Environmental Finance Courses
Public demand for improving environmental quality has never been stronger. However, the increasing cost of improving environmental quality cannot be met with diminishing federal and state dollars alone. There must be an increase in private and individual investments. There is thus an acute need for a trained cadre of experts in public and private sectors who understand how to formulate and facilitate public-private financing solutions to pay for the unprecedented cost of the nation’s current and future environmental demands.
To address this need, the University of Maryland School of Public Policy (MSPP), in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Finance Program--operating through its Environmental Finance Center (EFC) on the College Park campus--proposes to create a 12 credit graduate Certificate Program in Environmental Finance.
While the Certificate Program is pending approval, MSPP and EFC are offering an environmental finance course this Spring 2010. The course will be held in downtown Washington, D.C., to make it accessible to professionals practicing in the field.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINANCE CERTIFICATE BROCHURE (PDF, 415 KB)
ELIGIBILITY
The Spring 2010 course is (and the Certificate courses will be) available to current University of Maryland graduate students, as well as to non-degree-seeking students.
Please see the Graduate School website (www.gradschool.umd.edu/gss/non_degree_admission.htm) for more information about the non-degree seeking option.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Students currently enrolled in a degree program at the University of Maryland should check PUAF course listings in Testudo for Environmental Finance electives (descriptions and course numbers below): www.sis.umd.edu/bin/soc?term=201001&crs=PUAF
Non-degree-seeking students who wish to take these courses may do so by applying for Advanced Special Student status at the University of Maryland Graduate School (www.gradschool.umd.edu). This is a non-degree seeking status for students who meet the University's admissions criteria (www.gradschool.umd.edu/gss/non_degree_admission.htm).
To apply as an ADVANCED SPECIAL STUDENT:
Go to the Graduate School application instructions page: www.gradschool.umd.edu/gss/admission.html
Under Step 4, click on "You can submit your Online Graduate Application by clicking here" and you will be transferred to the Graduate School Admissions website.
Click on "New User" under "First Time User" to register to use the Graduate School Admissions website or Login under "Returning User"
Choose GRAD for the program code when prompted with a dropdown button.
Submit necessary documentation (transcripts, test scores, etc., as outlined in the Advanced Special Student description)
Once a favorable decision has been made, Federal Government employees and others enrolling as Advanced Special Students should contact Ms. Karen Logan, MSPP Coordinator, at 301-405-8230 or kclogan@umd.edu, to request permission to register for School of Public policy (PUAF) classes. Priority is given to current students, however, every effort will be made to accommodate your requests.
Please note:
Should you decide to apply to a degree program at a later date, you may request to include in your Plan of Study up to twelve credits earned as an Advanced Special Student. Your completion of these courses must be less than five years ago at the time of graduation.
COURSE TIMES AND DESCRIPTIONS
- Environmental Law and Finance (PUAF 798L) - Tuesdays, 5:30 pm To 8 pm
This course provides an introduction to the field of environmental law and finance with an emphasis on two critical questions: What are our environmental goals? How can we accomplish those goals with limited federal resources? After examining why we have environmental law, the course reviews principal federal laws, analyzing the different approaches Congress has employed to solve environmental challenges – and to fund or allocate the costs of those solutions – through the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Superfund and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The course addresses the role of federal and state agencies, citizens’ organizations, the media, and private sector initiatives in the development and implementation of environmental policy. The course also explores issues in implementation (e.g., rulemaking, permitting, and enforcement) and equity (e.g., achievement of environmental justice). The course concludes with an examination of emerging issues in environmental law and finance.
- Public Policy and the Environment (PUAF 740) - Wednesdays, 5:30 pm To 8 pm
The rules and regulations of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency arguably have more impact on the American economy than those of any other federal agency. Given its broad impact, it should be no surprise that U.S. environmental policy has been controversial. This course will examine that environmental legislation which has had the most significant influence on American society. The course considers questions such as: Have environmental laws encouraged government agencies and the private sector to find the least expensive way to achieve environmental goals? Have levels of risk to human health and to ecological systems been adequately limited? Have such risks been understood accurately before means were devised to limit them? Have the costs of environmental improvement been distributed among workers, businesses, taxpayers, property owners, and others in a fair and equitable way?
COURSES AVAILABLE (in other semesters):
- Environmental Finance Strategies and Solutions (PUAF 798F)
This course will equip students with an understanding and ability to identify, formulate and intelligently apply financing strategies and solutions that are critical to addressing short and long term funding needs to pay for sustainable environmental systems. It will explore incentives and disincentives for public and private investment and examine strategies for optimizing federal and state resources allocated to implement the various Federal, State and local Environmental mandates including public-private partnerships, leveraging Federal and State Revolving funds, trading and market based incentives and long-term community planning. It will lay the foundation for further study in developing financial plans and pricing for complex environmental infrastructures and business strategies and capacity building at the community, institution and private levels.
- Environmental Finance Project Analysis - (In development)
This course follows the Strategies and Solutions course; it is designed to further equip and test students’ abilities and skills in environmental financial planning and analysis. The course will explore a number of case studies on financing environmental projects and critically examine legislative, regulatory and institutional barriers to alternative financing.
PREREQUISITES
Before taking Environmental Finance Project Analysis, students pursuing a degree at the School of Public Policy should complete the Environmental Strategies and Solutions course, and EITHER the Environmental Law and Finance course OR the Public Policy and the Environment course. Advanced Special Students should take all three other courses before enrolling in the Environmental Finance Project Analysis course.
CREDIT
Each course is worth three (3) credits at the graduate level.
TUITION/FEES
Federal Government employees will be charged $1,500 per course. If you are a Federal Government employee, please contact Karen Logan, MSPP Coordinator, at 301-405-8230 or kclogan@umd.edu, for more information about tuition and fees.
Advanced Special Students who are not Federal Government employees should refer to the tuition and fees listed under "Part-Time Graduate Tuition, Fees and Other Expenses (per term) for Fall 2009 & Spring 2010," on the Office of the Bursar's website: www.umd.edu/bursar/t_ptgrd0910.html
Students currently enrolled in a degree program will pay the rates that apply to their degree program and residency status.
Not included in these tuition/fee amounts are a one-time $60.00 fee to submit the Advanced Special Student application to the Graduate School, and the costs of textbooks (estimated at $150.00.)
FINANCIAL AID
Advanced Special Students are ineligible to receive merit-based financial aid from the University, including graduate fellowships and teaching, research, or administrative assistantships. Students who are not currently enrolled in a degree-seeking program at the University of Maryland should consult with their employer/agency regarding tuition support. Employers often provide support for School of Public Policy coursework as part of employee training and professional development programs.
FACULTY
Frances Dubrowski - Environmental Law and Finance (PUAF 798F and 798L)
Fran Dubrowski advises nonprofit organizations and government agencies on environmental strategies. Ms. Dubrowski has litigated precedent-setting cases before the U.S. Supreme and other federal and state courts; negotiated multi-party settlements in complex cases; testified frequently before Congress; drafted numerous legislative provisions; served on policy task forces; filed numerous rulemaking petitions, comments, and related judicial review proceedings; counseled government agencies; and managed press and public relations campaigns. She has taught environmental law at Georgetown University Law School as well as to domestic and foreign government officials, bar associations, unions, and nonprofits. Ms. Dubrowski served as Senior Attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council (1978-1987) and as Assistant Attorney General for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources (1973-1978) where she developed legal strategies for, and litigated on behalf of, one of the nation’s first Environmental Strike Forces. She obtained a B.A. from Boston College and a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania.
Robert Nelson - Public Policy and the Environment (PUAF 740)
www.publicpolicy.umd.edu/facstaff/faculty/nelson.html
LOCATION
At this time, all classes will be held at the U.S. EPA Ariel Rios Building (adjacent to the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center)
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
Conveniently located at the Federal Triangle (Orange or Blue Line) Metro station.
QUESTIONS?
For more information, please call the Environmental Finance Center at 301-405-4035.
