Nov 24, 2024  
2024-2025 Graduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Graduate Catalog

Energy and Environmental Policy (MEEP)


Program Educational Goals:


The Master of Energy and Environmental Policy degree prepares graduates to assume positions in policy analysis, planning, and administration within the public, private, and non-profit sectors.

Learning goals:  

  1. Students will evaluate how the interconnections of social, biophysical, and technical systems influence policy development, implementation, and evaluation.
  2. Students will apply policy and governance theories to evaluate the influence of politics, economics, and demands for social justice on sustainable development.
  3. Students will analyze and respond to the competing values, interests, and goals of diverse stakeholders in energy and environmental decision-making at local, national, and international scales.
  4. Students will apply critical thinking and analysis skills to support development, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based energy and environmental policies. 
  5. Students will demonstrate professional skills in policy analysis and research, and communicate their findings to diverse audiences. 

Requirements for the Degree:


The 36-credit hour Master of Energy and Environmental Policy (MEEP) program offers two Master’s degree options, one with and one without a thesis requirement. Both options require formal course work in the concepts, methods and professional practice of energy and environmental policy analysis and planning. 

All students in the MEEP degree program will, by default, be enrolled in the Capstone Energy and Environmental Policy Studio course. Students must petition the program director to be moved into the thesis option. This petition should come with the approval of the student’s advisor.

In order to fulfill the requirements for graduation, students must successfully complete 36 credit hours that fulfill course requirements and electives and must maintain a 2.0 grade point average (GPA) in order to graduate. The degree with thesis requires 6 credits of Master’s Thesis; the non-thesis degree requires completion of a 3-credit Policy Studio and an additional 3-credit course in their field of concentration.

Mandatory Required Classes


The following two classes should be taken in the first year:

Science, Engineering and Public Policy Requirement


Students complete the science, engineering and public policy requirement by choosing a 3 credit graduate course (including a tutorial course with a number such as 666, 868 or 870) in a natural science or engineering related topic to meet the science, engineering and public policy requirement. The course  must be taken with a member of the University’s science or engineering faculty and should be linked to the student’s research interest.

Concentration or Specialization


Students are expected to take 15 credits in their area of concentration or specialization, including the thesis or policy studio. Concentrations include Energy Sustainability, Water Sustainability, Environmental Justice, Political Ecology, Global Environments, and Sustainable Development. Students must have areas of concentration approved by their faculty advisor and the program director. If students meet the requirements of one of these concentrations, their transcript will formally indicate that the degree is awarded in this concentration. 

Alternatively, students may elect to specialize in other areas. Areas of specialization must be approved  by the student’s faculty advisor and do not appear on a student’s transcript. 

Credits in an area of specialization or concentration may include research and readings tutorials, as well as lecture courses and seminars, and a maximum of three credits of internship. Concentration and Specialization Study Plans must be approved before the student enters the second year of full-time study. 

Policy Studio or Thesis


Each student must complete a 6-credit thesis or 3-credit policy studio that demonstrates their ability to engage in independent critical analysis. 

All students in the MEEP degree program will, by default, be enrolled in the Capstone Energy and Environmental Policy Studio course. Students must petition the program director to be moved into the thesis option. This petition should come with the approval of the student’s advisor.

Credits to Total a Minimum of 36


Last Revised 2024-2025 Academic Year