MPA-MSES Energy and Climate Change Solutions

Building a versatile toolbox for a brighter tomorrow

O’Neill’s MPA-MSES dual-degree Energy and Climate Change Solutions concentration gives you foundations and tools in the science, economics, and policy of today’s energy landscape. Core courses in energy economics and policy, and in energy systems, support advanced courses in energy policy, climate policy, energy law, human behavior and energy consumption and broader courses in environmental policy and sustainable development. You’ll also choose science courses you need to craft science-based law and policy: natural gas, renewable energy, air pollution, and climate change and its impacts. Your resulting toolbox will combine breadth and depth to confront issues of science, technology, economics, and policy in the rapidly expanding world of energy and climate change. 

You will be prepared to participate in problem-solving at national and international levels, or in the fast-growing and often innovative environment of state and municipal organizations.

How to apply

The Dual MPA-MSES concentration in Energy and Climate Change Solutions provides educational experience in topics associated with climate along with energy production, distribution, and use, using an interdisciplinary approach in science, technology, and public policy. You can concentrate more heavily on either MPA or MSES coursework associated with energy and climate. This dual degree with an Energy and Climate Change Solutions concentration is especially valuable for professional marketability, since many employment opportunities entail a blend of energy and environmental expertise. Your choice of degree program may be dependent on prior academic or professional experience, so we recommend consulting with an academic advisor.

This concentration consists of two required courses, along with at least two courses in the area of natural sciences and at least two courses in economics, public policy and law. The dual MPA-MSES Energy and Climate Change Solutions concentration allows students to dive deeper into this topic area, as it requires 24 credit hours to complete.

  • Energy Analysis and Markets (E 574)
  • Energy Economics and Policy (R 674)

The required energy economics course provides a global and regional understanding of energy markets and the skills necessary to perform policy analysis of energy issues. The technical courses in the concentration will enable you to collaborate with engineering specialists on projects related to energy production, management, conservation, and research and development. 

  • Natural Gas: Technical and Policy Challenges (E 503)
  • Fundamentals of Air Pollution (E 515)
  • Vector-based Geographic Information Systems (E 518)
  • Application of Geographic Information Systems (E 529)
  • Physical Climatology (GEOG-G 532)
  • Principles of Petroleum Geology (GEOL-G 571)
  • Climate Change (GEOG-G 576)
  • Organic Geochemistry (GEOL-G 587)

  • Human Behavior and Energy Consumption (E 501)
  • International Environmental Policy (E 535)
  • Energy Policy: A Nation-State Perspective (E 590/V 550)
  • Benefit-Cost Analysis (P 541)
  • Public Natural Resources Law (R 533)
  • Environmental Economics and Policy (R 625)
  • Natural Resource Management and Policy (R 643)
  • Environmental Law (R 645)
  • Sustainable Development (S 596)
  • Energy Law and Policy (LAW-L 644/V 550)
  • Climate Law and Policy (LAW-L 660/V 550)

The above are examples of your course options. For a complete listing, see the official Indiana University Bulletin. You’ll work to select courses in consultation with your faculty advisor. After consulting with a faculty advisor, you also may enroll in elective courses offered by other IU departments, including geography and law.