This new certificate provides the background, concepts, and tools necessary to understand and address policy problems in energy and the environment. The certificate’s curriculum allows you to explore the multiple disciplines and fields that speak to global energy and environmental challenges, such as industrial organization and regulation, development economics, public finance, behavioral science, and environmental science.

We encourage you to participate in events sponsored by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) and the student organization, Harris Energy and Environmental Association (HEEA), while pursuing a certificate in Energy & Environmental Policy.

Application Process

The certificate is open to any Harris student. Contact your academic advisor to indicate intention to pursue this certificate.

Planning for the Certificate

For information on which quarter(s) each course will be offered see the Harris Courses page and filter by certificate. For courses offered by other divisions the typical quarter(s) offered has been indicated.

Certificate Requirements

The certificate requires completion of one of two required courses, along with two additional courses. You must achieve at least a B- grade in each course, and there is no pass/fail option. The courses do not need to be taken in a particular order.

Required courses (students must complete one of the two)

• PPHA 36930: Environmental Economics: Theory and Applications (winter)

• PPHA 38900: Environmental Science and Policy (spring)

Additional courses to fulfill the three course requirement

• PPHA 30810: Political Economy of Natural Resources (winter)

• PPHA 33510: Nuclear Policy (winter)

• PPHA 36921: Energy Economics and Policy (spring; not offered in 2018-2019)

• PPHA 36922: Energy in the Developing World (spring)

• PPHA 39519: Energy Law and Policy (spring; not offered in 2018-2019)

• PPHA 39925: Energy Policy and Human Behavior (fall)

• PPHA 41210: Physics and Technology for Future Policy Wonks (spring)

• PPHA 45700: Environment and Development (fall)

• PPHA 51700: Energy Policy Practicum (spring; cross-listed and owned by Booth)

• GEOS 24705 / ENSC 21100 / ENST 24705: Energy:  Science, Technology, and Human Usage (spring; not offered in 2018-2019)

• GEOS 24750 / ENSC 24750 : Humans in the Earth System (spring) 

• BIOS 20196 / ENSC 24400: Ecology and Conservation (fall)

• GEOS 13300 / ENSC 13300: The Atmosphere (spring)