MS in Energy & Environment/MBA Dual Degree Program

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

The combined MS in Energy & Environment and MBA program coordinates across schools to create an impactful program that provides depth in energy and environment as well as training for business leaders. Through careful course selection and leveraging shared coursework, the dual degree may be obtained with a minimum of 79 credits. Students in the program begin their studies in the full-time cohorted MBA program, complete introductory energy & environment content in the spring of their first year alongside final MBA course classes, and they transition in year two to the energy & environment core in CAS and electives across both schools. Students will also complete a research project or internship, under the supervision of a faculty member or firm manager, during the summer between year one and two.

Learning Outcomes

This dual degree program will provide students with a general management degree, including all of the integrated core for MBA students, as well as master’s-level training in energy & environment, including all of the core courses for energy & environment MS students. Therefore, students will be expected to achieve the learning goals of each program.

The learning objectives of the MBA program are that by the completion of the program, students will be able to demonstrate:

• An ethical perspective;
• Core business knowledge and skills;
• Leadership;
• A management-systems perspective;
• A global perspective; and
• An innovative approach.

Students in the MS program are expected to:

• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of (a) one or more current energy and/or environmental issues along multiple dimensions (resources, technologies, and markets), and their 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 concepts effectively in the natural and social sciences as they relate to environmental issues, both in writing and verbally, 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.

Application

Prospective students are required to submit two applications: one to Questrom School of Business and one to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. Admission into the MBA/MS program requires application reviews and decisions by both Questrom School of Business and the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. Only those applicants who are admitted to the MBA program will be reviewed for the MBA/MS program; however, prospective students still must apply separately to both schools. If you are not admitted to the MBA program but still wish to be considered for a Master of Science, you will need to contact the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences to inquire about pursuing the Master of Science in Energy & Environment degree on its own.

Prospective students are encouraged to apply early in order to meet the deadlines of both schools. Candidates should refer to the application deadlines and admission decision dates for both schools to determine the best time to submit their applications to each program.

Applicants to this program should have, or be expecting, a bachelor’s degree from an institution recognized by the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, and they should have adequate academic preparations in economics and mathematics. Candidates are required to take either the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test. Dual degree applicants currently enrolled in the Questrom School of Business full time are advised that they may not apply beyond the end of the first semester of enrollment for admission to the dual degree. Students currently enrolled in the MS in Energy & Environment program are unable to apply to the dual degree given course sequencing requirements.

Course Requirements

Students must successfully complete a minimum of 50 credits in Questrom, 20 credits in the Department of Earth & Environment, and at least 9 credits of electives in either Questrom or the Department of Earth & Environment as follows:

MBA Required:

• QST AC 710 Financial Reporting and Analysis (3 cr)
• QST ES 710 Teaming (0 cr)
• QST ES 722 Executive Communication (0 cr)
• QST ES 723 Career Management (0 cr)
• QST FE 721 Finance 1 (3 cr)
• QST IS 710 IT Strategies for a Networked Economy (3 cr)
• QST MG 790 Ethical Leadership in a Global Economy I (2 cr)
• QST MG 791 Ethical leadership in a Global Economy II (2 cr)
• QST MK 723 Marketing Management (3 cr)
• QST OB 713 Leading Organizations and People (3 cr)
• QST OM 725 Creating Value Through Operations and Technology (3 cr)
• QST PL 727 Organizations, Markets, and Society (3 cr)
• QST PL 851 Sustainable Energy Business Models & Policies (3 cr)
• QST QM 716 Business Analytics: Data Analysis and Risk (3 cr)
• QST SI 750 Competition, Innovation, and Strategy (3 cr)
• QST SI 832 Energy Industry intensive (3 cr)
• QST SI 836 Energy & Environmental Sustainability (3 cr)
• QST SI 847 Energy & Sustainability Practicum (3 cr)
• 2 Questrom electives (6 cr)

MS Required:

• CAS EE 519 Energy, Society, and the Environment (4 cr)
• CAS EE 555 World Oil Markets (4 cr)
• GRS EE 620 Methods of Environmental Policy Analysis (4 cr)
• GRS EE 660 Food, Energy, and Water Policy (4 cr)
• GRS EE 712 Regional Energy Modeling or EE 550 Modeling Environmental and Social Systems (4 cr)
• 1 CAS/GRS elective (4 cr)

Electives—Questrom or Energy & Environment:

• Minimum 9 credits, 4 of which must be taken in CAS/GRS

Summer Internship or Research Project Requirement

With the approval of the faculty director, all dual degree students will complete an internship or research project during the summer term between years one and two.

Language Requirement

There is no foreign language requirement for this degree.

Professional Development

The professional development requirement ensures that students are well prepared for academic study at BU and for pursuing their ultimate careers. The requirement may be satisfied through coursework; cocurricular activities sponsored by the University; professional or community organizations; or through activities approved by the student’s advisory committee/major professor.