The Environmental Science and Policy Management (ESPM) contract is designed to give students the flexibility to tailor their major to their individual interests and career goals. Through the contract courses, students can select a set of courses that align with their specific interests within the field, allowing them to explore diverse topics and/or gain specialized knowledge. This approach assists students in shaping their educational experience according to their future career aspirations and personal interests related to ESPM.
A contract is required in every track of the ESPM major except for the Environmental Education and Communications (EEC) track
ESPM tracks that do require contracts:
- Conservation & Resource Management (CRM) Contract = 23 credits (about 7-8 courses)
- Environmental Science (ES) contract = 9 credits (about 3 courses)
- Policy, Planning, Law, & Society (PPLS) contract = 12 credits (about 4 courses)
What type of courses are eligible or meet the criteria for a contract class?
- Level 3xxx or higher.
- In certain limited cases, a 1xxx-2xxx level might work. Consult with your advisor and faculty mentor.
- Related to the environment and your career/graduate school goals.
- Not already used for an ESPM major requirement (no double dipping within the major).
How to find potential (pending faculty mentor approval) contract courses
- Discuss with your faculty mentor, instructors, academic advisor, and others.
- Review suggestions on Coursedog.
- To do so, visit ESPM's Coursedog page, navigate to the "Requirements" tab, then scroll down and click on the "Program Sub-Plan Requirements" section.
- Search schedule builder by a keyword like “water” or by designators like ESPM, FNRM, ENT, SOIL, FW, BBE, or others.
- View minor course requirements.
- Consider courses for graduate school admissions or job application requirements.
- Expand your interest in “extra” course from a list of choices in an APAS sub-section of the ESPM major.
- Use transfer courses meeting the criteria.
Only your faculty mentor can approve your contract
- After you meet with your faculty mentor and decide on all your contract courses, you need to fill out the ESPM Contract Form to update your APAS and complete your degree. (You can also access the form by clicking on the first link listed on the ESPM Forms and Advising page.)
- If you want to use a course that is less obviously related to the ESPM major, ask for tentative approval before taking the course.
Suggested Timeline
- Fall of your 2nd year: introduce yourself to your faculty mentor and start exploring career/educational interests. Possibly identify 1-3 contract courses.
- Fall of 3rd year: continue to discuss your interests and identify most or all of your contract courses
- By the end of 3rd year: finalize contract courses and submit the form.
- Contract courses will be updated to your APAS once finalized.
- Important note: you can still update and change courses once the form is finalized.
How to find your faculty mentor’s name
- Log into MyU, select the “Academics” tab, and find the name listed under the "My Advisor(s)" section. Note: Your faculty mentor is the second name listed and your CFANS academic advisor is the first name listed.
Questions?
- For all questions except those on the final approval of classes to count for your contract, visit or email your CFANS academic advisor (the first advisor listed in your MyU). If you are a prospective student without a CFANS advisor, visit the Student Services & Academic Advising page to schedule an appointment or visit a virtual support room.