MS in Energy & Environment

NOTE: In academic year 2020–2021, the Department of Earth & Environment recoded all courses from ES and GE to EE.

The master’s in Energy & Environment provides a professional training degree for students with an undergraduate degree in the natural sciences, the social sciences, the humanities, engineering, or management. This program prepares students for professional opportunities in energy-related fields by employers in the private sector (e.g., consulting companies, electric utilities), the government sector (e.g., Energy Information Administration, public utility commissions), and nongovernmental organizations (e.g., Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, Inc.).

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of (a) one or more current energy and/or environmental issues along multiple dimensions (resources, technologies, and markets), and the relationship of these dimensions to (b) fundamental concepts from economics and other social science disciplines (e.g., political science/international relations, or law), and (c) fundamental concepts from natural science.
• Demonstrate knowledge of quantitative and qualitative theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches used to analyze environmental problems and understand the effectiveness of policy interventions.
• Quantitatively analyze data and perform simulation modeling to characterize the impacts of energy and environmental policies on human systems.
• Communicate effectively, verbally and in writing, concepts in the natural and social sciences as they relate to environmental issues, and demonstrate a thorough understanding of the broader societal consequences of one or more environmental problems and policies.
• Apply analytical techniques from statistics, spatial science, and economics to solve qualitative and quantitative problems in the design and implementation of policies to address environmental issues.

Course Requirements

The MS in Energy & Environment comprises eight courses or 32 credits: six core courses and two elective courses that are chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor.

Core Courses

• CAS EE 516 Multivariate Analysis for Geographers* or GRS MA 614 Statistical Methods
• CAS EE 519 Energy, Society, and the Environment
• CAS EE 545 Methods of Environmental Policy Analysis
• CAS EE 555 World Oil Markets
• GRS EE 660 Food, Energy, and Water Policy or CAS EE 528 US Environmental Policy
• GRS EE 712 Regional Energy Modeling

*Students with extensive backgrounds in statistics may, with permission of the Program Director, select a more specialized course.

Elective Courses

Two electives selected in consultation with the Program Director. Suggested courses can be found on the department website.

Language Requirement

There is no foreign language requirement for this degree.