Drought. Wildfires. Plastic pollution. With so many parts of the world facing a number of environmental problems, studying potential solutions–and the regulations that shape them–is critical. From the protection of water resources to the reduction of air pollution, there are many areas that need the help of knowledgeable advocates.
McGeorge School of Law’s online master’s degrees are designed to service those areas by preparing its students to become knowledgeable advocates. With courses focusing on water and environmental law, this program is led by experts in their field who bring real-world experience to their classes. For those who aren’t interested in earning a traditional law degree but want to shape policy, become engineers, or provide consulting services to corporations, the Master of Science in Law, Water & Environmental Law program offers the necessary skills. The flexibility of online graduate programs ensures that both part-time and full-time students can get all the benefits of every lecture, reading, and discussion while continuing to keep up with other obligations.
Pursuing a master’s degree in environmental advocacy could be suitable for you if you:
- Feel strongly about addressing environmental challenges like climate change
- Want to collaborate with government bodies and communities on environmental justice
- Aim to become an environmental engineer
- Seek to develop sustainable solutions for businesses
- Desire to explore methods for enhancing energy efficiency efficiency
What Is Environmental Law?
Environmental studies encompass a wide range of topics due to its broad reach. While animal-centric areas like fish and wildlife protection are obviously included, environmental law also involves a human component; for example, public rights, reasonable use, and water allocation. State and federal agencies use a number of methods to assert control over these fields in an effort to maintain and protect human health and natural resources, but the process remains a challenge due to global warming, pollution, and relationships between agencies.
Benefits of Environmental Progress
As someone with experience in environmental studies, you’ll have the chance to protect the health and well-being of humans and animals, both in the present and future to preserve ecosystems and wildlife for the next generation.
Because factors such as water and air pollution have been linked to cancer, respiratory disease, and heart disease (1), controlling hazardous waste and emissions is a crucial aspect of keeping our communities healthy. Unfortunately, due to location or a lack of resources, minorities, and low-income families often find themselves living in some of the most polluted areas. This is why the study of environmental justice is deeply ingrained in these course programs; learning how to advocate for the environmental benefits of everyone, regardless of their socio-economic status or race, is a critical component in ensuring that all communities have equal access to the clean resources they deserve.
Environmental issues also affect wildlife of all kinds, endangering the continued existence of creatures like polar bears and bees and putting various ecosystems in danger of collapsing, some of which are linked to the food chain that humans rely on. In fact, the damage caused by the effects of climate change could seriously impact food security for millions of people globally if steps aren’t taken to prevent it (2).
Boost Your Skill Set
No matter what type of experience you have in working with environmental science, or which field you’re most interested in, the potential to boost your skill set with the MSL program is limitless. Not only will you learn about the issues that plague environments around the world, but you will also gain valuable experience in writing, analyzing contracts, public speaking, and providing leadership to a team. These classes will help you understand the various nuances of working with government officials, lobbying, sharing information with the public, and preparing bills that will hopefully go on to create positive change. By working with your professors and classmates, you can build a varied set of skills that will allow you to shape the career of your dreams.
Demonstrate Your Knowledge
As you participate in your classwork, you’ll have many opportunities to learn from experts in environmental fields via lectures, engage with your classmates in interesting discussions, and tackle challenging assignments designed to expand your knowledge in a variety of subjects. You’ll also get a chance to demonstrate what you’ve learned; each student is able to complete a capstone project that analyzes or criticizes a particular topic. In this process of building your research skills and putting them to work, you’ll also prove that you have what it takes to write a professional paper that speaks to a well-educated audience.
Lead Your Team To Success
Once you’ve completed your degree–the MSL typically takes about two years–you’ll find that the skills you’ve learned apply to a wide range of jobs. Whether you want to work with a corporation or a nonprofit, putting your environmental studies into practice will align with a number of positive professional experiences, including leading your chosen team to success. Becoming a leader within any organization requires strong communication skills, a rock-solid grasp of ethics, and the ability to manage and delegate effectively, and these are just a few of the benefits you’ll get by earning a master’s degree for environmental advocates.
Taking on the challenging task of affecting positive change for the environment can be daunting, but the programs at McGeorge School of Law are designed to help individuals reach their full potential with confidence. These graduate degrees provide everything you need to work with a team or on your own to ensure the sustainability of our natural resources for years to come. Take a look at the requirements and program details for the Master of Science in Law, Water & Environmental Law today.