Environmental Science

Economics is one of the core disciplines in the Environmental Science and Policy Program for students pursuing either the Science track or the Policy track.  Many students pursue double majors in Economics and Environmental Science and Policy.

Through courses such as “Introduction to Environmental Science and Policy” (ENSP 101), and “Environmental and Natural Resource Economics” (ECON 322), students are introduced to the strengths and weaknesses of incentive-based approaches for environmental policy.  For example, in a climate change context, economics can help evaluate pollution taxes and tradable permits as mechanisms for regulating and reducing global carbon emissions.  Courses also explore the economic aspects of local environmental issues.  For example, economic analysis can help formulate and evaluate land use policies for growing locales that value the natural systems important for water quality, but may be harmed by development. 

Students who are interested in the link between economics and the environment will find a number of advanced courses in the Economics curriculum that will complement their study, such as “Government Regulation of Business” (ECON 362), and “Applied Environmental Economics” (ECON 422).