Bachelor’s-to-Master’s in Energy & Environment
Bachelor’s-to-master’s programs are linked bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in which the two degrees are conferred sequentially. The BA-to-MS program in Energy & Environment offered through the Department of Earth & Environment combines advanced undergraduate and graduate coursework to provide students with the foundational knowledge and advanced analytical skills to prepare them for professional opportunities in energy and environmental fields at a variety of organizations including government agencies, consulting firms, and nonprofits. The program provides qualified juniors and seniors an opportunity to earn a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in one coherent program.
Students in this bachelor’s-to-master’s program must complete all bachelor’s degree requirements before enrolling as master’s students, although they may take graduate courses while enrolled as undergraduates. Students must register for and earn a minimum of 24 units while enrolled as master’s students. Students may apply up to 8 units (500 level or above) from the undergraduate degree to the master’s degree, subject to any conditions described below. For this bachelor’s-to-master’s program, the bachelor’s degree is conferred by the College of Arts & Sciences and the master’s degree is conferred by the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. Students should consult with the Financial Assistance office to learn how entrance into this bachelor’s-to-master’s program might impact their financial aid.
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 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 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.
Requirements
Students must complete all of the requirements for either the BA in Environmental Analysis & Policy or the BA in Earth & Environmental Sciences. Students must also complete all requirements for the MS in Energy & Environment.
Courses taken for graduate units must be taken at the 500 level or higher and completed with a grade of B− or above.
Environmental Analysis & Policy majors can count two courses toward both the BA and the MS requirements as described below:
- CAS EE 545 Methods of Environmental Policy Analysis
- One additional 4-unit course from the approved list of coursework for the MS in Energy & Environment program. A course at the 400/600 level that fulfills both BA and MS requirements may count toward both programs, but it must be taken at the 600 level.
Earth & Environmental Sciences majors can count two courses toward both the BA and the MS requirements as described below:
- CAS EE 516 Multivariate Analysis for Geographers, which fulfills an upper-elective principal group requirement for students focusing on Earth Observations and a breadth requirement for students focusing on Ecosystems or Earth & Climate.
- One additional 4-unit course from the approved list of coursework for the MS in Energy & Environment program. A course at the 400/600 level that fulfills both BA and MS requirements may count toward both programs, but it must be taken at the 600 level. (Note: Students may, in consultation with their advisor, select courses beyond the approved list of elective courses in the MS in Energy & Environment program to count toward the MS.)
Admission
Information about application requirements and deadlines for bachelor’s-to-master’s programs can be found at the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences’ Bachelor’s-to-Master’s Programs web page.
The program is open to students pursuing the major in either Environmental Analysis & Policy (EAP) or Earth & Environmental Sciences (EES).
