University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy and Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth Launch New Pathbreaking Master’s Program in Climate and Energy Policy

The University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy and Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth announce the launch of a new graduate program to train the next generation of leaders to craft climate and energy policy solutions that balance the need to manage climate risks and to secure inexpensive and reliable energy to foster economic growth. The Master of Science in Climate and Energy Policy (MSCEP) is an 11-month professional degree that will welcome its first cohort in Summer 2026.

The MSCEP combines Harris Public Policy’s tradition of analytical rigor, respectful dialogue, and principled leadership with the Institute’s Chicago Curriculum on Climate and Sustainable Growth. It provides students with a holistic understanding of the climate and energy challenge, rigorous training in applying data and evidence to policy design, and opportunities to learn and apply skills outside the classroom. This approach equips graduates with the analytical tools, interdisciplinary perspectives, and intellectual rigor needed to craft serious solutions.

“This program reflects Harris’s core belief: that data and serious analysis are essential to solving humanity’s most urgent problems,” said Ethan Bueno de Mesquita, Dean and Sydney Stein Professor of the Harris School. “By extending our institutional strength in energy and environmental policy, the MSCEP gives students the depth of training and clarity of thought to lead on the front lines of the global climate and energy challenge, managing the effects of climate change while simultaneously promoting economic growth and access to affordable, secure energy.”

The MSCEP is designed for analytically minded professionals with backgrounds in economics, engineering, statistics, or the natural sciences. Whether pivoting into the climate and energy space or advancing within it, students will build a holistic understanding of energy systems, climate dynamics, and their relationship to economic growth, as well as the policy expertise to drive impact across sectors.

“For too long, education has been focused on either the need to manage climate risks or the need to secure inexpensive and reliable energy to foster growth. Neither reflects the full nature of the problem that societies are grappling with. We designed the Chicago Curriculum on Climate and Growth because both goals are legitimate and pursuing both is critical for advancing human well-being,” said Michael Greenstone, Milton Friedman Distinguished Service Professor and founding director of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth. “The MSCEP is based on this curriculum. It teaches students to have a 360-degree view of the climate and energy challenge, understand varied perspectives, and learn how to develop lasting solutions to the climate and energy challenge.”

The curriculum spans four core domains—Data and Analytical Tools, Economics and Policy Analysis, Climate Science and Systems, and Energy Technology and Innovation—and is delivered in a fast-paced, immersive format. Grounded in the social sciences, the curriculum will also provide a foundational understanding of climate science and cutting-edge technologies, enabling graduates to craft policies that are not only politically and economically viable but also scientifically credible.

Students will gain fluency in climate modeling, data analytics, energy markets, cost-benefit analysis, and emerging technologies like carbon removal, geoengineering, and grid decarbonization.

Experiential learning is embedded throughout the program. A hands-on module in the Autumn Quarter takes students to locations key to understanding diverse perspectives surrounding the climate and energy challenge, providing them with a more authentic understanding. Additionally, a capstone team project allows students to apply classroom knowledge to real-world challenges in industry, government, and civil society.

“What distinguishes the Harris MS in Climate and Energy Policy is its principled approach to social science, grounded in an understanding of the underlying science and technology,” said Ryan Kellogg, the Ralph and Mary Otis Isham Professor and Faculty Director of the program. “With the analytical tools and interdisciplinary base of knowledge that our professional students will gain, they will be uniquely prepared to develop and implement real-world solutions across a range of professional environments.”

The unique training program will position graduates well for roles in government agencies, energy and technology companies, consulting firms, global development organizations, ESG and sustainability strategy teams, and other relevant fields. The program’s integration within the university’s broader climate policy and research ecosystem—with the Institute at its hub—will provide students with access to world-class research, mentorship, and career opportunities.

To learn more, visit harris.uchicago.edu/mscep.