Environmental Planning and Policy

Environmental Planning and Policy majors combine an aptitude in science and math with an interest in maintaining a vigorous, productive environment and a drive to use scientific knowledge to improve society.

Success in the field requires knowledge and experience in many related fields.  Your program will include courses from a variety of disciplines, including geography, math, health, economics, philosophy and other social sciences as well as the physical sciences.  At UMF, each department offers not only a premium selection of courses, but the strength and experiences of their faculty.

Hands-on field and lab work will be an important part of your studies.  Our state-of-the-art equipment and laboratories allow students and faculty to conduct environmental impact assessments and research using GPS, GIS and image analysis technology.  Field trips have included visits to Canada and Iceland.

As an Environmental Planning and Policy major, you will benefit from UMF's close ties with public environmental agencies and private businesses who offer internship opportunities that not only give you hands-on experience but help you develop connections that will prove useful after graduation.

Unlike the Environmental Science major, Environmental Planning and Policy emphasizes planning methodology, policy issues, and analytic skills.  Working with your advisor, you will tailor the courses you choose to satisfy specific interest to prepare you for your anticipated career.  

This program provides you the opportunity to engage in field projects and internships with local and state agencies.  This aspect of our program is a very important part to your education. Internships provide the hands-on work experience necessary to balance classroom and lab work.  We have placed our EP&P majors with the State of Maine DEP; Dept. of Transportation; Dept. of Health; and Inland Fisheries and Wildlife; Blue Marble Mapping; and the Office of Geographic Information Systems, these are to name just a few.  Our location at the foothills of the western Maine mountains makes it an ideal place to study environmental issues such as recreational development, timber management, farmland use, and small urban development.