EPM 4002 Environmental Systems Dynamics (4 Credits)

Environmental challenges rarely occur in isolation. They emerge from complex, interconnected systems involving environmental, social, and economic dynamics. This course equips students to understand and analyze these interactions through a systems-based approach to environmental problem-solving. Emphasizing systems thinking, feedback mapping, and scenario planning, learners will explore how to define system boundaries, identify leverage points, and navigate uncertainty in real-world environmental contexts. Students will apply analytical tools to construct visual system models, assess stakeholder influences, and explore the implications of the Precautionary Principle in environmental decision-making. Assignments foster critical engagement with diverse perspectives, particularly those of underrepresented communities, highlighting the social and economic dimensions of environmental issues. By the end of the course, students will synthesize their learning into comprehensive systems models, empowering them to forecast plausible futures and make informed policy or management decisions. This course is a core component of the EPM program and reinforces its commitment to sustainability, applied systems analysis, and evidence-based action.

EPM 4003 Environmental Finance and Economics (4 Credits)

The class provides an overview of economics, finance, and sustainability in an environmental and social context. The class examines traditional and alternative performance metrics, such as “Green GDP”, and explores the relationship between risk and return, return on investments, including environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing. The course emphasizes relationships between business management and environmental quality, and provides students with a financial and economic decision-making framework for understanding and analyzing environmental issues. The course utilizes a case-study approach to cover economic and finance concepts in real world scenarios involving natural resource and environmental decisions. Students will leave this course with the ability to confidently converse regarding sustainability in a finance and economics context.

EPM 4040 Wetland Ecology and Management (4 Credits)

This course provides a detailed examination of wetlands and deepwater habitats of the United States, with an emphasis on wetlands. The definition, identification, classification, and management requirements of various wetland communities are stressed. Students identify and classify wetlands and analyze wetlands in the context of federal, state, and local regulatory processes. Students evaluate activities with adverse and beneficial effects to wetlands. Students explore concepts related to wetland management in the public, private and non-profit sectors.

EPM 4108 Impacts of Recreational Use (4 Credits)

The practical and managerial theoretical basis of recreational use of public and private lands is examined in the context of ecosystem management.  The statutory and regulatory policies and current issues regarding the management and use of lands in wilderness systems, wild and scenic river corridors, parks, and open spaces are discussed in detail.  The impacts of recreational uses on the environment and conflicts with other uses of land and resources are discussed. Land use planning policies and decisions, decisions which respond to recreation, wilderness, wilderness and open space issues will be are examined. At this end of this course, students will create a visitor impact use assessment using the Inter-agency Visitor Use Management Framework (IVUMF).

EPM 4115 Introduction to Ecology (4 Credits)

This course examines the concepts of the ecosystem, populations, communities, the flows of energy, material cycles, and biotic diversity. Students will analyze ecological concepts including the unity of organisms and inseparable interactions with the physical environment. Class discussions include topics such as the formation, distribution, and organization of ecological communities, plant succession, and nutrient cycling. Students will also evaluate aspects of evolutionary trends within plant and animal communities as they relate to ecological principles. The goals of this class are to transmit the principles, methods, and vocabulary of ecology. Students will critically analyze and discuss issues concerning population ecology, community ecology, and ecosystem ecology. Students will relate concepts of ecology to their personal and professional interests in environmental issues. The ability and necessity of communicating ecological principles within a commercial and/or regulatory environment will be developed. An assignment will provide experience in the collection, interpretation, and analysis of data. The skills learned will be relevant in environmental reporting, discussions, and presentations within a professional environment.

EPM 4120 Introduction to Natural Resource Management (4 Credits)

In this course, students gain an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of federal, state, and local agencies, environmental and wildlife interest groups, and other organizations involved in natural resources management. Students will learn the content and purpose of natural resources management plans, then apply this knowledge to assess and develop policies that will improve natural resources management.

EPM 4140 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (4 Credits)

This course examines the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and its applications. Students will gain both academic and practical experience in studying the intent and application of NEPA by federal agencies. Students will gain practical application by critically reviewing various NEPA documents and examining the components of NEPA documents. Students will prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) of their choosing for their final project in this course.

EPM 4150 Global Environmental Law and Policy (4 Credits)

International environmental agreements provide a mechanism to address domestic environmental issues caused by foreign countries. However, some agreements have been more successful than others based on various aspects within the agreement and a country’s domestic actions taken to enforce the agreement. This course teaches students how international environmental agreements are created, managed, and improved in order to improve environmental issues in different countries and international waters. Students will analyze and comment on existing agreements and create strategies for improving the agreements to strengthen agreements to be more effective in addressing environmental issues. Students learn about the stakeholders involved in creating and improving these agreements. Students will develop marketable analytical skills that help guide organizations toward more robust advocacy strategies designed to make the agreements more enforceable and effective in addressing environmental issues. Pre-requisite: Recommended - EPM 4200.

EPM 4200 Environmental Protection Law (4 Credits)

This course provides an examination of the fundamental laws that protect our environment and health. Students will analyze the purpose, context, implementation, and implications of the most important laws, regulations, policies, and court cases that impact the environment, human health, and our economy at the local, federal, and international levels. Coverage includes National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Clean Air Act (CAA), Clean Water Act (CWA), waste management and toxic substance laws, and species and habitat protection statutes. The course provides an examination of the legal system and the roles of Congress, the President, executive agencies, states, and courts in shaping and implementing environmental laws. The course also asks students to apply this knowledge to current events in environmental policy and litigation.

EPM 4220 Endangered Species and Wildlife (4 Credits)

This course provides an examination of the basic principles, trends, challenges, and controversies surrounding the administration of maintaining certain wildlife species, specifically through the administration of the Endangered Species Act. Students gain an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of various federal, state and local agencies, environmental and wildlife interest groups, and other organizations involved in endangered species and wildlife management issues. This course will also apply the principles of human dimensions to understand the complex social systems at work to conserve endangered species.

EPM 4230 Renewable and Alternative Energies (4 Credits)

This course provides a well-rounded primer on energy as a resource and its importance in the economy and the world today. Students will examine renewable and alternative energies and alternative transportation fuels. This course analyzes issues surrounding the development, enforcement and application of energy regulatory policies.

EPM 4232 Sustainability: Policy and Practice (4 Credits)

This course teaches students about sustainable development policies and how governments, organizations, and NGOs adopt and implement them to ensure long-term well-being for both present and future generations by balancing economic growth, social progress, and environmental protection. As NGOs and governments push for higher ambition, students will learn to make policies and sustainability reports more meaningful. Students will also develop marketable analytical skills that help guide organizations toward more robust sustainability actions and help NGOs evaluate corporate efforts for strengths and gaps.

EPM 4233 Sustainable Transportation (4 Credits)

21st Century transportation planning on the local and global scale involves consideration of environmental policies and sustainable practices. Development of an efficient system for moving goods and people along highways, airways and public transit networks must coordinate with legal requirements governing automobile source emissions, water pollution, mitigation of congestion, and crisis management. Conflicts occur along political fault lines between public interest groups, environmental justice advocates, the business community, government regulators, and the ordinary commuter. Consideration is given to different fuel sources, including carbon-based, hydrogen, electricity, and biofuels. The course also examines fuel efficiency (CAFE) and trends in emission science and regulation.

EPM 4234 Climate Change and Science (4 Credits)

Global Warming" is a cause celebre, but how much do we really know about the science involved in studying the earth's climate? Moving beyond the social and political opinions espoused in the current debate on climate change, this course delves into the chemical and physical forces at play in the arena. This course covers scientific processes used in measuring climate dynamics, among them ozone chemistry, carbon and oxygen cycles, and heat and water budgets. It explores scales and methods for detecting climate change, including analyzing ice cores, instrumental records, and time series. Some attention will be dedicated to "climate forcing" caused by such things as orbital variations, volcanism, plate tectonics, and solar variability.

EPM 4235 Green Building (4 Credits)

Builders, developers and designers increasingly are promoting the use of green construction practices in the pursuit of healthier, smarter buildings. Students in this course examine sustainable building strategies and tools, including LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), the nationally-accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. LEED promotes a whole-building approach by recognizing performance in five areas: sustainable site development water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor air quality. What materials are best in the design and operation of green building? How can a designer or building owner make better use of power and water efficiency programs? What are the recent developments, trends and case studies of green buildings and materials?.

EPM 4236 Nuclear, Hydrogen, and Energy Storage Technologies (4 Credits)

The necessity and urgency of moving away from fossil fuels-based energy production to reduce global warming has been well documented. Renewable energy technologies (solar, wind, and water-based) have been widely embraced as alternative energy solutions. However, like all energy production technologies, renewable energy technologies have shortcomings that prevent them from being standalone energy production solutions. Nuclear and fuel cell energy production technologies address the shortcomings of renewable energy technologies and can be considered symbiotic options in the move away from fossil fuels. Improving energy storage technologies will also be required to complete this symbiosis. This course will examine renewable energy technologies shortcomings and how nuclear, fuel cell, and energy storage technologies may be implemented to further facilitate the move away from fossil fuels-based energy production.

EPM 4238 Water and Food Sustainability (4 Credits)

Concurrent food, water, and climate crises amidst widespread hunger and undernutrition have re-focused public attention on the deficiencies and complexities of global food and water systems. This course examines the science and sustainability of our water resources as well as food production with an emphasis on the connections between the two. Increasing water and food system sustainability requires working along multiple disciplines, reconnecting agriculture with ecological systems and ensuring that policies and institutions that impact food and water systems protect social equity and the environment. The course draws from interdisciplinary research and education bridging worldviews and values implicit in different disciplinary and theoretical perspectives. Linking theory and practice is also essential thus the course will incorporate multiple perspectives and case studies from local to global levels. Demand is growing for interdisciplinary scholars and other professionals who are equipped to analyze and address the complex challenges of sustainable water resources, sustainable food production, and water and food security. Students will synthesize information from water, food, and the environment from a systems perspective. They will examine the interactions between science, policy, and ethics and analyze the trade-offs and synergies between different objectives, solutions, and outcomes. Students will devise solutions to problems that incorporate the intricacies and interdependencies of water and food systems.

EPM 4280 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) (4 Credits)

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) course is a detailed review of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act that was passed in 1976 and has been continuously updated since that time. RCRA is also known as "the cradle to grave law" dealing with hazardous waste generation and disposal. This course not only covers the important parts of the regulation, but students will also learn how to navigate and practically apply the law and regulations.

EPM 4355 Systems, Standards, and Certifications for Environmental Management (4 Credits)

Students will analyze and apply common environmental management systems, which can be used to ensure and improve quality during the management of a wide range of environmental operations. They will synthesize this knowledge via a project which establishes portions of an environmental management system. Students will execute the plan-do-check-act cycle to improve quality. They will evaluate options to minimize environmental impacts using root cause analysis and generalize common system components that are necessary for an environmental organization to achieve its objectives (establishing environmental policy, establishing performance objectives, monitoring results, evaluating performance, understanding and managing risks, etc.) Course assignments will allow students to practice systemizing and standardizing environmental management processes to improve performance (common procedures, data management, analytical methods, performance monitoring, etc.) Throughout the course, students will discover that management systems beyond subject matter expertise are necessary to do well in environmental careers.

EPM 4390 Environmental Policy Analysis (4 Credits)

This course investigates key issues in environmental policy analysis, including the importance of environmental justice, federalism versus state policy, techniques of environmental assessment, the impacts of politics and case law on environmental policy, and policy decision-making. The class sets a foundation with an overview of the U.S. and international environmental movements. Students look at stakeholder engagement, policy formulation and implementation, and policy evaluation in different institutions. The course emphasizes the important role that the political and judicial process plays in the creation of policy solutions, and assesses the strengths and weaknesses of different techniques of environmental analysis including environmental impact assessments, modeling and simulation, sustainability analysis, and how best to weave environmental justice/equity throughout policy development and implementation.

EPM 4400 Environmental Values and Ethics (4 Credits)

Students examine ethical considerations in environmental management and decision making. Discussions cover personal versus organizational attitudes; cultural, economic, and historic values; science versus politics; and international and intergenerational policies. The course also explores various philosophies of humankind's relationship with the environment. Students are encouraged to develop and express a personal philosophy relative to their role in the regulatory, technical, scientific, and financial management of the environment.

EPM 4510 Environmental, and Health & Safety Management (4 Credits)

This course presents the intricacies of establishing environmental and health and safety programs in the workplace. The course is divided into specific environmental and health and safety topics that are relevant to environmental and safety management. There are multiple topics that address the benefits and barriers to designing, implementing, and maintaining environmental and health and safety programs.

EPM 4520 Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) (4 Credits)

This course provides an in-depth review of the laws and regulations that govern the safety and health of workers. The course is of value to students seeking to expand knowledge of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Emphasis is on the areas of overlap between safety and environmental laws, OSHA’s inspection and enforcement authority, employee and employer rights, record keeping requirements and an outline of labor’s interest in OSHA cases. Current topics such as OSHA reform legislation and regulatory agenda are discussed.

EPM 4525 Workplace Safety Management (4 Credits)

This course introduces students to core elements in a health and safety management systems approach to identifying and preventing workplace injuries and illnesses. Students examine the five elements of developing an effective occupational health and safety management program. The course also explores the common challenges and obstacles encountered during the development and implementation of these programs. This course includes a general overview of common OSHA regulations, rights, and responsibilities for developing a safety and health program. The format of this class is highly interactive, affording students an opportunity to engage with case studies and their peers, as well as to practice developing health, safety, and environmental programs at their respective establishments.

EPM 4610 Analytics I (4 Credits)

Data and analytics have become critical for all business domains; data in its raw form, from transactional systems, supply chains, websites, sensors, surveys, etc., is overwhelming. Raw data is turned into information and insight through reporting, analytics, visualization techniques, and predictive modeling. Environmental Analytics encompasses the process of collecting data, optimizing the data for reporting and analysis, interpreting results, identifying insights, and helping inform public and private enterprises, and the public about the progress and impact of their programs. There are a wide variety of tools and techniques available to effectively manage and understand data, turn data into information, visualize results, and predict outcomes over future time horizons. The focus of this course is to review the entire spectrum of data and analytics, and how it applies from an environmental and sustainability perspective. This course will provide a strategic view emphasizing how analytics can drive environmental impact. Students will engage with technologies and analytical techniques and will develop a solid understanding of the value of analytics. By the end, students will be well-equipped to understand and collaborate with the various roles across business functions engaged in analytics.

EPM 4615 Analytics II (4 Credits)

Environmental and sustainability analytics have become very relevant in recent years and are integrated with business analytics, performance management, and predictive capabilities for informed decision-making and stakeholder transparency. In this course, learners will gain practical experience by developing a Request for Information (RFI) for an analytics solution, preparing them for real-world environmental projects. They will also build upon data discovery skills including data modeling, data cleansing, and data visualizations. Finally, students will explore the value of spatial analytics, and develop a conceptual understanding of AI and machine learning and how these technologies are reshaping environmental analytics. Prerequisite EPM 4610.

EPM 4620 Sustainability Reporting Standards and Models (4 Credits)

Across sectors, sustainability professionals report their organizations’ activities to stakeholders. The reporting ecosystem appears complex – oftentimes organizations choose to report progress using multiple platforms: ISO 14001, ISO 26000, GRI, CSRD, and IFRS, to list a few examples. Many companies use the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to help guide their reporting strategies. Some choose to certify their actions according to frameworks like B-Corp. In this course, students navigate this reporting landscape—from regulatory requirements like the SEC’s climate disclosure rule and the EU’s Corporate Social Responsibility Directive to voluntary standards like the IFRS and the GRI—and learn how best to communicate progress. They gain an understanding of single, double, and dynamic materiality, and learn how materiality assessments guide disclosure reporting. Students explore the differences and similarities between sustainability reporting and environmental-compliance reporting. This course highlights two of the most prevalent sustainability disclosure standards: The International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). This course equips students with the practical skills needed to analyze sustainability reports, detect “greenwashing,” and prepare disclosure reports that meet the requirements and expectations of various stakeholders. Business-case analysis and class discussion facilitate much of the learning. Students also learn through team-based analysis of specific sectors’ reporting opportunities and challenges.

EPM 4625 Environmental Analysis and Reporting Project (4 Credits)

This is the concluding class for the Environmental Analytics and Reporting concentration and graduate certificate. The class centers on performing analysis of sustainability-related data sets using AI and business intelligence tools. The focus of the course is on applying data analytics techniques to support innovative approaches for organizational sustainability, business performance, stakeholder relations, and/or environmental policy. Students will engage in readings, develop an analysis project using AI and business intelligence tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau, etc.), and prepare a report covering conclusions and recommendations. Prerequisites: EPM 4610, 4615, and 4620.

EPM 4701 Topics in EPM (2-5 Credits)

The content of this course will vary each time it is offered. The topics may include time-sensitive issues in the field of environmental policy and management, elective courses that are not scheduled regularly during the course of the year, or advanced inquiry into core-course subjects. Each time the course is offered, the specific content will be announced in the quarterly course schedule. Depending on the subject matter, students may be required to have completed prerequisite courses.

EPM 4705 Land Use Planning (4 Credits)

This course provides a comprehensive examination of land use planning efforts by federal, state, and local governments. The legal authorities, responsibilities, and conflicts held by these governmental entities are examined in detail. The course examines the interrelationship between home rule authority, local zoning and planning requirements, and federal/state natural resource plans, as well as public participation in land use plans. Students will learn how to set goals and objectives for specific components of ecosystems, design projects to achieve desired ecologic conditions, and use new technologies in planning.

EPM 4901 Capstone Project (4 Credits)

The Capstone Project provides students the opportunity to research a topic, problem, or issue within their field of study, and work individually with a Capstone advisor. Similar in weight to a thesis, but more flexible, this final project will synthesize and apply core concepts acquired from the program. The student will select an appropriate Capstone advisor who is knowledgeable in the field of study to work closely with and whom can guide the research project. Evaluation will be focused on the quality and professionalism of applied research and writing; critical and creative thinking; problem-solving skills; knowledge of research design, method, and implementation; and contribution to the field and topic of study. Please see the Capstone Guidelines for additional details. Prerequisites: A Capstone Proposal that has been approved by both the Capstone Advisor and the Academic Director, acceptance as a degree candidate, completion of at least 40 quarter-hours (including all core courses) with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.

EPM 4902 Capstone Seminar (4 Credits)

The purpose of the Capstone Seminar is to develop and apply transferable professional skills to persuade decision-makers. The course requires students to identify a Capstone subject matter, develop a premise, and argue for an applied solution. Students will conduct research to create a strong argument that supports their premise by considering purpose, need, and audience and will provide evidence that the premise can be implemented. Tasks include gathering and evaluating appropriate source information, writing a strong solution in support of the premise, and then defending the solution. Students will write a Capstone paper and prepare a presentation suitable for professional exposure through publication and/or presentation.

EPM 4903 Applied Capstone Experience (4 Credits)

The Applied Capstone Experience provides students the opportunity to work collaboratively on a real-world project in a workplace context. Students will draw on their knowledge, skills, and experiences from their own programs of study and apply them to the project. Teams may consist of students in the same discipline or may be a mix of students across different programs. Throughout the project, and with instructor guidance, students are expected to collaborate with team members, communicate with various stakeholders, lead and manage their own portion of the project, and implement feedback to create project deliverables. Students will also reflect on their experiences in order to track their personal growth, decision-making processes, and their integration of program knowledge. Students will gain industry experience with an emphasis on critical thinking, team collaboration, and independent project management skills. Prerequisite: Acceptance as a degree candidate, completion of at least 40 quarter-hours (including all core courses) with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better. Students must complete the Applied Capstone Experience in one quarter; no incomplete grades are assigned.

EPM 4980 Internship (0-4 Credits)

The EPM Internship is designed to offer students a purposeful experience in the field of environmental policy and management. The internship is an individualized learning experience and a training plan is created for each student in conjunction with the internship site to provide experiences related to the skills and knowledge covered in the certificate and master's programs.

EPM 4991 Independent Study (1-8 Credits)

This is an advanced course for students wishing to pursue an independent course of study. The student must be accepted in a degree program, have earned a grade point average of 3.0 or better, obtained the approval of the department director, and have completed the Independent Study form and filed it with all appropriate offices before registering for the independent study. Independent Study is offered only on a for-credit basis.