Environmental Policy and Decision Making

Admitted students are directly enrolled into this major. Students can bring some course requirements with them from high school when they enroll, such as:  

• Biology 1113 or 1114: Biological Sciences (AP Biology - 5 score)
• Chemistry 1110: Elementary Chemistry I (AP Chemistry - 3+ score)
• ENR 2100 and 2101: Intro to Environmental Science (AP Environmental Science - 3+ score)
• Economics 2001.01: Microeconomics (AP Economics: Microeconomics - 3+ score)

Additionally, students will take introductory courses in communicating environmental information, society and natural resources and environment and natural resources policy.

Through immersive coursework in the classroom or in collaboration with community partners, you’ll build skills in policy implementation and monitoring processes. Courses may include:

• Environmental and Natural Resources Economics
• Psychology of Environmental Problems
• Environmental Law and Legal Process
• Global Climate Change: Causes and Consequences
• Local Peoples and International Conservation

Customize your academic journey by focusing on one of these areas in the environmental policy and decision making major:

• Communication and Behavior Change: Use the power of storytelling and communications strategies to shift public attitudes and inspire sustainable action. You’ll be equipped to lead outreach campaigns, design education programs and translate science into meaningful messages.
• Environmental and Social Justice: Champion equity and inclusion in environmental decision-making. This track prepares you to work with communities, advocate for fair access to resources and address the root causes of environmental disparities.
• Policy and Governance: Shape the policies that protect our environment. You’ll learn how science informs legislation, how governments implement change and how to evaluate the long-term success of environmental policies.

Explore the details of the major’s curriculum here.

Students are encouraged to participate in programs led by the School of Environment and Natural Resources. Specifically, environmental policy and decision making students may benefit from the Australia: Human Impacts on the Natural Environment program. With this program, students spend the month of May in North Queensland, Australia, surveying environmental issues including water scarcity and quality, the impacts of rising ocean temperatures, wildlife conservation and more. 

Additionally, students may be interested in the United Nations Climate Change Negotiations program through the Department of History. Students in this program have the unique opportunity to attend the annual climate negotiations through the United Nations Climate Change Convention’s annual Conference of the Parties.

Environmental policy and decision making students are not required to complete internships; however, it is strongly encouraged to complete at least one, as students who graduate with internship or research experiences are more likely to gain employment upon graduation. It is common for environmental policy and decision making students to intern with local, state or national governmental entities, such as the Ohio EPA or the national EPA. 

The School of Environment and Natural Resources career services office provides 1:1 support and organizes career development events for students.

The Environment and Natural Resources Honors program challenges high-ability students by providing a more in-depth academic experience. Students complete 18 credit hours of honors courses and a major-related experiential learning project, such as research. Freshmen with University Honors standing may be accepted directly as a candidate for the Environment and Natural Resources Honors program.

The Environment and Natural Resources Scholars program offers an opportunity for students to live and learn with other students who share interests in conservation, outdoor recreation and environmental issues. Students in the program are introduced to a variety of campus and community resources related to leadership, service, study abroad, internships, careers and research. The ENR scholars live together in Morrill Tower.

There are many opportunities across campus for students to participate in research. Whether your passions lie in promoting environmental behaviors or informing policy change, there are plenty of labs across campus pursuing work in fields relevant to these areas. Relevant labs include:

• Wilson Environment, Risk, and Decision Lab
• Environmental and Social Sustainability Lab
• Environment and Energy Policy Management

There are 40+ organizations on campus related to the environment or outdoor recreation! Popular organizations among environmental policy and decision making students include:

• Undergraduate Student Government - Sustainability Committee
• Sierra Club Student Coalition
• American Conservation Coalition

93.5% of our graduates take their skills to the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Alternatively, they enroll in graduate school within six months of graduation. One in five students in this major immediately pursues graduate school, with law school being the most common choice. Recent job outcomes include:

• Legislative aid: Ohio House of Representatives
• Environmental policy fellow: Ohio Environmental Council
• Staff assistant: U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources
• Science and technical communications specialist: Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
• Sustainability specialist: LyondellBasell

New environmental policy and decision making OSU graduates report an average starting salary of $50,000 at their first job.