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Environmental Policy and Management

Online Master of Science in Environmental Policy and Management (MS)

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About our Environmental Management Degree Program

This online Master of Science in Environmental Policy and Management offered by American Military University (AMU) prepares you with the knowledge to serve a key role in addressing some of society’s most complex environmental challenges.

By applying cutting-edge environmental management technologies, solutions, and strategies, you can focus on crucial issues such as climate change, hunting and game management, wildlife conservation, public lands management and threatened and endangered species protection. You’ll also become well versed in environmental management, environmental economics, water resource availability, environmental law, and data analysis.

In addition, our environmental policy and management graduate program examines how competing ethical arguments impact environmental policy and legal decisions. The program has an emphasis on understanding the latest developments in:

  • Ecosystems management
  • Global environmental change
  • Landscape ecology
  • Renewable energy
  • Sustainability

What You Will Do in our Master of Science in Environmental Policy and Management Program

  1. Study environmental management strategies that incorporate ecological, economic, and social considerations
  2. Learn about the ecological, economic, and social barriers to implementing sustainable practices and programs
  3. Become familiar with the direct and indirect costs of regulation, problems, and corrective actions
  4. Deepen your understanding of environmental strategies and policies across various spatial scales
  5. Discover the consequences of ecological destruction on public health, productivity, and social and economic welfare

View Program Outcome Assessment Results

Degree at a Glance

Number of Credits
36
Transfer up to 15 credits1
Cost Per Credit
$455 | $250*
$386.75** | $409.50***
*with Preferred Military Rate
**with Veteran Grant
***with APUS Opportunity Grant
Courses Start Monthly
Online
and vary from 8 to 16 weeks

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Program Requirements Printable Catalog Version

Students must choose a concentration for this degree program:

This general concentration allows you to select from all concentration courses offered within this program, enabling you to create your own focused area of study.

Objectives:

This general concentration allows you to select from all concentration courses offered within this program, enabling you to create your own focused area of study.

Choose 12 credit hours from this section.

Course ID: 4135

|
This course will examine the concept of restoration ecology, which employs science, applied techniques, and environmental design principles to restore ecological processes and biological communities on disturbed, degraded, or altered landscapes. Students will conduct scientific study and explore techniques used in restoring endangered species, native prairie, rare plants, riparian areas, streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands, watersheds, woodlands, and wildlife habitat.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 Spring 2024 Session D 8 Week session
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 08/05/24 - 09/29/24 Summer 2024 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 4159

|
This course examines the development of major areas in conservation-oriented research that include patterns of biodiversity, extinction, conservation genetics, conservation of populations, communities and landscapes, and ecological sustainability.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 Spring 2024 Session D 8 Week session
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 08/05/24 - 09/29/24 Summer 2024 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 4655

|
This course consists of an in-depth review of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), its legislative background and history, significant case law, and Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ) Guidelines. Students will review examples of agency Categorical Exclusions, Environmental Assessments, and Environmental Impact Statements to become familiar with the documents as a building block for EVSP629 Environmental Impact Analysis. Students will evaluate whether specific documents "meet the intent or spirit" of NEPA, compare state vs. federal NEPA regulations, and review at least one federal agency’s NEPA procedures. (Prerequisite: EVSP503)
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 Spring 2024 Session D 8 Week session
03/25/24 - 08/30/24 09/02/24 - 10/27/24 Summer 2024 Session D 8 Week session

Course ID: 2694

|
In recent years, water resource management in the United States has begun a shift away from top-down, government agency-directed decision processes toward a collaborative approach of negotiation and problem solving. Rather than focusing on specific pollution sources or specific areas within a watershed, this course will present this new process, considering the watershed as a whole, and seeking solutions to an interrelated set of social, economic, and environmental problems. Through readings, discussions, and current and historical case studies, students will explore a wide range of threats to the productivity and health of watersheds and explore new, collaborative approaches to watershed management.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 Spring 2024 Session D 8 Week session
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 08/05/24 - 09/29/24 Summer 2024 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 4353

|
An overview of the concepts of risk assessment. Topics include the four core parts of a risk assessment, as denoted by the National Academy of Sciences: hazard assessment, dose-response assessment, exposure assessment and risk characterization. Methods of measurement and modeling are discussed, along with key questions concerning uncertainty. Differences in the risk characterizations of substances under different use conditions and legal requirements are studied. Case studies will serve to illustrate the risk assessment and site remediation processes.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 Spring 2024 Session D 8 Week session
03/25/24 - 08/30/24 09/02/24 - 10/27/24 Summer 2024 Session D 8 Week session

Course ID: 3982

|
This course is an introduction to energy policy and decision making, primarily in the United States. Students will examine the nature and scope of environmental, energy, and resource problems, analyze the goals and strategies of the renewable energy movement, investigate ideological, political, and institutional forces that shape policymaking and implementation, and conduct in-depth analyses of the various approaches to U.S. energy needs. An exploration of renewable energy technology, feasibility, and implementation is incorporated through the analysis of case studies and current events.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 Spring 2024 Session D 8 Week session
03/25/24 - 08/30/24 09/02/24 - 10/27/24 Summer 2024 Session D 8 Week session

Studies global environmental and climate change, and examines the potential impacts on environmental policy and society, via scholarly research and real-world case studies. Emphasis is on the implications of environmental change for environmental managers, including management decision-making and strategies.

Objectives:

Studies global environmental and climate change, and examines the potential impacts on environmental policy and society, via scholarly research and real-world case studies. Emphasis is on the implications of environmental change for environmental managers, including management decision-making and strategies.

Choose 12 credit hours from this section.

Course ID: 2827

|
This is a survey course that is designed to introduce students to the concepts of emergency management. Topics covered include the history of the field, hazard analysis, mitigation, planning, communication, response, recovery, and terrorism. Students conduct interview research with an emergency manager and conduct a site visit of an emergency operations center. Students can use this course to springboard into advanced topics within the field as offered by other courses, and is a great place for students to begin their emergency management degree programs.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 Spring 2024 Session D 8 Week session
01/29/24 - 06/28/24 07/01/24 - 08/25/24 Summer 2024 Session B 8 Week session
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 08/05/24 - 09/29/24 Summer 2024 Session I 8 Week session
03/25/24 - 08/30/24 09/02/24 - 10/27/24 Summer 2024 Session D 8 Week session

Course ID: 3849

|
This course provides an overview of what is known about natural hazards, disasters, recovery, and mitigation, how research findings have been translated into policies and programs, and a sustainable hazard mitigation research agenda. The course also provides an examination of past disaster losses and hazards management over the past 50 years, including factors--demographic, climate, social--that influence loss.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
01/29/24 - 06/28/24 07/01/24 - 08/25/24 Summer 2024 Session B 8 Week session
03/25/24 - 08/30/24 09/02/24 - 10/27/24 Summer 2024 Session D 8 Week session

Course ID: 4159

|
This course examines the development of major areas in conservation-oriented research that include patterns of biodiversity, extinction, conservation genetics, conservation of populations, communities and landscapes, and ecological sustainability.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 Spring 2024 Session D 8 Week session
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 08/05/24 - 09/29/24 Summer 2024 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 2694

|
In recent years, water resource management in the United States has begun a shift away from top-down, government agency-directed decision processes toward a collaborative approach of negotiation and problem solving. Rather than focusing on specific pollution sources or specific areas within a watershed, this course will present this new process, considering the watershed as a whole, and seeking solutions to an interrelated set of social, economic, and environmental problems. Through readings, discussions, and current and historical case studies, students will explore a wide range of threats to the productivity and health of watersheds and explore new, collaborative approaches to watershed management.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 Spring 2024 Session D 8 Week session
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 08/05/24 - 09/29/24 Summer 2024 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 2674

|
Being a strategic or visionary leader has been identified as one of the top five skills needed to be successful in the global economy. This course outlines successful Strategic Management and Planning techniques, and it addresses the fundamentals of the strategic alignment of people, resources and processes to the business vision, mission, and purpose of the organization.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 Spring 2024 Session D 8 Week session
01/29/24 - 06/28/24 07/01/24 - 08/25/24 Summer 2024 Session B 8 Week session
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 08/05/24 - 09/29/24 Summer 2024 Session I 8 Week session
03/25/24 - 08/30/24 09/02/24 - 10/27/24 Summer 2024 Session D 8 Week session

Looks at the complex and dynamic interactions between humans and their environment. Examines the role of government policies and the barriers preventing full sustainability implementation. Topics covered include how sustainability solves complex environmental problems and meets critical resource needs from a local to global scale.

Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:

  • Detail the principles of sustainability and the roles of multiple disciplines in their effective implementation.
  • Analyze the complex and dynamic interactions between humans and their environment.
  • Assess the role of government policy at municipal, regional, national, and global levels in achieving sustainable development.
  • Analyze the political, regulatory, and economic barriers that prevent full implementation of sustainable products, goods and services.
  • Apply the principles of sustainability to complex environmental problems.
  • Analyze the role of sustainability in meeting critical resource needs, such as renewable energy and water quality and quantity, on the local, regional, national, and global scale.

Must take all courses for this section.

Course ID: 4655

|
This course consists of an in-depth review of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), its legislative background and history, significant case law, and Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ) Guidelines. Students will review examples of agency Categorical Exclusions, Environmental Assessments, and Environmental Impact Statements to become familiar with the documents as a building block for EVSP629 Environmental Impact Analysis. Students will evaluate whether specific documents "meet the intent or spirit" of NEPA, compare state vs. federal NEPA regulations, and review at least one federal agency’s NEPA procedures. (Prerequisite: EVSP503)
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 Spring 2024 Session D 8 Week session
03/25/24 - 08/30/24 09/02/24 - 10/27/24 Summer 2024 Session D 8 Week session

Course ID: 3981

|
This course is an introduction to the philosophical and practical principles of green and sustainable design through the exploration of environmental issues, sustainable materials and methods, and public policy and decision making. Sustainability principles, policies, and programs that encourage and guide current initiatives are analyzed. Innovative strategies for implementing sustainable projects, programs, and practices are investigated through the review of case studies and completion of a final course project.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
01/29/24 - 06/28/24 07/01/24 - 08/25/24 Summer 2024 Session B 8 Week session

Course ID: 3982

|
This course is an introduction to energy policy and decision making, primarily in the United States. Students will examine the nature and scope of environmental, energy, and resource problems, analyze the goals and strategies of the renewable energy movement, investigate ideological, political, and institutional forces that shape policymaking and implementation, and conduct in-depth analyses of the various approaches to U.S. energy needs. An exploration of renewable energy technology, feasibility, and implementation is incorporated through the analysis of case studies and current events.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 Spring 2024 Session D 8 Week session
03/25/24 - 08/30/24 09/02/24 - 10/27/24 Summer 2024 Session D 8 Week session

Course ID: 2742

|
Landscape planning and ecology is a rapidly developing area of study that explicitly examines the effects of spatial pattern and scale on ecological processes that unfold over areas of several square miles or larger. Thus, landscape ecology and planning provides many concepts, tools, and approaches that will enhance the effectiveness of endeavors such as watershed management, ecosystem management, design of conservation reserves and green infrastructure, and smart growth. The goal of this course is to give students a firm grasp of the concepts of landscape ecology and planning and how they can be applied to enhance the effectiveness of environmental policy, management, regulation, and assessment.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
01/29/24 - 06/28/24 07/01/24 - 08/25/24 Summer 2024 Session B 8 Week session

Examines fundamental concepts and principles of fish and wildlife management, and why human activity has an effect on populations. Teaches how legal regulations, policies, and politics influence management. The role of collaboration and partnerships in meeting critical resource needs on a national and global scale is also covered.

Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:

  • Describe the fundamental concepts and principles of the management of fish and wildlife resources.
  • Assess the impact of human activities on the survival and management of fish and wildlife populations.
  • Analyze the regulations, policies, and politics that influence the management of fish and wildlife in the U.S.
  • Analyze the complex and dynamic interactions between fish and wildlife resources and their environment.
  • Assess the political, regulatory, and economic barriers that prevent the preservation and restoration of species and populations.
  • Analyze the role of collaboration and partnerships in meeting critical fish and wildlife resource needs, such as species restoration, threatened and endangered species management, and landscape level conservation, both on the national and global scale.

Choose 12 credit hours from this section.

Course ID: 4133

|
This course examines the principles and theory of fisheries management with major emphasis on the human dimension in fisheries management, fishery assessment, population dynamics, and common management practices.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 Spring 2024 Session D 8 Week session
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 08/05/24 - 09/29/24 Summer 2024 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 4134

|
This course examines the principles of managing wildlife resources with emphasis on the history of wildlife resources in the United States, population ecology, wildlife values, and the administration of wildlife resources and resources agencies.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 Spring 2024 Session D 8 Week session
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 08/05/24 - 09/29/24 Summer 2024 Session I 8 Week session

Choose 6 credit hours from this section.

Course ID: 4135

|
This course will examine the concept of restoration ecology, which employs science, applied techniques, and environmental design principles to restore ecological processes and biological communities on disturbed, degraded, or altered landscapes. Students will conduct scientific study and explore techniques used in restoring endangered species, native prairie, rare plants, riparian areas, streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands, watersheds, woodlands, and wildlife habitat.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 Spring 2024 Session D 8 Week session
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 08/05/24 - 09/29/24 Summer 2024 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 4159

|
This course examines the development of major areas in conservation-oriented research that include patterns of biodiversity, extinction, conservation genetics, conservation of populations, communities and landscapes, and ecological sustainability.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 Spring 2024 Session D 8 Week session
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 08/05/24 - 09/29/24 Summer 2024 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 2694

|
In recent years, water resource management in the United States has begun a shift away from top-down, government agency-directed decision processes toward a collaborative approach of negotiation and problem solving. Rather than focusing on specific pollution sources or specific areas within a watershed, this course will present this new process, considering the watershed as a whole, and seeking solutions to an interrelated set of social, economic, and environmental problems. Through readings, discussions, and current and historical case studies, students will explore a wide range of threats to the productivity and health of watersheds and explore new, collaborative approaches to watershed management.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 Spring 2024 Session D 8 Week session
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 08/05/24 - 09/29/24 Summer 2024 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 5183

|
Participating in an internship provides students with a valuable educational and professional opportunity. During internships, students explore and gain hands on experience in a field they have an interest in working within. Within the School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math the primary responsibility for finding an internship belongs to the student, however there are a number of resources in place to help you in your search, and with the application process.

Teaches how to design, implement, and evaluate sustainable developments, landscapes, and environments. Covers interactions between humans and their environment and government policies. Legislation, socio-political influences, and the analysis of development plans for adherence to professional standards and principles are covered.

Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:

  • Detail the elements necessary to design, implement, and evaluate sustainable developments, landscapes, and environments.
  • Analyze the complex and dynamic interactions between humans and their environment.
  • Explain the role of government policy at municipal, regional, national, and global levels to achieve sustainable development.
  • Apply theoretical concepts to practical applications in order to design and implement sustainable environmental planning.
  • Apply principles of environmental policymaking and environmental legislation, as well as socio-political influences to the field of environmental planning.
  • Critically analyze complex, and often competing development plans for adherence to professional environmental planning and sustainability principles.

Choose 12 credit hours from this section.

Course ID: 3849

|
This course provides an overview of what is known about natural hazards, disasters, recovery, and mitigation, how research findings have been translated into policies and programs, and a sustainable hazard mitigation research agenda. The course also provides an examination of past disaster losses and hazards management over the past 50 years, including factors--demographic, climate, social--that influence loss.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
01/29/24 - 06/28/24 07/01/24 - 08/25/24 Summer 2024 Session B 8 Week session
03/25/24 - 08/30/24 09/02/24 - 10/27/24 Summer 2024 Session D 8 Week session

Course ID: 4655

|
This course consists of an in-depth review of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), its legislative background and history, significant case law, and Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ) Guidelines. Students will review examples of agency Categorical Exclusions, Environmental Assessments, and Environmental Impact Statements to become familiar with the documents as a building block for EVSP629 Environmental Impact Analysis. Students will evaluate whether specific documents "meet the intent or spirit" of NEPA, compare state vs. federal NEPA regulations, and review at least one federal agency’s NEPA procedures. (Prerequisite: EVSP503)
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 Spring 2024 Session D 8 Week session
03/25/24 - 08/30/24 09/02/24 - 10/27/24 Summer 2024 Session D 8 Week session

Course ID: 2694

|
In recent years, water resource management in the United States has begun a shift away from top-down, government agency-directed decision processes toward a collaborative approach of negotiation and problem solving. Rather than focusing on specific pollution sources or specific areas within a watershed, this course will present this new process, considering the watershed as a whole, and seeking solutions to an interrelated set of social, economic, and environmental problems. Through readings, discussions, and current and historical case studies, students will explore a wide range of threats to the productivity and health of watersheds and explore new, collaborative approaches to watershed management.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 Spring 2024 Session D 8 Week session
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 08/05/24 - 09/29/24 Summer 2024 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 3981

|
This course is an introduction to the philosophical and practical principles of green and sustainable design through the exploration of environmental issues, sustainable materials and methods, and public policy and decision making. Sustainability principles, policies, and programs that encourage and guide current initiatives are analyzed. Innovative strategies for implementing sustainable projects, programs, and practices are investigated through the review of case studies and completion of a final course project.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
01/29/24 - 06/28/24 07/01/24 - 08/25/24 Summer 2024 Session B 8 Week session

Course ID: 2742

|
Landscape planning and ecology is a rapidly developing area of study that explicitly examines the effects of spatial pattern and scale on ecological processes that unfold over areas of several square miles or larger. Thus, landscape ecology and planning provides many concepts, tools, and approaches that will enhance the effectiveness of endeavors such as watershed management, ecosystem management, design of conservation reserves and green infrastructure, and smart growth. The goal of this course is to give students a firm grasp of the concepts of landscape ecology and planning and how they can be applied to enhance the effectiveness of environmental policy, management, regulation, and assessment.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
01/29/24 - 06/28/24 07/01/24 - 08/25/24 Summer 2024 Session B 8 Week session

Choose 18 credit hours from this section.

Course ID: 2706

|
This course focuses on the analysis and resolution of complex environmental management issues. Environmental Management investigates the use of management tools and strategies to resolve complex environmental problems and controversies, including application of adaptive management, structured decision-making, and negotiation principles, and incorporating stakeholders, economic drivers, and the human element. Environmental leadership, collaboration, and conflict resolution will be emphasized, with due consideration to the use of sound scientific data in environmental decision making. Students will be expected to use critical thought, innovation, and creativity to formulate an adaptive management plan for a highly controversial environmental issue or policy as their course final project.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 Spring 2024 Session D 8 Week session
01/29/24 - 06/28/24 07/01/24 - 08/25/24 Summer 2024 Session B 8 Week session
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 08/05/24 - 09/29/24 Summer 2024 Session I 8 Week session
03/25/24 - 08/30/24 09/02/24 - 10/27/24 Summer 2024 Session D 8 Week session

Course ID: 2746

|
This course is a qualitative and quantitative study of the public and private economic costs and effects of environmental programs, industrialization, regulation, and international and national environmental policies, among other issues.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 Spring 2024 Session D 8 Week session
01/29/24 - 06/28/24 07/01/24 - 08/25/24 Summer 2024 Session B 8 Week session
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 08/05/24 - 09/29/24 Summer 2024 Session I 8 Week session
03/25/24 - 08/30/24 09/02/24 - 10/27/24 Summer 2024 Session D 8 Week session

Course ID: 2747

|
This course is a study of the major legal, regulatory, and policy framework that encompasses environmental programs and projects in the United States and with international political, commercial, and non-governmental institutions. The primary learning approach used in this course will be case studies.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 Spring 2024 Session D 8 Week session
01/29/24 - 06/28/24 07/01/24 - 08/25/24 Summer 2024 Session B 8 Week session
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 08/05/24 - 09/29/24 Summer 2024 Session I 8 Week session
03/25/24 - 08/30/24 09/02/24 - 10/27/24 Summer 2024 Session D 8 Week session

Course ID: 2730

|
This course is an advanced study of environmental issues from a moral and philosophical approach. Issues raised in the course and through student research and writing will include: the moral obligation or lack thereof, to preserve and protect the environment; the ethical presumptions that underlie environmental policy; the traditional theories of moral philosophy applicable to contemporary environmental problems; and the potential for a new concept of the relationship between humanity and nature.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 Spring 2024 Session D 8 Week session
01/29/24 - 06/28/24 07/01/24 - 08/25/24 Summer 2024 Session B 8 Week session
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 08/05/24 - 09/29/24 Summer 2024 Session I 8 Week session
03/25/24 - 08/30/24 09/02/24 - 10/27/24 Summer 2024 Session D 8 Week session

Choose 3 credit hours from this section.

Course ID: 2714

|
This course presents an introduction to the dynamics of ecosystems and the effects of toxic substances on its living and nonliving components, and incorporating human health issues and concerns. Students will examine the regulatory framework for environmental contaminants issues and detail the federal regulations, policies, and guidelines under which current environmental remediation is done. A key aspect of the course will be the application of risk assessment principles through case studies to gain an understanding of how to develop remediation plans and restoration alternatives that meet or exceed established regulatory guidelines.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 Spring 2024 Session D 8 Week session
01/29/24 - 06/28/24 07/01/24 - 08/25/24 Summer 2024 Session B 8 Week session
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 08/05/24 - 09/29/24 Summer 2024 Session I 8 Week session
03/25/24 - 08/30/24 09/02/24 - 10/27/24 Summer 2024 Session D 8 Week session

Course ID: 2680

|
This is an interactive course designed to help students achieve a greater understanding of the statistical methods and models available to analyze data and to solve problems associated with making decisions and testing hypotheses in uncertain conditions. The course is designed for students seeking a thorough appreciation of how statistical tools can support sound decision making efforts in a wide range of situations. Topics covered include inferential statistics, averages, measures of variation, the Normal distribution and its uses, sampling distributions, hypothesis testing for large and small samples, regression and correlation, and Chi-Square distributions. The skills, tools and methodologies needed to analyze systems and to make decisions are provided. State of the art analytical tools and quantitative methods, including computer-based solutions are discussed. The emphasis of the course will be on the proper use of statistical techniques and their implementation rather than on mathematical proofs. However, some mathematics is necessary in order to understand the proper application of the techniques introduced and discussed during the course.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 08/05/24 - 09/29/24 Summer 2024 Session I 8 Week session

Choose 3 credit hours from this section.

Course ID: 4929

|
This course prepares the student to understand materials and issues associated with but not limited to the scientific method, research design, and qualitative and statistical analysis of data. This course is intended to guide the student through selection of a suitable topic for the capstone project or thesis. Once an approved topic is selected, the student will prepare a formal proposal to be used in the capstone course.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 Spring 2024 Session D 8 Week session
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 08/05/24 - 09/29/24 Summer 2024 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 2743

|
The study and consideration of global environmental and climate change are of increasing significance to society. In this course, students will examine the evidence for and causes of global environmental change and will analyze potential impacts on environmental policy and society. Emphasis will be on the implications of environmental change for environmental managers, including management decision-making, the adequacy of the current regulatory framework in addressing these problems, and the effect on future policy and legislation.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
01/29/24 - 06/28/24 07/01/24 - 08/25/24 Summer 2024 Session B 8 Week session
03/25/24 - 08/30/24 09/02/24 - 10/27/24 Summer 2024 Session D 8 Week session
Select any courses that have not been used to fulfill major requirements. Credits applied toward a minor or certificate in an unrelated field may be used to fulfill elective credit for the major.

Choose 3 credit hours from this section.

Course ID: 4930

|
This course steps students through the construction of a professional portfolio that highlights major skills gained through their academic course work. The professional digital portfolio will be built using portfolio software and will include both scholarly work and writing geared towards the general audience. The final course output may include the digital portfolio, discipline relevant blog articles, and an oral defense of the portfolio presented to an audience of faculty and peers. NOTE: This is intended to be the final course in the degree program. Students must have a 3.0 GPA to enroll. This course is 8 weeks in length.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 Spring 2024 Session D 8 Week session
01/29/24 - 06/28/24 07/01/24 - 08/25/24 Summer 2024 Session B 8 Week session
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 08/05/24 - 09/29/24 Summer 2024 Session I 8 Week session
03/25/24 - 08/30/24 09/02/24 - 10/27/24 Summer 2024 Session D 8 Week session

Course ID: 4931

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This course gives students the opportunity to address real-world issues relevant to their profession, plan and execute a project, and contribute to their discipline while developing mastery of selected skills. Capstone projects may originate from a wide variety of options such as standard operating procedures, training manuals, comprehensive land management plans, designing sustainable communities, communication plans, remediation site plans, proposals for changes to environmental regulations, or other environmental policy and management solutions. The capstone project option is suggested for students wishing to terminate their formal studies with the MS degree, and who have an interest in the application of solutions to real-world concerns. The format will be proposed by the student and approved by the instructor. The capstone project must demonstrate originality and will follow the style requirements set by the department. NOTE: This is intended to be the final course in the degree program. Students must have a 3.0 GPA to enroll. This course is 16 weeks in length. (Prerequisites: EVSP601)

Course ID: 2781

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Designed specifically for students with an interest in scholarly research or continuing their academic career in doctoral studies, this course requires students to present original scholarly research. The capstone thesis must have a substantial research component, which will include research questions and presentation of an original argument using proper academic writing conventions. Students writing a capstone thesis will collect and analyze data from carefully documented primary and/or secondary sources, and will develop a rigorous research paper in the style of a traditional scientific paper (i.e., abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, references). The capstone thesis must represent an original contribution to the body of knowledge within the broad field of environmental policy and management. The theories, research methods, analytical skills, and substantive knowledge obtained through the Environmental Policy and Management curriculum provide the basis for the thesis project. NOTE: This is intended to be the final course in the degree program. This course is 16 weeks in length. (Prerequisite: EVSP601)
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 06/03/24 - 09/22/24 Spring 2024 Session C 16 Week session
01/29/24 - 06/28/24 07/01/24 - 10/20/24 Summer 2024 Session A 16 Week session
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 08/05/24 - 11/24/24 Summer 2024 Session K 16 Week session
03/25/24 - 08/30/24 09/02/24 - 12/22/24 Summer 2024 Session C 16 Week session

Demand for Environmental Management Skills

For those with interests in environmental policy and management, there are many opportunities to apply this knowledge to the military, government agencies, the nonprofit sector, and the business world.

The Military 

  • The U. S. Coast Guard finds solutions to environmental issues through regulatory enforcement to safeguard marine waters.
  • The U.S Army’s Environmental Management Division works to support military missions while protecting the environment.
  • The Department of Defense needs professionals well versed in public land management to oversee roughly 27 million acres of land, including old-growth forests, wetlands, and other ecologically sensitive areas.
  • The Air Force Civil Engineer Center is made up of subject matter experts who address environmental problems, including regulatory compliance, restoration, waste management, and data analysis.

Government agencies 

  • The Environmental Protection Agency works on critical environmental issues such as slowing climate change and advancing environmental justice.
  • The Department of Energy works with professionals to pursue major energy projects such as the president’s net-zero carbon emissions initiative. 

Nonprofits

  • The Natural Resources Defense Council is a nonprofit member-based organization advocating for sustainable solutions to protect the earth. It's the organization that helped with the passage of the Clean Water Act in the 1970s and helped champion a $97 million legal settlement to examine and replace Flint, Michigan, water lines.
  • The World Wildlife Fund teams with corporate partners to advance sustainability goals. For example, since 2007 it has worked with Coca-Cola to improve water security for some of the world's most water-stressed areas. Now WWF and Coca-Cola are engaged in projects and strategies to address climate resilience and plastic waste reduction.

Businesses 

  • As the demand for more eco-conscious practices increases, there is an increased need for consulting firms. The research firm Verdantix forecasts a 17% annual growth in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) as well as sustainability consulting between 2022 and 2027. According to the job sites Indeed and LinkedIn, environmental advisors and chief sustainability officers are needed to help corporations and nonprofit organizations create sustainability strategies. 
environmental policy

Serve As A Community Leader

Discover new ways to serve by solving complex environmental challenges and bringing diverse communities together. Taking a leadership role in environmental planning requires a savvy communicator – someone who can parse disparate data, hear divergent views, navigate political situations, explain complex interactions, put forth proposals, and gain consensus. 

Throughout the master of environmental policy and management program, you’ll become aware of the impact of human activities and industrialization on the environment. This program is designed to enhance your leadership and management skills by applying qualitative and quantitative analysis, examining competing ethical arguments, and exploring socio-political and economic influences on public policy. 

Deepen your Expertise with your Choice of Concentration

Our concentrations offer opportunities to delve deeply into topics you're passionate about, from tackling global environmental challenges to managing fish and wildlife resources to examining the human impact on our environment. Concentration areas have allowed students to focus on topics such as water resource management, risk assessment, renewable energy, fisheries management, and wildlife management.

With my MS in Environmental Policy and Management, with a concentration in Fish and Wildlife Management, I worked two different positions for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service …A college education helped me to land my dream job raising fish at a National Wildlife Refuge. It was an experience I will never forget.
Heidi Stream
Air Force veteran and American Military University graduate

Learn From Experienced Practitioners

Gain real-world skills and mentorship from faculty who are passionate about sharing their knowledge with the next generation of leaders. Our seasoned faculty have worked directly in government and industry on environmental challenges across diverse fields. Faculty members have held roles as environmental managers and officers, geospatial analysis consultants, research project leads, stormwater compliance and enforcement managers, as well as chief conservation officers. They have the interdisciplinary background to discover novel solutions to pressing environmental issues. 

In addition to sharing their experience in the field, they are well versed in the latest developments in environmental policy and practice. Discussions with these subject matter experts bring practical experience you can apply directly toward your goals.

Our professors combine academic excellence with field experience and that is a comparative advantage for us, giving us perspective and potential. I can see things from a different point of view and make better decisions.
Stella Micholitsi
American Military University graduate

Experiential Learning Opportunities

Our graduate program provides many opportunities to learn outside the classroom by allowing academic credit for approved research and internships of your choosing. We encourage students to identify potential internship options. 

Research is also a key deliverable in our graduate program. To complete the program, students may choose to either build a professional portfolio to demonstrate their scholarly work to date or present and defend original research. 

Note: Many internships require face-to-face presence. Thus, an internship is the one element of our environmental management degree program that is not necessarily completed online. Students who are interested in internships are responsible for identifying appropriate opportunities and reaching out to the program chair and advising for guidance about next steps. 


Why Attend American Military University?

Academic excellence. American Military University is part of the American Public University System, which is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Ability to quickly apply skills. Faculty members encourage students to use innovative thinking to tackle environmental issues. Our graduate program is designed to offer practical applications and competencies you can swiftly use in real-world situations.

Flexibility. Aside from undertaking an optional in-person internship, this degree program is online and built around the needs of working professionals. We have rolling admissions for maximum flexibility with courses starting every month.

Affordability. In addition to affordable tuition rates, there’s no cost for admission applications or transfer credit assessments, and students can access low or no cost ebooks.

Military-friendly. We support active-duty military personnel and veterans, as well as military spouses. As a top education provider to the U.S. military, we offer a Preferred Military Rate for U.S. active-duty servicemembers, National Guard members, Reservists, and military families. Our Veterans Grant makes tuition more affordable for veterans and their families. Transfer credits may also be possible for military courses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Graduate-level environmental education is ideal for students looking to acquire the skills needed to make a meaningful difference in the field. Students complete the program having learned interdisciplinary skills in conservation, environmental economics, ethics, law, landscape management, renewable energy, sustainability, and related fields. 

Job sites such as Indeed show that many roles in sustainability consulting firms as well as positions such as specialists in environmental planning, environmental policy development, and regulatory compliance often require a master of science degree.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of specialists and environmental scientists, including environmental policy professionals, to grow 6% from 2022 to 2032. Environmental policy analysts research the complex interactions involved with environmental problems and develop policy briefs to address these concerns.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, [career information accessed March 2024] https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/environmental-scientists-and-specialists.htm. Employment conditions in your area may vary.

Completion of a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution is the first requirement. Learn more on our graduate program admissions page. 

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Admission Requirements

  • All AMU master's degree/graduate certificate programs require a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an institution whose accreditation is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA®).
  • Please read all graduate admission requirements before applying to this program and be prepared to submit the required documentation.
  • There is no fee to complete the AMU admission application for this program. View steps to apply.

CHEA® is a registered trademark of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. 

Materials Cost

Most courses in this program use Open Educational Resources (OER). These teaching, learning, and research materials are made available to you at no cost, meaning there are minimal book costs associated with earning this degree.

Technology fee: $85 per course

Need Help?

Selecting the right program to meet your educational goals is a key step in ensuring a successful outcome. If you are unsure of which program to choose, or need more information, please contact an AMU admissions coach at 877-755-2787 or [email protected].

Quality Education Should Be Affordable

So you can focus on the opportunities ahead, without the financial burden of more expensive schools who are not as invested in your success. Learn more about paying for school.

Consumer Information

Disclosures

Maryland Residents learn more about costs, completion rates, median debt, and more.

2Alumni Graduated with No APUS-incurred Student Loan Debt As of December 31, 2021

Includes alumni who graduated with an associate, bachelor's, or master's degree from APUS. Student loan debt is defined as student loans and private education loans used for tuition, fees, living expenses, and book costs associated with courses taken at APUS. Many APUS students receive military tuition assistance and veterans education benefits, which are not student loan debt.

1The University reserves the right to accept or deny credits according to policies outlined on our University website. Please see the University's transfer credit policy webpage for complete information.

*Cost Per Credit Hour

The Preferred Military Rate is $250 per credit hour for undergraduate and  master's-level courses. This rate is available to all U.S. active-duty servicemembers, National Guard members, Reservists, and military families, including parents, spouses, legal partners, siblings, and dependents.

See all military student benefits.

Cost of Attendance

Learn more about AMU’s cost components and full cost of attendance.