What does

By Santiago Varela

Environmental Policy, Institutions, and Behavior (EPIB) is a major in the Department of Human Ecology. As a multidisciplinary major, it provides students with a broad set of knowledge regarding the social science elements of environmental issues. The major prepares students to tackle environmental issues such as natural resources management, renewable energy, and many more. In the words of EPIB alumnus Algely Melendez, studying EPIB “made me a jack of all trades, which is what I wanted.” The EPIB website describes the major as the study of how individuals, countries, and international agencies interact with the environment, and manage resources, including “ethical, moral, and legal dimensions.” Graduates of this major are thus prepared to work in a wide range of environmental jobs, from the government to nonprofit to law

An attractive feature of EPIB is that the major is very broad. After conducting interviews with several EPIB students, including those who transferred from other majors, I was able to get an idea of the specific paths that they are pursuing. Cassy Gelston is a junior who decided to transfer to EPIB to one day become an environmental lawyer. Previously a business administration major, she decided that making a difference in the environmental field was her calling. Other students like fellow Trail writer Evan DeAngelis are motivated to obtain a governmental position to create change in the environmental sector. EPIB is also offered as a minor. Nina Sullivan is a public health major minoring in EPIB and believes that taking courses in environmental policy will open the door to job opportunities in public health as it relates to the environment.

A concern for potential and current EPIB students is the lack of visibility for the major as a whole and the lack of information provided on what the major involves. Most students associate the environmental field with environmental science, and therefore most potential and current Rutgers students are unfamiliar with EPIB DeAngelis is a former landscape architect, and only recently learned of EPIB through a graduate student who recommended the major to him.

The EPIB website provides a short description of the goals of the major and the skills that are obtained upon completion. It provides limited information on specific positions that one can hold after graduation and technical skills obtained through the major. According to Melendez, his professional experience has led him to believe that “something like GIS should be mandatory. That’s a very tangible skill to boast about in interviews ” Luisa Fodeke is a freshman and was on the fence about choosing environmental science or environmental policy. Fodeke and many other students' decisions would have been made simpler if there were increased communication and information on the major. They ultimately chose advocacy, which are not emphasized as much in environmental science. When asked to make recommendations to other students in the process of choosing a major, Fodeke stated that it is important to challenge yourself while taking advantage of your strengths.

Professors in the EPIB department are known to be more than in-class professors. The major and class sizes are smaller than most at Rutgers, which enables students to develop close connections with faculty. Gelston has high regard for one of her favorite professors, Dr.

Link. Dr. Link among other professors in EPIB encourages student participation in her lectures and typically refers students on a firstname basis which is uncommon in large lecture halls. Sullivan has a lot of respect for professor Rebecca Mclelland-Crawley. “I love her style of teaching and the interactive aspect of the class. She has mentioned her ADHD in class and I really enjoy a professor who is relatable to students. Being a mental health advocate myself, I also love her transparency and her overall aura in general.”

Alumnus Melendez graduated in May of 2019 and is currently in a master's program for public administration. He states, “I wish I had waited on going to grad school. I think it’s important to go into the workforce, see what skills you may be missing or get a taste for something you want to pursue further, and then go back to school with a better idea of what you need.” It was enlightening to hear the stories of current and past students in EPIB. It was also nice to hear their recommendations on how the major can improve for current and new students of EPIB. The future is looking bright for these gifted and passionate students.