The GEP degree requires 36 credit hours of graduate coursework and a capstone that can be completed in 2 years (full-time) or up to 6 years (part-time). The curriculum is an interdisciplinary exploration of efforts to advance environmental protection and focuses on natural science, economics, and policy studies. Students will build a thorough and integrated understanding of environmental politics and policy. Through core seminar courses, electives, internships, a substantial research project, and a myriad of events, students learn about and engage with the forces that shape global and international environmental behavior.
Contact Us
School of International Service on a map
4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016 United StatesNature-based solutions to the climate crisis
Wendy Atieno, SIS/MA ‘19
I aim to challenge our existing social structures rather than perpetuate them.
I currently work in nature-based solutions for adaptation at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In this role, I use ecosystems and ecosystem services to reduce the vulnerability of human populations. Because nature-based solutions focus on both ecosystems and human resilience, I think of my work as both social and environmental policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I apply and when are the application deadlines?
When you should apply to the program depends on what semester you want to start taking classes in and whether you are a domestic or international student.
Application deadlines for the GEP program are as follows:
- Fall semester: January 15
- Spring semester: October 1
View required application materials
Missed a deadline but still interested in applying? Email the SIS Graduate Admissions office.
Where will a degree in Global Environmental Policy take me?
Graduates of the GEP degree program work in a wide range of settings, including government agencies, non-governmental organizations, consulting firms, the private sector, activist networks, think tanks, universities, and community groups.
Recent GEP graduates have found jobs at employers including the World Bank, the World Resources Institute, the US Department of State, the US Agency for International Development, the World Wildlife Fund, Greenpeace, the Nature Conservancy, private consultancies and major corporations, and many other leading organizations in Washington, DC and around the world. Within six months of graduation, 88% of graduates are working or continuing graduate studies.
Looking for more information or help? SIS has a dedicated career development center to assist current students and alumni.
What sets this program apart from a more general degree in international affairs?
In common with more general degrees in international affairs, the GEP degree is deeply anchored in a global perspective. Our program is different, though, in that it is truly a degree focused on environmental protection and sustainability. Our students receive more than an introduction to environmental issues. Instead, our students become specialists. Some of our students focus on water, others on food and agriculture or climate change or security concerns, others on international environmental law. Whatever the specialization, almost all of our students know they have come “home” to work on the issue that defines their passionate concern for the future of the planet. Students are free to take additional coursework within the School of International Service and across American University and, through our consortium arrangement, at other universities in the DC area.
Is there financial assistance available?
The School of International Service offers merit-based aid in the form of scholarships and fellowships at the time of admission. SIS also has partnerships with a number of organizations like the Peace Corps and Pickering Fellowship that provide qualified individuals with funding.
Financial aid information for prospective students
Global Environmental Policy students may choose to research other relevant fellowship opportunities.
Need-based aid is available through AU Central Office and generally takes the form of a federal low-interest loan package.
Federal loan and work study information for graduate students
Still have questions? Send us an email with program-specific questions at gep@american.edu