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Environmental Policy

If you find yourself worried about the planet's future, if you feel like the planet's very survival is at stake, you are not alone. You can join a committed group of students and faculty at Champlain College and prepare to go out and become a part of the solution. Put your education and professional life to use on critical environmental policy issues that can have a truly profound impact on the future. If the idea of this excites you, you should seriously consider a major in Environmental Policy at Champlain.

Environment Policy, in Champlain's Division of Education & Human Studies, will teach you the skills needed to guide policy in ways which will foster sustainable practices to protect the planet for generations to come.

At this moment in history, and as far as can be seen into the future, the world is in desperate need of people with the skills needed to develop sound environmental policy. It has become alarmingly clear to municipalities, businesses, states, and countries that our models for consumption and development are fundamentally flawed.

As we move forward into the new millennium, there is broad consensus that decisions on how our species manages resources and waste must be deliberated with due consideration to the immediate and long-term effects on the planet. In the United States, the cultural shift is already underway. Employment of environmental policy experts is expected to grow dramatically over the coming decades; projections for expansion in this category exceed anticipated growth in all other employment sectors.

The Environmental Policy major is an organic extension of the culture of sustainability here at Champlain College. Our community recognizes that emerging economic, environmental, and social justice trends require that increased attention be given to issues of sustainability. We have long put a premium on being good stewards of the environment: our buildings are as environmentally friendly as possible; our campus policies are based on the tenets of sustainability and responsibility. As a matter of fact, Champlain College's emissions on a per-student basis in 2007 were some of the lowest calculated compared to other colleges in the northern U.S.

Clearly, at Champlain College, we practice what we teach. If you seek an education and profession that will allow you to work with people for the betterment of the environment for all people, there is no better environment for you than Champlain.

Program Details

  • Program Highlights
    • Champlain College has a long history of educating professionals for leadership positions. As an Environmental Policy major, you will understand and experience the practical bottom-line business applications of sustainability, preservation, and responsible policy making. Prepare to think in terms of the big picture, and learn planning, analysis, administration, development and implementation of Environmental Policy.
    • The Champlain College Environmental Policy major program is interdisciplinary in approach. The spectrum of course content is broad by design, giving students the most career opportunities upon graduation. Graduates will find themselves well prepared to step into roles in research, government, banking, urban development, law, land-use planning, public policy analysis, etc.
    • With two international campuses, Champlain places a heavy emphasis on global awareness as a critical competency for all well-educated people. While global awareness is a core requirement for all majors, our Environmental Policy majors will find that this perspective is central to the entire program. Champlain graduates with a degree in Environmental Policy will have an expanded view of the theory and practices of sustainability extending to a world level.
    • You will not only be given a thorough grounding in the basics and the theory of Environmental Policy, but will also put your learning into practice at every opportunity. The opportunity for internships with nationally recognized socially responsible firms abounds in the Burlington area. In addition, being engaged on campus through participation in Sustain Champlain—a committed campus group with a mission to create a sustainable culture at Champlain College that makes effective use and re-use of our resources—is encouraged. The group's focus also includes promoting fiscally responsible environmental leadership, and a shared commitment to the ecological health of the planet for present and future generations. The Environmental Club also presents an opportunity for you to help reduce the College's impact on the natural environment, live more sustainably, and create positive change for the earth.
    • The ECO-REP work study program is a new initiative designed to provide an opportunity for student environmentalists to gain experience conducting peer-to-peer environmental education on campus. ECO-REPs encourage peers to change daily habits; develop campus action plans to address climate change; create posters, flyers, and online materials to increase environmental awareness; and to act as role models for environmentally responsible behavior.
  • Curriculum
    This curriculum is in development and will be posted fall 2009 for students starting fall 2010.
  • Career Opportunities

    Where You Could Work

    • Governmental agencies: Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Agriculture, Food & Drug Administration
    • Lobbying firms
    • County & Regional Planning Offices
    • International organizations
    • Environmental/Economic Consulting
    • Food & Beverage Companies
    • Universities & Colleges
    • Safety & Consumers Offices
    • Industry Trade Organizations
  • Student Resources

    Sustain Champlain

    A group of faculty, staff and students who are interested in the environmental impact of Champlain College. Our goal is to develop strategies and recommendations that will help create a more sustainable, efficient, and environmentally friendly Champlain. [Learn More]

    Going Green at Champlain

    Champlain College is proud to be one of the greenest campuses in the country. We strive to keep our strict environmental philosophy at the forefront of everyday operations here at the College. [Learn More]

    Carbon Profile Assessment

    Downloadable PDF of Champlain College's Carbon Footprint [Download]

  • Faculty

163 South Willard St.
Burlington, VT 05402, USA
Email: webmaster@champlain.edu
Phone: 802-860-2700 or 800-570-5858