Environment and Sustainability and Public Policy

Overview

The dual Masters of Public Policy (MPP) and Masters of Science (MS) in SEAS degree program provides students with the opportunity to study environment and sustainability issues through the lens of public policy analysis. The dual degree program offers a combined approach to these topics through academic rigor and applied practice. Although a sequential earning of the MPP and MS in SEAS is possible, this dual program is designed to maximize synergies, reduce time to graduation, and provide a model for preparing a new generation of graduates skilled in addressing important topics like renewable energy and climate change using policy analysis techniques.

Dual Degree Program Description

The three-year dual degree combines two existing degree programs: the MPP in the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy (Ford) and the MS in Environment and Sustainability (SEAS). This dual degree is a minimum six-semester, 75 credit hour program of full-time study. This is a reduction of 15 credits from the 90 credits that would be required to get the MPP and MS in SEAS degrees separately. This double-counting of credits in advance simplifies the planning process for students and allows for graduation within three years of matriculation. The credit requirement needed still falls within the range of double-counted credits that would normally be allowed by Rackham Graduate School.

There is one exception to this rule. MS students pursuing the Sustainability and Development specialization who have completed the Sustainability and Development MasterTrack certificate will be allowed to double-count up to 14 credits between the two degrees. Students who have completed the certificate are allowed to transfer 6 credits from the certificate to count towards the 42 credits required for the MS. These students will be eligible to double-count a maximum of 14 credits [(36 + 48)/6 = 14].  Rackham does not allow triple counting between three degrees.

Coursework in public policy methods and analysis are available in the existing MPP program along with a ten-week applied policy summer internship. The MS in SEAS program with its 6 fields of study offer courses in the foundations of environmental sustainability and integrated learning that blends field-based learning, applied professional training, and practical approaches to changing public policy and individual behavior.

School for Environment and Sustainability Requirements

  • At least 25 EAS credits
  • Fulfill specialization core and the EAS core course requirements
  • Two analytics courses (one must be statistics).  EAS 538 (or equivalent) or PubPol 529 will fulfill the Statistics requirement.
  • EPP students - PubPol 555 will fulfill the EAS 570 requirement.  You must also take an approved additional economics course.  
  • Master's capstone or petition to complete the Non-Capstone MS.

Master of Public Policy Requirements

  • EAS 562 or PubPol 510 will fulfill the Political Analysis requirement
  • EAS 570 or PubPol 555 will fulfill the Economics requirement
  • MS-SEAS/MPP students may waive (without petitioning) Statistics (PubPol 529) based on successful completion (B- or higher) of EAS 538 (Natural Resources Statistics). Students may waive EAS 538 based on the successful completion of PubPol 529.
  • Dual degree students will be required to complete at least one PubPol 638: Integrated Policy Exercise (IPE) in their first or second year. All MPP students, including dual degrees, have the option of completing a second IPE or enrolling in PubPol 778: Project Skills Workshop to complete the requirement. Learn more about the Integrated Policy Exercise and this requirement.   Beginning Fall 2021: Dual degree students will be required to complete one PubPol 638: Integrated Policy Exercise (IPE) in their first or second year. Learn more about the Integrated Policy Exercise and this requirement.
  • No credit is awarded for core courses successfully waived by passing waiver exams; credit must be earned with PubPol electives.
  • MPP students complete a required internship consisting of ten weeks of full-time (40 hours/week) work.


Jobs Prospects and Career Options and Services

MPP/MS in SEAS dual-degree graduates will be well-positioned to pursue academic research as well as data analysis and applied positions. They will also become members of firms engaged in environmental consulting, think tanks, and other efforts requiring cross-disciplinary interactions. MPP/MS in SEAS alumni can expect to step into exciting careers as policy analysts, advocates, planners, program managers and leaders in non-profit organizations, government offices at all levels, land trusts and consulting firms.

Students pursuing this dual degree may be interested in jobs at the Environmental Protection Agency, the Environmental Defense Fund, DTE Energy, Clean Energy Coalition, PWC and others. Because of the very small number of students to be admitted into this program, the students in the proposed dual-degree program will be minimally affected by job availability and will have a negligible impact on career opportunities for graduates of other UM programs.