I may have a hard time keeping to my posting schedule in the coming weeks, because I’m starting classes in the Tufts Urban Environmental Policy and Planning program. Writing and Public Communication is the first one, starting this week, and I’m really looking forward to it.

I’d originally been planning on enrolling at Lesley University, but they changed their curriculum—after the deadlines for most other programs had passed. I was not pleased, but now I think that the Tufts program will be more rigorous and better for me—if harder to juggle with work. The nice thing about the UEP program, at least for me, applying late, is that I can start taking classes through the certificate program (4 classes) and transfer them into the master’s program next year. So I can start taking classes immediately. The admissions office and UEP Department have been really helpful in getting me signed up for classes in time for the summer session.

Not surprisingly, there are quite a few environmental master’s programs in the Boston area. Here are the few I looked into. These are M.A., not M.S., degrees, because I’m less interested in doing environmental research (biology, etc.) than in communicating sustainability information to the general public.

• Tufts, Urban Environmental Policy and Planning – This is all about urban planning, with a focus on sustainability. Electives are mostly at night, but the 5 core classes are generally offered during the day. It culminates with an internship and a thesis.
• Lesley University, Urban Environmental Leadership – This is focused on environmental citizenship. It’s a low-residency program, with intensive classes one weekend each month and one week during the summer/winter. The program is being revamped starting in July 2012 and renamed Ecological Innovation.
• Boston University
  • International Relations and Environmental Policy – This seems to be more of an international studies degree with a concentration on sustainability.
  • Energy and Environmental Analysis – This seems more focused on research, with courses like “stochastic hydrologic models.” I’d probably need more of a science background.
• Harvard Extension, Sustainability and Environmental Management – To be honest, the Sustainable Development concentration seems pretty perfect, but I think I’d feel bad explaining to people “Not Harvard, but Harvard Extension.” It’s silly, but true.

Have any of you tried any of these programs? What do you think of them? Have you tried any other master’s programs in the Boston area? Do you have any advice for me? I have to admit to being a little nervous about the workload.