University of Virginia

What you'll study

The degree is built on the standard economics core—microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics—taught with applied examples relevant to environmental and resource issues. In your first two years you will typically cover principles of economics, intermediate micro and macro, statistics and introductory calculus, establishing the quantitative foundation needed for economic analysis.

In upper-level study you choose electives and seminars that concentrate on environmental topics. Typical modules and subjects offered to support an environmental economics and policy focus include:

• Environmental and Resource Economics — market failures, externalities, property rights, natural resource extraction and renewable resource management.
• Public Economics and Policy Analysis — taxation, regulation, public goods and institutional responses to environmental problems.
• Cost–Benefit and Applied Welfare Analysis — valuation of environmental goods, discounting, and benefit–cost frameworks for policy appraisal.
• Energy Economics and Markets — economics of energy supply and demand, pricing, and transition to low‑carbon systems.
• Econometrics and Data Analysis — causal inference, program evaluation and empirical methods applied to environmental questions; applied coursework often uses field or panel data.
• Interdisciplinary electives — courses from environmental sciences, public policy, and geography such as environmental law and policy, climate science for policy, and geographic information systems (GIS) for environmental analysis.
• Capstone, independent study or applied research — opportunities to complete a senior thesis, policy brief, or practicum working with faculty, research centres or external partners.

Students are encouraged to take relevant electives at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy and to participate in cross‑department research and internship programmes to gain practical policy experience.

Entry requirements

Admission is to the University of Virginia undergraduate programme; applicants are expected to present a strong secondary‑school record with emphasis on quantitative preparation. Typical academic preparation includes:

• High achievement in higher‑level mathematics (calculus or equivalent) and coursework in mathematics or statistics.
• Strong grades in academic subjects across the curriculum; coursework in economics is helpful but not required.
• Completed application with academic transcripts, personal statement and any school‑specific materials; standardised test requirements vary by year and applicant category, so consult the university for current policy.
• For international applicants, evidence of English language proficiency and the equivalent of a U.S. secondary school diploma are required.

Successful applicants typically demonstrate quantitative ability, clear interest in economic and environmental issues, and evidence of extracurricular or work experience that indicates an aptitude for research or policy work.

Career prospects

Graduates with a concentration in environmental economics and policy are well placed for roles in public, private and non‑profit sectors. Common career paths include:

• Policy and government — policy analyst, regulatory specialist or advisor at local, state or federal environmental agencies.
• Consulting and industry — environmental economist or analyst in consulting firms, energy companies, utilities and corporations managing sustainability programmes.
• Non‑governmental organisations and think tanks — research analyst, programme manager or advocacy specialist working on climate, conservation and sustainable development issues.
• Research and further study — positions as research assistants or entry to graduate programmes (MSc, MPP, or PhD) in environmental economics, public policy, or related fields.
• Data and analytics roles — applied data analyst roles using econometric and statistical skills to monitor environmental performance, carbon accounting and programme evaluation.

The degree’s combination of quantitative economics and interdisciplinary policy training also supports careers in finance, risk management and corporate sustainability roles where understanding environmental externalities and regulation is important.

Why study at University of Virginia

University of Virginia offers a liberal‑arts grounded economics education with strong quantitative training and multiple pathways to specialise in environmental policy. Undergraduates benefit from access to a range of relevant centres and resources, interdisciplinary collaboration with the Batten School of Public Policy and connections to university research institutes focused on environment, energy and resilience.

Students can pursue undergraduate research with faculty, take policy‑focused electives across departments, and access internship and practicum opportunities in Virginia’s state institutions, regional organisations and national agencies. The university’s setting and network provide practical exposure to policy processes and applied environmental work while retaining rigorous theoretical and empirical economics instruction.