Environmental management has evolved from a popular movement to a profession, demanding complex analytical and decision-making skills. These skills are essential to the development and implementation of policies about the impacts of human activity on the natural environment. Scientific, legal, administrative and political factors shaping these policies and public attitudes are critical components of environmental management and planning.

Consequently, this course aims to provide students with an understanding of the principles behind planning, public administration and political approaches that are important for the protection of environmental resources in urban and natural environmental contexts. This course aims to develop (1) student abilities in measuring air and water quality, water supply safety, environmentally sensitive natural resources, and solid and hazardous wastes; (2) an understanding of global and trans-national problems, such as global warming, ozone depletion and acid rain, and energy usage; and (3) abilities to critically assess environmental policy and management issues.