Information for Freshmen
The program in Environmental Policy and Culture (EPC) offers Northwestern students an opportunity to learn about local and global environmental issues that are shaping our lives and our future. The minor is open to all Northwestern students. Students can declare a minor before taking any courses. Read more about declaring a minor in EPC in Advising
The Environmental Policy and Culture Program offers a coherent program of study starting with a choice of two 200-level courses and continuing with 300-level lecture courses and seminars. We encourage all students to take the courses offered by EPC (listed in CEASAR as ENVR_POL). These courses cover key areas of environmental studies including international environmental politics, global climate change from a policy and culture perspective, and the interface between the business sector and the government with regard to environmental issues.
We encourage a multi-disciplinary approach to environmental studies because of the special nature of environmental problems as they relate to policy, economic, social, and scientific study. EPC Students take courses offered in the program (listed as ENVR_POL) and courses about environmental issues offered in different departments.
The Program now offers 11 EPC courses a year, and a choice of 20-30 courses taught in other NU departments and programs. See Courses
Recommended courses for freshmen (approved for the minor)
| ENVR_POL | 390 | US Environmental Politics (same as POL_SCI 329) |
| ENVR_POL | 390 | Politics & Nature in a Comparative Perspective(same as POL_SCI 367) |
| ANTHRO | 225 | The Evolution of Human Society |
| GEOG | 211 | World Biogeography |
| HIST | 215 | Western Hemisphere Environments |
| PHIL | 268 | Ethics and the Environment |
| RELIGION | 260 | Native American Religions |
| RELIGION | 261 | American Religion, Ecology and Culture |
| BIO_SCI | 103 | Plant-People Interactions |
| EARTH | 107 | Our Dynamic Planet |
| EARTH | 111 | Human Dimensions of Global Change |
| ENVR_SCI | 201 | Earth, an Habitable Planet |
| ENVR_SCI | 202 | The Health of the Biosphere |
| ENVR_SCI | 203 | Energy and the Environment |
