Environmental & Sustainability Policy (MS)

Brooks School of Public Policy

Program Website

Program Description

There is increasing awareness of the profound environmental challenges in the United States and globally, including climate change from consumption of fossil fuels, biodiversity loss, pollution, deforestation, sea level rise, and food and water insecurity, among others. As these interconnected crises deepen, demand is rising for academic programs that prepare students for careers that contribute to finding solutions to this complex global environmental crisis. Most environmental studies MS degrees orient toward solutions in physical science, engineering, or business. In contrast, the Brooks School Master of Science in Environmental and Sustainability Policy (ESP) degree focuses on rigorous applied training in social sciences, public policy and regulatory approaches to advance solutions to environmental threats. Coursework includes in-depth study of the legal, regulatory, and ethical aspects of the environmental policy process, environmental justice, environmental economics, political analysis, statistics, data analytics, and policy communication for a sustainable world. The program consists of core requirements and elective courses to deepen policy and scientific expertise in a specialized aspects of sustainability solutions such as climate and energy, conservation, food systems, and biodiversity.

Academic Standards

Program Policies

Please review Brooks School Policies and Procedures for detailed information on academic policies and requirements, as well as Cornell University Academic Integrity policies.

Petitions

Course substitutions may be permitted based on prior mastery of a subject or to request a relevant course not listed within the catalog year’s curriculum requirements. These petitions must be approved by the Environmental and Sustainability Policy Program Director.

Environmental and Sustainability Policy students must be in-residence for all semesters of the program. They must also attend classes according to the modality offered by the course and cannot request an alternative form of attendance/participation.

Students who face an extenuating circumstance may petition the Environmental and Sustainability Policy Director for an exception to an Environmental and Sustainability Policy academic policy. 

Academic Standing

Residential master’s students are expected to meet the following academic standards:  

  • Maintain a minimum semester and cumulative grade point average of 3.0.
  • Receive a grade of C or better in all courses applied toward degree requirements.
  • Carry no more than two incomplete grades at any time.
  • Complete at least 12 credits each fall and spring term and 6 credits each summer term, unless an approved petition for a reduced course load has been granted.
  • Remain in residence unless participating in an approved off-campus activity with prior written approval from the program director.  
  • Make satisfactory progress toward completion of a Brooks School master’s degree.

For additional information regarding the academic standing review process, refer to the Brooks School Policies and Procedures.