Ethics in Community Engagement  

 

Experiential Learning (select 1 unit)

• SSJ XXX - Environmental Knowledge, Justice, and Government Studio
• SSJ 398 - Internship  

Sustainability and Social Justice Program Faculty

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David Bell, Ed.D.

Ramón Borges-Méndez Ph.D
Nigel Brissett, Ph.D.
Cynthia Caron, Ph.D.

Timothy Downs D.Env.
Anita Fábos, Ph.D.
Jude Fernando, Ph.D.
Ellen Foley, Ph.D.
Denise Humphreys Bebbington Ph.D.

Eman Lasheen, Ph.D.
Ken MacLean, Ph.D.

Yelena Ogneva-Himmelberger Ph.D.
Margaret Post, Ph.D.
Laurie Ross, Ph.D.

Morgan Ruelle, Ph.D.