PUBPOL 3730

Comparative Environmental Policy

Course Description

Course information provided by the 2025-2026 Catalog.

This course focuses on environmental legislation such as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Clean Air Act (CAA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), and others as a foundation for US environmental policy. Internationally, focus on Environmental Policy in multiple countries and comparative to US environmental policy. Over the course we will discuss how environmental policy directly impacts community, public health, natural ecological systems, concepts of justice, and socioeconomics. We will explore these major environmental policies in the US as a basis of comparison and then apply those mechanism domestically or internationally to address climate change and improve other environment conditions. Students who seek to work in the US will build an analytic skill set to be competitive for jobs in environmental consulting, government, public policy, public health, non-profits, and advocacy groups.

Distribution Requirements (KCM-AG, SBA-AG), (KCM-HE, SBA-HE)

Exploratory Studies (CU-SBY)

Last 4 Terms Offered 2025SP, 2024SP, 2023SP

Outcomes

• Students will debate major environmental policy on the international stage (UN) and key policies in other countries.
• Students will analyze the challenges and opportunities in implementing effective climate change mitigation alternatives and cumulative impacts to proposed projects and policies.
• Students will propose strategies for overcoming obstacles to effective environmental regulation.

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