Georgia Institute of Technology

What you'll study

This master's combines core economic theory and applied quantitative methods with specialised courses on environmental and energy topics. The curriculum balances microeconomic foundations, econometrics and policy analysis with electives that cover the economics of natural resources, climate policy, environmental valuation and energy markets.

• Core courses: advanced microeconomics, applied econometrics and quantitative methods for policy evaluation.
• Environmental and energy electives: environmental economics, natural resource economics, benefit–cost analysis, climate change economics, and energy economics and policy.
• Applied methods: programme evaluation, urban and regional environmental economics, spatial analysis/GIS applications, and modelling of energy systems; coursework typically includes hands-on empirical projects using statistical software (for example R, Python, or Stata).
• Capstone options: research thesis or an applied practicum/industry project in collaboration with faculty or external partners in government, NGOs or industry.

Entry requirements

Admission is intended for candidates with a solid quantitative background. Typical requirements include:

• Academic degree: a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, preferably in economics, mathematics, statistics, engineering, environmental science or another quantitatively oriented field.
• Quantitative preparation: coursework in calculus, linear algebra, probability or statistics; prior exposure to intermediate microeconomics is highly recommended.
• Application materials: academic transcripts, a statement of purpose outlining research or career goals in environmental economics and policy, letters of recommendation, and a current CV or résumé.
• Testing and technical skills: some applicants supply GRE scores where required or optional; demonstrable programming or data-analysis experience strengthens an application.
• English language proficiency: required for applicants whose first language is not English, demonstrated by an approved test where applicable.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for analytically demanding roles that intersect economics, environment and public policy. Common career paths include:

• Public sector and intergovernmental organisations: policy analyst or economist roles in national and regional environmental agencies, ministries of energy, and international organisations working on climate and resource policy.
• Consulting and private sector: environmental and energy consulting, regulatory economics, corporate sustainability and strategy positions within utilities, energy companies and firms with environmental compliance needs.
• Research and non-profit organisations: applied research positions at think tanks, advocacy groups and research institutes focused on climate, sustainability and resource management.
• Further study: preparation for PhD programmes in economics, environmental economics or related interdisciplinary research areas.

Why study at Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia Tech offers a quantitatively rigorous economics programme embedded within a major research university with strong interdisciplinary ties. Students benefit from collaboration across departments and schools that address environment and energy issues, including public policy, engineering and earth sciences, and have access to faculty who use empirical and modelling approaches to real-world environmental challenges.

• Interdisciplinary opportunities: ability to take electives and work on projects with faculty in engineering, public policy and environmental science to gain technical and policy-relevant skills.
• Applied focus and industry links: opportunities for practicum projects and collaboration with regional and national organisations, taking advantage of Georgia Tech’s location and institutional connections.
• Research environment: access to research-active faculty and centres focusing on sustainability, energy and environmental systems, allowing students to engage in empirical research and applied modelling.