Degree: B.S.

Director: Rachael Shwom (shwomrac@sebs.rutgers.edu)

Program Website: http://humeco.rutgers.edu/undergrad.asp

Managing Department (Department of Human Ecology): http://humeco.rutgers.edu  

Program Description

Environmental policy, institutions, and behavior (EPIB) examines the human dimensions of environmental problems. It addresses such issues as how human actions affect the environment; how societies adapt to changes in natural resource availability; and how individuals, nations, and international agencies respond to environmental hazards. Courses in the program deal with local, regional, and national differences in the use of resources;  social and environmental aspects of health and illness; alternative strategies for environmental management; ethical, moral, and legal dimensions of environmental and resource issues; and the roles of governmental and nongovernmental agencies in environmental affairs.

To understand these topics, students are exposed to a multidisciplinary view of the environment and draw upon concepts from a variety of fields, including anthropology, ecology, economics, geography, sociology, political science, and psychology.

The objectives of the curriculum are to teach basic concepts and methods from the social, biological, and physical sciences as they relate to the interactions among people and the environment; to train students in the techniques of empirical research; to provide opportunities for experiences in real-world situations; to guide students in acquiring practical skills such as environmental assessment, professional writing, data analysis, and demographic analysis; and to broaden students' knowledge regarding environmental problems and how people cope with them.

Graduates are prepared for careers in health and environmental agencies at all levels of government, nonprofit organizations in the United States and internationally, and private companies, including environmental consulting firms, pharmaceutical companies, and green businesses. Some students also pursue graduate or professional studies in the social sciences, public health and medicine, public administration, law, and international development.