Master of Science in Environmental Sciences and Policy

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Enact Sustainable Policies for Safeguarding the Environment

Gain the tools needed to combat climate change, habitat loss, water impurity, and more with the Master of Science in Environmental Sciences and Policy program from Johns Hopkins University’s Advanced Academic Programs division. In this degree program, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of environmental policy as it relates to business, politics, and ethics. Our degree includes six focus areas:

  • Conservation Biology
  • International Environmental Policy
  • Sustainability
  • Climate and Energy
  • Remediation, Compliance, and Assessment
  • Environmental Justice and Equity

Throughout the degree program, you will learn from faculty who developed environmental policy expertise while working with federal agencies, NGOs, the private sector, and abroad. Take part in an immersive field course or international studies to enhance your experience.

Fast Facts

Professional Opportunities

Allow this Johns Hopkins degree program to help you position yourself for success across a variety of career paths including environmental scientist or specialist ($76,480 per year) and environmental engineer ($96,530 per year).1,2

Pursue Your Interests with a Focus Area

When you choose Johns Hopkins University’s MS in Environmental Sciences and Policy degree program, you can select a focus area that aligns with your aspirations.

In the conservation biology focus area, you will examine taxonomy, genetics, small population biology, chemical and restoration ecology, marine biology, landscape ecology, and other factors that impact different environments. Elective courses allow you to explore the conservation of specific environments, such as the Galapagos Islands.

The international environmental policy focus area is ideal if you would like to study and promote solutions to global environmental problems. Your coursework will analyze global issues from the perspectives of developed and developing countries, the United Nations system, international financial entities, and non-governmental interest groups.

In this focus area, you can dive deeper into sustainable practices for cities, businesses, ocean stewardship, and transportation systems. You will learn how to become a leader in sustainable practices.

In the climate and energy focus area, you will study how the Earth’s climate is affected by ocean-atmosphere energy transfer and how climate change impacts developing countries. Through a place-based approach to energy policy, you will also practice basic climate modeling and research the environmental effects of conventional energy sources.

This focus area, which is crucial for environmental managers and researchers, emphasizes the design, performance measurement, and management of successful environmental programs. You will explore bioremediation and emerging environmental technologies, with the option to include elective courses from the Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering.

Research shows that vulnerable populations face the most severe impacts of climate change. This focus area lets you delve into environmental science with equity in mind, including ways to mitigate challenges found in impoverished regions. You can select courses that explore sustainability in developing countries, climate anthropology, environmental racism, and more.

Sources

  1. “Environmental Scientists and Specialists.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 10 October 2023. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/environmental-scientists-and-specialists.htm.
  2. “Environmental Engineers.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 10 October 2023. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/environmental-engineers.htm.