Environmental Science and Policy (ES&P) Program

The Environmental Science and Policy (ES&P) program at Clark University prepares students for evolving and critical careers at the intersection of environmental science and policy. ES&P continues a long tradition of innovation and creative contributions to environmental challenges – the current program has evolved from one of the first environmental programs in the country to explore relationships between environmental science, technology, and society.

Environmental challenges are complex. ES&P teaches students to use knowledge and methods from both the natural and social sciences, integrate quantitative and qualitative analytical tools, and understand the connections among environment, technology, society, and development.

With this program's course of study, the ES&P student is equipped with skills and perspectives to work with a wide array of stakeholders – communities, industries, governmental agencies, NGOs, researchers, and donors – in ways that are sensitive to cultural, institutional, socio-political, and economic needs.

ES&P students have opportunities to participate in high quality, meaningful research collaborations. They have access to faculty that have experience working with a racially and socially diverse student population. ES&P graduates are able to recognize, frame, characterize, and creatively address the many environmental problems around us today.

Click here to view our downloadable program brochure.

Signatures

The ES&P graduate program is designed to foster a deep understanding of the complexity of environmental issues, and to expand on your ability to respond to those issues. ES&P focuses on three signature topic areas:

1. Environment and Human Health – understanding and responding to local and global environmental health challenges. This includes: the use of risk and vulnerability assessment; health policy analysis; participatory methods, health GIS, environmental justice, dimensions of social justice, and poverty.

2. Climate, Energy and Sustainability – understanding and responding to climate change at the local and global scale, energy and sustainable development challenges. This includes a focus on: climate change mitigation; climate change impact assessment and adaptation; climate and energy policy analysis; energy technology innovation; energy efficiency measures; renewable energy technologies, and other clean energy technologies; campus sustainability.

3. Environmental Management and Policy – understanding the role of science and technology in environmental policy making. This includes how to manage natural resources and pollution, stakeholder engagement, uncertainty in decision-making, the role of regulation, the role of technological innovation, the roles of institutions, social learning, capacity building, and policy analysis.

Highlights

Environmental career trends show that employers worldwide seek critical thinkers and doers who champion sustainable solutions that are ecologically responsible, economically feasible, and socio-politically desirable. It is rare to find a professional program with scientific and technical literacy, GIS capability, and knowledge of what it takes to achieve effective stakeholder participation.

ES&P students can take courses and benefit from opportunities in all four IDCE graduate programs.
IDCE is a unique community of dedicated graduate students.
Clark is a small friendly campus.
Small class sizes, close faculty-student interaction.
Collaborative and cooperative international student body.
Multi-disciplinary, academically accomplished, and experienced faculty.
Scholar-practitioner IDCE faculty.
Commitment to strengthening the science-policy link.
Strong links to other research and science programs at Clark and elsewhere.
Tradition of innovative research with supportive community.
Worcester offers local setting for our work, and living costs are affordable.
Local, National, and International scope.