This course introduces the politics of U.S. environmental policy making. It explores how conflicting political, economic and social interests and values contend for influence and exert power in the realm of environmental policy. Students will gain an understanding of how environmental issues arrive on the public agenda, the role of political institutions in making environmental policy, the economic, political, social and institutional forces that shape policymaking, competing approaches to environmental policy analysis and the goals and strategies of the environmental movement.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this class, students will:
- Explain how key institutions, ethical values, and political economic interests interact to influence environmental politics, policy change, and environmental quality.
- Improve their public speaking, collaboration, and negotiation skills.
- Develop their independent research, policy analysis, and writing skills.
- Be able to identify and explain a range of policy tools and evaluate their application in different contexts.
Syllabus
You can read a copy of the most recent syllabus for this class here: EP Syllabus Winter 2018
