GW Trachtenberg School Environmental Policy Programs | The Trachtenberg School of Public Policy & Public Administration

Doing good and doing it well

Preparing the next generation of public affairs professionals

Environmental Policy Graduate Programs

Are you interested in studying environmental policy at the Trachtenberg School? We have four options for you to choose from.

A 36-credit ‘deep-dive’ into environmental issues including environmental economics, environmental law, two semesters of environmental science, as well as research methods and policy analysis. An array of electives allows students to specialize in a single environmental issue (like climate change or urban sustainability) or to develop a set of analytic skills (like geographic information systems or program evaluation). This MA degree is formally designated as a STEM degree by the Federal government.

Three students talking with the U.S. Capitol Building in the background

A 12-credit inter-disciplinary introduction to environmental policy that covers environmental science, law, economics, and policy analysis. Upon satisfactory completion of the Certificate, students can move directly into the MA program if they choose.

4 students talking to each other and holding textbooks

A 40-credit degree that focuses on policy research and analytic methods. Required courses include policy analysis, economics, statistics and other tools of analysis. MPP students concentrating in environmental policy select three courses from a long list of classes on wide range of environmental topics.

Student standing in front of the class next to a chart drawn on a board

A 40-credit degree that focuses on leadership and management in public service. Required courses include budgeting, program evaluation, and public administration. MPA students select three environmental policy courses from the same list open to MPPs.

"I interned with the Environmental Defense Fund for 11 months during my time in school, and it turned into a job working with oil and gas companies to encourage them to voluntarily reduce their methane emissions. I sit within 100 feet of two other ENRP alumni and I’ve presented findings from my capstone project four times in this job."

Meghan Demeter
MA '18, Environmental Resource Policy
Program Analyst, Environmental Defense Fund