Rice University

What you'll study

The programme builds from a core of microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics into specialised courses that apply economic analysis to environmental and resource problems. You will typically take intermediate and advanced modules in:

• Microeconomic theory — consumer and producer theory, market failures and externalities.
• Macroeconomics — growth, business cycles and policy interactions with environmental outcomes.
• Econometrics and statistics — applied regression, causal inference and programme evaluation techniques important for empirical environmental work.
• Environmental and resource economics — valuation of ecosystem services, non-market valuation, natural resource extraction and renewable resource management.
• Energy economics and policy — markets for energy, regulation, transitions to low-carbon systems and technology policy.
• Public economics and regulatory design — taxation, tradable permits, and the design of environmental regulation.
• Interdisciplinary electives — courses from environmental science, engineering, public policy or geography such as climate science, environmental law, or GIS for those seeking technical or policy breadth.

Rice undergraduates commonly complement the major with substantial mathematics and data-science preparation (calculus, linear algebra, probability) and undertake independent research or a senior thesis under faculty supervision. Opportunities for internships, practicum projects and semester-long research with faculty or policy centres are available to apply classroom learning to real-world problems.

Entry requirements

Admission to Rice is competitive and evaluated on a holistic basis. Applicants to the Economics major with a focus on environmental economics should demonstrate strong quantitative preparation in high school mathematics (calculus where available) and coursework or experience in statistics is advantageous. Admissions readers look for high academic achievement, recommendations, and demonstrated interest in economics or environmental issues through coursework, projects or extracurricular activities.

For entry into the major once at Rice, students are typically expected to complete introductory economics and quantitative prerequisites with satisfactory grades before enrolling in intermediate and advanced economics courses. Transfer and international applicants should review departmental guidance for placement in economics and mathematics sequences.

Career prospects

Graduates with this combination of economics and environmental policy training pursue a wide range of careers. Common paths include:

• Policy analyst or researcher at government agencies, environmental regulators or public-policy institutes.
• Consultant in environmental, energy or economic consulting firms, working on cost–benefit analysis, regulatory impact assessments and market design.
• Analyst roles in energy companies, utilities, NGOs and international organisations focused on climate mitigation, adaptation and sustainable resource management.
• Data analyst or quantitative researcher using econometric and modelling skills in private sector or non-profit settings.
• Further study in specialised master’s or doctoral programmes in economics, public policy, environmental science or energy systems for careers in academia or high-level research.

Undergraduates often secure internships during their degree that lead to full-time roles or provide experience relevant for graduate programmes.

Why study at Rice University

Rice offers a close-knit undergraduate environment with small class sizes and accessible faculty, which is especially valuable for quantitative disciplines like economics. The Department of Economics provides rigorous training in theory and empirical methods, while cross-school collaboration allows students to draw on environmental science, engineering and public-policy expertise.

Located in Houston, Rice students benefit from proximity to a major energy and research hub, which creates internship and research opportunities with industry, regulatory bodies and non-governmental organisations. Rice also hosts public-policy centres and research initiatives where undergraduates can engage in applied projects relevant to environmental economics and policy.

The combination of strong methodological training, interdisciplinary options and local professional networks makes Rice a compelling place to prepare for careers at the intersection of economics, environment and policy.