Environmental Policy Programs
M.A. Degree in Northern Studies - Global Environmental Policy
Scope
This concentration in Northern Studies examines the relationships between complex global environmental issues (e.g., ozone depletion, biodiversity, climate change, ocean pollution) and policy responses at all levels of government, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations. While the program emphasis stems from concerns of the circumpolar north, the courses offer a broad contextual examination of global environmental politics and policy processes. It will help prepare students for a variety of public and private sector professional opportunities dealing with local, national, and international environmental issues. Students who already have backgrounds in the environmental sciences will receive valuable training in the policy-oriented aspects of their professions. The program can also prepare interested students for advanced, doctoral training.
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Requirements
You may click on the course titles to view their syllabi. The course content is dynamic. These syllabi are subject to change from year to year in response to events and trends.
NORS 600 -- Perspectives of the North (annual, fall)
NORS 601 -- Research Methods and Sources in the North (annual, spring)
NORS 613 -- Wilderness and Environmental Psychology (fall, 2002, 2004)
NORS 647 -- U.S. Environmental Politics (spring, 2002, 2004)
NORS 648 -- Environmental Politics of the Circumpolar North (spring, 2003, 2005)
NORS 654 -- International Law and the Environment (spring, 2003, 2005)
NORS 655 -- Political Economy of the Global Environment (fall, 2002, 2004)
NORS 656 -- Science, Technology and Politics (spring, 2002, 2004)
NORS 658 -- Comparative Environmental Politics (fall, 2003, 2005)
NORS 698 -- Project (6 credits) or NORS 699 -- Thesis (6-12 credits)
Minimum credits required for the degree -- 30. The degree can be completed in two years.
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Delivery
Courses in the Global Environmental Policy (GEP) concentration, as well as the two NORS core courses, are offered in a dual-delivery format. Each is offered either as a face-to-face seminar for students attending the Fairbanks campus or in a user-friendly online version for off-campus students. Professional workshops, special sessions of seminars, conferences, and other events will bring students and faculty together to explore topics and practical issues of environmental policy.
Further Information
UAF Graduate School - phone: 907.474.7464
The Northern Studies program (email) - phone: 907.474.5266
Global Environmental Policy (email) - phone: 907.474.6502
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Undergraduate Environmental Politics
Scope
The Minor in Environmental Politics will provide students of any major with the background needed to understand the national and international contexts within which political decisions about the natural environment are made. Coursework includes in depth examinations of contending philosophical and theoretical perspectives on the environment; cross-national comparisons of approaches to resource development and environmental regulation; critical evaluations of international environmental laws and institutions; the relationship between environmental protection and national security; and the interplay of environmental and economic interests in the global political economy. Current topics such as climate change, biodiversity, air and water quality, wilderness preservation, and sustainable development will be examined along with the changing roles of local and national governments, regional and global institutions, and non-governmental organizations.
Requirements
1. Complete the following required courses (6 credits):
PS 100X – Political Economy - to fulfill the university core requirement
PS 101 – American Government and Politics
2. Complete any four of the following courses (12 credits):
PS 447 – U.S. Environmental Politics
PS 448 – Environmental Politics of the Circumpolar North
PS 454 – International Law and Environment
PS 455 – Political Economy of the Environment
PS 456 – Science, Technology, and Politics
PS 458 – Comparative Environmental Politics
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Delivery
The Environmental Politics courses are offered in traditional classroom settings. Classes are small and provide excellent faculty-student interaction. Professional workshops, special sessions of seminars, conferences, and other events will bring students and faculty together to explore topics and practical issues of environmental politics. Students are also encouraged to pursue their own research interests through local and national internships.
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Further Information
The Department of Political Science (email)
phone: 907.474.7609
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