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Bachelor of Science in Environmental Policy and Management

School of Legal Studies

Study environmental issues and policy by exploring the interrelationship between public and private sectors and society, economics, and the environment.
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Kaplan University’s Bachelor of Science in Environmental Policy and Management 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. This program is designed to help you apply your talent in pursuit of careers in the public and private sectors, where environmental policy and its management are relevant to an organization’s function.*

Program Highlights

This degree program focuses on the environment in conjunction with a set of core courses in science, economics, and policy. Students benefit from this highly diverse program that draws courses and faculty from across disciplines throughout the University, including business, arts and sciences, health sciences, and legal studies. The curriculum includes:

  • Concepts of economics, ethics and values, environmental politics, business, law, culture, and property rights
  • Study of the science of the environment and sustainability
  • An examination of how institutions in society, including government, business, and nonprofits, participate in devising solutions to environmental issues
  • Real problems and issues concerning the environment
  • Opportunities for critical thinking and problem solving in the application of concepts and methods to issues at the local, national, and global level

A Fast Track to a 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 Criminal Justice 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

What are the Career Opportunities?

This baccalaureate program could help prepare you to pursue a wide range of careers in the environmental field including: sustainability coordinator, corporate environmental specialist, environmental policy consultant or advisor, compliance specialist, or environmental planner.*

Curriculum for the BS in Environmental Policy and Management

Course # Course Title Credits
100/200-level 100/200-LEVEL: COMMUNICATION COURSE 5
100/200-LEVEL: COMMUNICATION COURSE
100/200-LEVEL: MATHEMATICS COURSE 5
100/200-LEVEL: MATHEMATICS COURSE
200-LEVEL: COMMUNICATION COURSE 5
200-LEVEL: COMMUNICATION COURSE
300/400-level 300/400-LEVEL: ARTS AND HUMANITIES COURSE 6
300/400-LEVEL: ARTS AND HUMANITIES COURSE
300/400-level 300/400-LEVEL: PHYSICAL SCIENCE COURSE 6
300/400-LEVEL: PHYSICAL SCIENCE COURSE
300/400-level 300/400-LEVEL: SOCIAL SCIENCE COURSE 6
300/400-LEVEL: SOCIAL SCIENCE COURSE
Course # Course Title Credits
LS 100 EIGHT SKILLS OF THE EFFECTIVE LEGAL STUDIES STUDENT 5
EIGHT SKILLS OF THE EFFECTIVE LEGAL STUDIES STUDENT
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.
EM 101 INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND MANAGEMENT 5
INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND MANAGEMENT
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.
EM 205 THE POLITICS OF MANAGING THE ENVIRONMENT 5
THE POLITICS OF MANAGING THE ENVIRONMENT
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.
MM 207 STATISTICS 5
STATISTICS

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.

PP 110 ETHICS AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION 5
ETHICS AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
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.
PP 201 INTRODUCTION TO POLICY MAKING 5
INTRODUCTION TO POLICY MAKING
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.
PP 205 INTRODUCTION TO ADMINISTRATIVE LAW 5
INTRODUCTION TO ADMINISTRATIVE LAW
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.
PP 220 SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP 5
SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP
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.
SC 225 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-ECOSYSTEMS, RESOURCES, AND CARBON FOOTPRINTS 5
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-ECOSYSTEMS, RESOURCES, AND CARBON FOOTPRINTS
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.
EM 305 THE ECONOMICS OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 6
THE ECONOMICS OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
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.
EM 410 THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT 6
THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT
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.
EM 430 ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ANALYSIS 6
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ANALYSIS
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.
LS 302 ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND POLICY 6
ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND POLICY
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.
PP 310 FINANCE AND BUDGETING IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR 6
FINANCE AND BUDGETING IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR
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.
PP 420 PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS 6
PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS
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.
EM 499 BACHELOR'S CAPSTONE IN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND MANAGEMENT 6
BACHELOR'S CAPSTONE IN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND MANAGEMENT
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.
Choose one of the following courses:
PP 460 GRANT WRITING 6
GRANT WRITING
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.
PP 450 PROGRAM EVALUATION 6
PROGRAM EVALUATION
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.
Course # Course Title Credits
OPEN ELECTIVES* 54
OPEN ELECTIVES*
*Eligible students who choose to complete an accelerated master's degree option will take four graduate-level courses in addition to selected undergraduate electives.
*Eligible students who choose to complete the accelerated master's degree option will take four graduate-level courses in addition to selected undergraduate electives.
Total Program Requirements 180
Total Program Requirements

You Could Save Time and Money on Your Kaplan University Degree

Credit for Prior Learning

Our undergraduate degree programs feature large pools of open electives designed to offer greater flexibility when applying transfer credits toward program requirements. In addition, you can enroll in our portfolio development course, which helps you document your work and life experience in a portfolio you can submit for consideration for college credits. Qualifying transfer credit may reduce your total costs for undergraduate programs. Refer to the University Catalog for our transfer of credit policy.

Continuing Students

Students who earn their bachelor’s degree at Kaplan University and enroll in a master’s degree program may be eligible for an alumni tuition reduction. For more information, contact your Admissions Advisor.

Students in the Military

Kaplan University is proud to support our military and veterans in their educational pursuits by offering significantly reduced tuition. Undergraduate program tuition is reduced up to 55 percent for active-duty servicemembers and up to 38 percent for veterans. In addition, Kaplan University participates in the Yellow Ribbon program for all of our graduate programs, and both active-duty servicemembers and veterans are eligible for special tuition rates for these programs. A 10 percent tuition reduction is also available to spouses of active-duty servicemembers. For more information, call 866.583.4412 (Toll Free) to speak to a military Admissions Advisor or visit the Kaplan University military site.

Tuition and Fees

Cost per credit hour $371.00
Total program requirements BS in Environmental Policy and Management 180
Total cost of tuition $66,780.00
This program requires a $100 technology fee per term (online students only). A nonrefundable application fee, depending on your program and as described in the Tuition and Fees Supplement, may be required at the time of enrollment. We encourage you to explore the availability of financial aid and scholarships. 
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*Kaplan University's programs are designed to prepare graduates to pursue employment in their field of study, or in related fields. However, the University does not guarantee that graduates will be placed in any particular job, eligible for job advancement opportunities, or employed at all. Additional training or certification may be required.