Environmental Policy Minor

Admissions & Aid College of Arts & Sciences
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Environmental Policy Minor

What Will I Learn in the Environmental Policy Minor?

The environmental policy minor at University of Portland (UP) is your chance to start shaping solutions to the most pressing environmental issues of our time. This isn't just about science; it's about power and action. You'll explore how government regulations, global economics, and even grassroots social movements interact to manage natural resources and drive sustainable change. The coursework blends knowledge from political science, environmental law, and economics, so you can analyze complex problems from a multitude of angles and effectively engage in policymaking. Whether you aim for local impact or global reform, this minor prepares you to connect your strong environmental knowledge with the strategic skills needed to make a real difference. 

Environmental Policy Courses

The environmental policy minor takes a transdisciplinary, systems-thinking approach to examining environmental challenges. You will engage in courses related to resilience, international negotiation, economics, environmental science, biological sciences, ecology, and social-ecological systems. 

Degree Requirements

University Core

At University of Portland, the Core Curriculum enhances your environmental policy minor with liberal arts courses that sharpen your critical thinking and decision-making skills, preparing you to respond to the world’s most pressing environmental issues.  

The Core

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Careers and Outcomes

The environmental policy minor is your launchpad for impact. You will transform environmental knowledge into action, and cultivate highly sought-after skills in analysis, communication, and problem-solving that are transferable to any industry.  Whether you're crafting policy in government, driving change at a non-profit, conducting research, or innovating in the private sector, you'll be prepared to tackle the world’s most urgent environmental challenges and opportunities.

Environmental Policy Jobs

With an environmental policy minor, you could pursue careers like: 

  • Environmental Consultant 
  • Environmental Policy Analyst 
  • Environmental Law 
  • Urban and Regional Planning 
  • Climate Policy Consultant 
  • Sustainability Coordinator 
  • Environmental Advocacy and Community Engagement 

Graduate Studies

Environmental policy minors are well prepared to pursue advanced degrees in environmental law, geography, environmental policy, public administration, political science, and related areas such as: 

  • Environmental Management 
  • Sustainability Studies 
  • International Relations 
  • Urban and Regional Planning 
  • Natural Resource Management 
  • Environmental Science 
  • Climate Science and Policy 
  • Public Policy 
  • Environmental Health 
  • Development Studies 

Related Degrees

Students listening to a Political Science lecture in Dundon-Berchtold Hall at University of Portland.

BA in Political Science and Global Affairs

A helicopter is parked on a vast, snowy landscape under a clear blue sky. A UP environmental science student is in the foreground digging in deep snow surrounded by scientific instruments.

BS in Environmental Science

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BS in Public Health & Wellness

Turn Passion into Action

Learn how you can move the needle on climate change. You'll master the essential, real-world skills to translate your environmental passion into concrete results. Learn exactly how policies, economics, and law intersect to manage resources and drive sustainability, preparing you for immediate impact across government, non-profits, and the private sector. 

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