Environmental Policy examines the human dimensions of environmental problems. It addresses such issues as how human actions affect the environment; how societies adapt to changes in natural resource availability; and how individuals, nations, and international agencies respond to environmental hazards. Students should be prepared to deal with local, regional, and national differences in the use of resources; social and environmental aspects of health and illness; alternative strategies for environmental management; the ethical, moral, and legal dimensions of environmental and resource issues; and the roles of governmental and non-governmental agencies in environmental affairs.

Recommended Minors

• Political Science - equips students to understand political life, to be effective citizens, and to achieve positions of political leadership.
• Economics - prepares students to be able to apply the theory of economic issues and policies.
• Sociology - studies groups, the ways people behave in groups and how an individual's attitudes and actions are influenced by them.
• Psychology - courses can complement their overall liberal arts education.

Types of Employers

Non-Profit and Private

• Agricultural organizations
• Chemical manufacturers
• Colleges and universities
• Dairy industry
• Environmental consulting firms
• Food and beverage companies
• Food marketing chains
• Insurance companies
• Seed and grain corporations

Government Agencies

• Department of Agriculture
• Department of Agronomy
• Bureau of Economics
• Department of Energy
• U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
• Department of Transportation
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Food and Drug Administration

Environmental Studies Graduates’ Positions

• Project Coordinator, Great Plains Institute
• Process Analyst, Agstar Financial Services
• Environmental Consulting Associate, Vieau Associates Inc.
• Protection Specialist, Environmental Protection Agency
• Environmental Consultant (Kate Sinner)
• The Nature Conservency, Lobbyist (Stephanie Pinkalla)
• Environmental Health Specialist, Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health (Sophia Walsh)