The Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration and Department of Geography and Environment in Columbian College of Arts and Sciences offer a dual master of arts in the field of environmental and sustainability policy (ESP) and graduate certificate in geographical information systems (GIS) program. The 12 credits earned for the certificate can be counted toward the master’s program, thereby decreasing the total number of credits normally required for the MA.
The program offers a multidisciplinary approach to environmental and sustainability studies, blending theory and practical experience with a curriculum that includes environmental economics, environmental law, public policy, research methods, and environmental science. Elective courses can be taken in almost any department at the University, including, but not limited to, biology, chemistry, geography, international affairs, public policy, economics, political science, engineering management and systems engineering, business administration, and public health. Students graduate prepared to enter environmental policy careers in government, nonprofit organizations, the private sector, and environmental advocacy groups. The GIS certificate curriculum guides students through all aspects of GIS theory and practice, from the science of cartography to analyzing geographical statistics to database design and geospatial modeling. Students are equipped with a solid grounding in geospatial theory and techniques as well as its practical applications.