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Training the next generation of environmental leaders
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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 worker in an orange safety vest and helmet observes large cylindrical pipes in a factory.

In the Wild: Ambar Nag with Tokai Carbon GE

  • by Ambar Nag
Ambar compiled Tokai Carbon GE (TCGE)’s Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) inventory and crafted a decarbonization roadmap with GHG reduction pathways utilizing alternative energy and innovative technologies. He also helped streamline TCGE’s ESG (environmental, social, and governance) reporting by redesigning their ESG Scorecard.
A smiling man with glasses sits at a table, with a sunny outdoor background.

Student Spotlight- Shivam Gandhi

  • by Shivam Gandhi

Shivam Gandhi is a current second year in the EPM program, with his courses focusing on air quality, community development, and the interface between science and policy. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from CSU Stanislaus, and a Master’s in Chemistry from Virginia Tech. Since Fall 2024, he has been an intern at Sacramento Breathe in the Food Scraps & Recycling program, focusing on implementation of SB 1383. As well, he is also a graduate student researcher with Dr.

Four students smiling together in a cozy, warmly lit wooden interior.

Empowering Ecological Farming Communities: Reflections on EcoFarm 2026

  • by Gayatri Ganesh with Dewansh Matharoo and Grace Curtis

EcoFarm is one of the oldest and largest gatherings of organic farmers and food policy advocates in the U.S. The 46th EcoFarm Conference was a sanctuary that paid reverence to the lands we steward, the seeds we sow, and the communities we shepherd. This years’ theme - Seeds of Strength: Empowering Farmers for a Changing Climate - was a space to imagine new landscapes of cooperation and reimagine wounded systems. Carlton Turner’s opening plenary speech traced the evolving relationship between food, place, memory, and community.

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. 

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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