Occidental's 城市 and 环境政策 (UEP) major is an interdisciplinary program for students who want to change the world.
The UEP major combines politics, 规划, 环境政策, 公共卫生, 城市研究, 经济学, 社会学, 社区参与研究, and other disciplinary approaches. The major recognizes that "urban" and "environmental" are very much interconnected and that issues of economic and 环境正义 are integrally linked to where and how we live, 工作, 玩, 吃, 然后去上学. Topics covered in the program include housing and community development, 公共卫生, land use and transportation, 环境卫生, 粮食和资源问题, 教育, 环境正义, 移民, 气候变化, 空气及水质, 水和能源供应, 贫困与社会福利, 刑事司法, race and gender and class relations, 全球化, and other topics at the local, 状态, 国家al and inter国家al levels. Students interested in the UEP major should have a strong commitment to public service and social justice and change, be interested in 工作ing on group projects with other students, and be interested in engaging in community activities and 实习.
The UEP major is a unique combi国家 of classroom learning and hands-on experience in the field of public affairs and civic engagement. Students learn interdisciplinary social science skills and public policy analysis with special emphasis on applying those skills in the real world challenges. It is an intensive major designed for students with a strong interest in public service careers such as government, 法律, 人类服务, urban and/or environmental 规划, 公共卫生, 社区组织, 社会工作, journalism and communications, socially responsible business, 或学术界.
The goal of Occidental's UEP program is not simply to produce policy experts, but to educate students to think and to act critically on issues at the intersection of urban and 环境政策. The major includes careful consideration of ethical issues that arise in the formulation and implementation of public policy. It trains the next generation of change agents and future leaders how to think critically and cr吃ively and act effectively to solve problems and improve society.
The UEP major course工作 includes a series of intensive seminars in the junior and senior years, with introductory courses in the frosh and sophomore years. The course of study includes developing skills in public policy analysis, 实习, 社区参与, a research project with an applied policy focus, 以及领导力培训. In addition to the prerequisites and the core seminars, students are encouraged to take electives in a variety of disciplines to sharpen their expertise in different policy areas and approaches.
We encourage our students to engage in off-campus learning. Some students may choose to spend a fall semester in the Campaign Semester program (offered in alternate Presidential and Congressional election years); summer research and/or 实习 in 洛杉矶 or abroad (e.g., through the China-Environment program, 里希特程序, and the Undergraduate 夏天的研究 Program), through the Occidental-at-the-United Nations program, or in one of the abroad programs sponsored or approved by the College.
在他们大四的时候, students design and complete a policy-oriented comprehensive project that has an applied focus and includes original research. This project may take several forms. It can be a traditional research paper, a hands-on policy research report, a project in collaboration with other students, or a study conducted for a community-based "client" organization.
A significant dimension of UEP’s problem-solving and social change-related curriculum is its connection to the research, 教育, and community-based activities of the 城市 & 环境政策 Institute (UEPI). UEPI is the research and advocacy program arm of UEP and a key component of Occidental’s focus on community engagement. UEPI's mission is to connect ideas and action to cr吃e a more just and livable region, 国家, 和世界.
通过UEP和UEPI, students experience a range of classroom-based and independent 实习 and engage with urban and 环境政策 through government agencies, 政治运动, grassroots community and 环境正义 organizations, 公益团体, 社会服务机构, 工会, 卫生组织, 食物正义组织, as well as the government and private sector. Under the supervision of faculty as well as the UEPI program staff, students gain experience in practical applied research by 工作ing with and for community partners in the 洛杉矶 area and across the country and abroad. Current programs address food justice, environmental and 公共卫生, the built environment and transportation, and global trade and freight transportation. We also facilitate College-wide initiatives such as our minor in Public Health and a China-Environment program that links students to universities and NGOs in Hong Kong, 南京, and other partners in China.