Environmental Policy, Economics, Human Dimensions, & Institutional Analysis

Introduction to economic models of renewable and nonrenewable natural resources and the use of these models in the analysis of current resource use and environmental issues. Typically offered Fall. 3 credits.

Designed to assist in understanding how environmental information and knowledge are produced, disseminated, and utilized in a variety of institutional contexts. Readings are selected to promote discussion and interaction concerning alternative mechanisms for protecting environmental resources. Prerequisite: introductory microeconomics course suggested. Typically offered in Fall. 3 credits.

This course investigates the major drivers of global agricultural and environmental change associated with the global farm and food system. This includes demography, income growth, biofuels, climate change, environmental and ecosystem services, livestock consumption, food waste and land use change. Offered in Spring. 3 credits.

Research methods, scientific methodology, problem identification, and the nature of policy problems including economic policy readings, case studies, and practice project proposals. Spring only. 3 credits.

Policy analysis for agriculture in the world economy. Emphasis on application of economic theory to analyze commodity programs, international trade, environmental concerns, and investment in human capital and agricultural research. Prerequisite: AGEC 41000. Offered in Fall. 3 credits.

An introduction to methods of ethnographic research including participant observation, surveying, interviewing, creative media-making & social media analysis. 3 credits.

An introduction to the human dimensions of forestry, wildlife, and recreation; students will learn how values, attitudes, community, and behavior relate to natural resource management and decision-making; various natural resource management stakeholders such as private landowners, natural resource agencies, the judiciary, and environmental and natural resource interest groups will be discussed; course will utilize case studies specific to Indiana and the Midwest; course includes weekly discussions during recitations. Typically offered in Spring. 3 credits.

Application of capital and financial theory to timber management, including optimal stocking, rotation length, and regulation. Necessary and sufficient conditions for renewability at micro- and macroeconomic levels. Price determination in timber and wood products markets. Offered in Spring. 3 credits.

This course empowers students to translate complex ecological ideas into engaging stories across platforms, from peer-reviewed publications to social media. Students will craft clear, compelling scientific messages for academic and public audiences, design professional visuals using R and Adobe Illustrator, create videos and animations with Adobe After Effects, develop media confidence through interviews, podcasts, and camera training, and build a personal portfolio of communication products. Offered in Spring. 3 credits.

Risk assessment as used in environmental health is the scientific process used to determine the extent of human exposure to an environmental hazard, and the type and quantify of health effects that are likely to result from these exposures. Information derived from risk assessments are used as the basis for setting regulatory guidelines, determinations of whether a given situation is “safe” or “hazardous” throughout government and industry. This course will cover the process and steps needed to performing a risk assessment, how risk communication can be used to discuss results of a risk assessment, and the use of risk management as a tool to translate results of a risk assessment into policy. 3 credits.

The impact of science and technology on personal and societal value systems. The special responsibility of engineers. Practical methods for using human values to guide future technological developments. Societal problems considered: warfare, energy, overpopulation, resource depletion, and environmental degradation. Interdisciplinary approaches stressed. Offered in Spring. 3 credits.

Analysis and assessment of the nature of global environmentalism, its connections with other new social movements, and its impact on domestic and international politics worldwide, with particular attention to green political parties and nongovernmental organizations. 3 credits.

Environmental policy development in the international arena, with attention to international law, international organizations, and transboundary environmental problems. 3 credits.

POL 52000 is a variable title course. Policy Analysis and Climate Change is the only approved section for the IESE curriculum. Typically offered Spring, alternating years. 3 credits.

An introduction to public policy and processes as a field of graduate study with an emphasis on the literature. Typically offered Spring. 3 credits.

Investigation in depth of a substantive aspect of environmental policy or a theoretical approach to environmental policy, with emphasis on student research. 3 credits.

This course introduces basic concepts and quantitative tools for modeling social ecological systems (also called coupled natural and human systems) and sociotechnical systems. This course will help students gain precise quantitative understanding of resilience and regime shift through local stability analysis. Students will learn how to use modeling to conduct ‘what-if’ analysis, map out the future possibility space, or to understand mechanisms that generate observed phenomena. Typically Fall, alternating years. 3 credits.

Provides an overview of the history, science, mission, practice, and future of public health. Discusses the core public health principles and services, and the expected professional practitioner competencies. Presents current issues for discussion and analysis. Typically offered Fall. 3 credits.