Final Year: Courses

Communication Strategies (2 credits)

Students learn how to communicate clearly and accurately about environmental problems, and how to target information for different purposes and to audiences in multiple sectors. Students become familiar with various approaches to conveying a message, including public service announcements, radio interviews, research papers, scholarly articles, press releases, and legislative briefs. Classes with voice and speech coaches help students hone their presentation and public speaking skills, while lectures from veteran environmental journalists offer insight into working with the press. Additionally, students learn about fund-raising, foundations, and grant writing.

Capstone Seminar (2 credits)

Taught by an outside expert, this capstone experience gives students a chance to scrutinize a particular case study or facet of environmental policy. Topics may include environmental journalism, green urbanism, U.S. environmental advocacy since the 1970s, international management of e-waste, a legal examination of the Exxon Valdez disaster, climate uncertainty, Hudson River chemistry and toxicology, globalization and sustainability, environmental justice, or socially responsible investing.