California State Capitol Building located in Sacramento
Training the next generation of environmental leaders

The Master of Science in Environmental Policy and Management

affiliated with the UC Davis Institute of the Environment, provides advanced training in applying environmental science to real-world environmental policy and management issues. The program leverages the position of UC Davis as among the world’s strongest campuses in environmental and natural resources research and science.

The EPM program sets itself apart by targeting students with interdisciplinary backgrounds who seek applied professional careers in environmental policy and management. The focus is on building quantitative skills for practice-oriented careers in environmental policy and management.

About us

The EPM program is designed to address needs in several areas:

  • Students and employers often ask for better and more formal preparation to bridge the differences between scientific academic background and policy and management work, with emphasis on communicating technical information in various management and policy contexts.
  • Increased attention is being placed on the co-development of science for policy and management. Doing so requires training individuals with the interdisciplinary skills to understand both communities.
  • Environmental problem solving increasingly requires more analytical capability within a political and economic decision-making framework.
  • Real and rigorous problem-solving skills involving analysis, communication, and negotiation are needed for students with scientific backgrounds involved in policy-making and management positions.

 

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EPM News

In the Wild: Morgen Snyder with Restore the Delta

Morgen is a second year in the UC Davis Environmental Policy and Management Graduate Program, with plans to graduate in June 2025. Morgen is now pursuing dual specializations in Water and Marine Resource Management, where she hopes to apply her knowledge of the law, experience in project management, and research and analysis to policy and advocacy in this next phase of her career.

Alumni Spotlight- Kassidy Heckmann

Kassidy is a proud New Yorker who graduated the EPM program in 2019. After graduation, she was hired as a policy analyst for an environmental lobbying firm where she advocated for clients on issues related to environmental health, water, and natural resources. The following year, she was hired on as a legislative aide in the California State Capitol for an elected official from the Bay Area. She was able to expand her policy knowledge to other issue areas and before the end of her first year, she was promoted to legislative director.

EPM student community celebrates achievements in year end gathering

The Environmental Policy and Management Social Committee hosted its annual spring celebration, Legacy Night. Previously, known as EProM, this end of year event evolved into something much more than a “prom”. The new name reflects a broader purpose of bringing together EPM students, faculty, alumni and friends to celebrate both accomplishments and the enduring legacy of the program.