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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.
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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

A person in a safety vest stands beside a concrete drainage feature, surrounded by greenery.

Alumni Spotlight- Jenny Avery

  • by Jenny Avery

My background is an example of what you majored in in college may not be where you end up later in life. The Great Recession upended my original life plans of being a professor in Asian Studies (my undergrad degree). I ended up getting a “real job” in construction management, which led to a career in stormwater inspection and compliance. After 10 years in the private sector I moved to the regulator side. Despite my experience I could not move beyond an analyst position at the State due to lacking a science degree.

Three people in bright yellow vests stand behind a table with a CPSC banner.

In the Wild: Israel Ademola Okeyinka with the California Product Stewardship Council

  • by Israel Okeyinka

My name is Israel Ademola Okeyinka, and I am a second-year student in the Environmental Policy and Management program at UC Davis. My area of interest is in waste management policies and the circular economy. I hold a BSc in Environmental Science and Resource Management from the National Open University of Nigeria, with 4 years of professional experience in environmental education, solid waste management, recycling and upcycling, circular economy, sustainability, and community-based projects.

A woman in a safety vest holds equipment by a marina with boats and blue skies.

Alumni Spotlight- Morgen Snyder

  • by Morgen Snyder

Morgen Snyder graduated from the UC Davis Environmental Policy and Management program in June of 2025. Her bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Legal Studies were awarded from Illinois State University in 2017. Prior to attending UC Davis, Morgen worked in International Compliance law for 6 years as a paralegal. She started her career in Washington, DC, working for an international law firm, Steptoe and Johnson. Morgen eventually took a job as a paralegal secondee for Meta, where she worked supply chain and international compliance issues.

Be close to the action.

California stands at the forefront of environmental policy with its pioneering initiatives in areas such as renewable energy, emissions reductions, and conservation efforts. Located just 20-minutes from California's capital, UC Davis provides students with unique opportunities to engage in cutting-edge environmental work. 

EPM orientation photo of two students talking.

Bringing hands-on education into the classroom

Students will apply what they learn in the classroom to real-world environmental policy and management problems in the Policy Clinic and Practicum.

Explore the degree
EPm alums Cheryl and Nick representing their organization at EPM's Job Fair

Cultivating a community of environmental leaders

Engage with alumni and members of our External Advisory Committee actively working on unique environmental challenges through EPM's mentorship program and networking events.

Learn about Mentorship
JieQi Yan talking with a student, pointing to a poster board with details of her completed project.

Leveraging the interdisciplinary nature of UC Davis

Students are able to choose from a wide array of electives from outside our graduate group to specialize in a topical area of interest- from environmental justice to water resources management.

Browse Electives