Boston University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
MS in Energy & Environment
Boston, USA
MSc
DURATION
2 semesters
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2026
TUITION FEES
USD 34,935 / per semester **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* applications received after the final deadline will continue to be reviewed on a space-available basis
** for full time students | part time students: 2,183 USD per credit
Key Summary
Prepare for success in a changing, challenging field.
Drawing knowledge from natural and social sciences, humanities, engineering, and more, the MS in Energy & Environment unlocks the door to a career that leaves a mark on the world. Our graduates shape environmental policy and planning, excel at energy analysis and environmental consulting, and expand the reach of nongovernmental organizations. Students with a wide variety of backgrounds, from engineering to international relations, find our master’s program ideal for acquiring the high-demand skills necessary for careers in energy and the environment.
Financial Aid
Financial support for Master’s students in Earth & Environment is allotted based on need and merit, and on a first-come basis, beginning with the opening of applications on September 1. Partial tuition scholarships may be offered, and/or some students are invited to serve as teaching assistants for undergraduate courses, at a stipend of $6,000 per semester. (Teaching assistants lead labs and discussion sections.)
Occasionally, faculty hire Master’s students to serve as research assistants, paid on an hourly basis; those opportunities always depend on matching student skills with faculty need and are usually determined once a student has been coursework.
The MS in Energy & Environment comprises eight courses or 32 credits: 6 core courses and 2 elective courses that are chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor.
- Core Courses (6 courses)
- EE 516 Multivariate Analysis for Geographers
- EE 519 Energy, Society, & the Environment or EE 560 Energy Transitions
- EE 555 World Oil Markets or QST PL 852 Electricity Markets
- EE 545 (previously EE 620) Methods of Environmental Policy Analysis
- EE 660 Food, Energy, & Water Policy or EE 528 (previously EE 625) US Environmental Policy
- EE 712 Regional Energy Modeling or EE 509 Applied Environmental Statistics
- Students with extensive backgrounds in statistics may, with permission of the program director, select a more specialized course than EE 516.
- Elective Courses (2 courses)
- 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
Our world-renowned faculty equip you with the computer skills, quantitative techniques, and modeling tools you will need to succeed.
Alumni Career Paths
1. Environmental Consulting
Consultants utilize their skills and expertise to provide specialized knowledge for clients who need to solve specific problems. They can work as independent contractors or in large firms and typically work on a variety of projects for both private and public clients. A consultant might assist the EPA in formulating rules for power plant operations, help a rural community government determine how to manage water resources, analyze the impacts of a toxic waste site, develop environmental impact assessments for private firms, or help an energy firm better predict future electricity demand. Our alumni work at industry-leading consulting firms:
- The Cadmus Group
- McKinsey and Company
- EBI Consulting
- Booz Allen Hamilton
- ERM
- Synapse Energy Economics
2. Nonprofits and NGOs
Alumni at nonprofit organizations and other non-governmental organizations work to address environmental and sustainability challenges from the local to the global levels. These organizations aim to fill gaps left by private firms and governments to solve otherwise unmet needs. Our alumni have built careers at a variety of notable organizations:
- The World Bank
- Earthwatch Institute
- The Nature Conservancy
- Union of Concerned Scientists
- Natural Resources Defense Council
- Global Brigades
3. Government
Many of our alumni have found positions working in government at all levels, both as researchers and policymakers. Our alumni have shaped environmental policy and helped answer pressing environmental questions with a number of governmental bodies:
- US Environmental Protection Agency
- US General Services Administration
- Louisville Sustainability Council
- New Jersey Water Supply Authority
- Office of the Governor, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
- New York City Emergency Management Department
- Maryland Transit Administration
4. Industry
Many of our alumni have gone on to work at both small and large private firms that conduct a wide range of business. Some of these firms provide specialized geospatial, environmental, or energy services, but many of our alumni have found the skills and knowledge gained in the Department of Earth & Environment to be valuable in private firms that do work in areas as diverse as finance and digital media:
- Chevron
- EnerNOC
- Spotify
- Green Century Capital Management
- CLEAResult
- National Grid
- Digital Globe
- Apple
- Ceres, Inc.
Our Center for Career Development is also ready to help you find the best use of your degree. From networking to job opportunities to salary negotiations, our mission is to help you grow your professional life and keep it humming well beyond graduation.