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Domestic Focus Field: Energy and Environmental Policy
Since Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson inaugurated the first Earth Day in 1970, the environment has remained one of the most important and controversial arenas of public policy. More recently, heightened concern about both the availability of energy resources and their environmental impacts has increased demand for leaders and analysts who can navigate the political, economic, scientific, and technological dimensions of these issues to inform critical policy decisions. In partnership with the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, the La Follette School offers students numerous opportunities to learn about and become active in energy and environmental policy.
Master of Public Affairs students pursuing a policy focus in Energy and Environmental Policy take advantage of the university's Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, a recognized global leader in interdisciplinary study of environmental issues. Within the Nelson Institute, the Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment pursues scientific and social scientific research on global environmental degradation and change. Students interested in energy and environmental policy pursue one of two options:
- the Master of Public Affair with the energy and environmental focus for which they choose three or more energy and environment elective courses
- the Master's of Public Affairs and simultaneously take six courses for the energy analysis and policy certificate through the Nelson Institute
Both the energy and environment focus field and the energy analysis and policy certificate curricula prepare students for professional work with governments, utilities, consulting firms, and other organizations concerned with these issues.
Field coordinator: Gregory Nemet
La Follette School faculty in this field
Electives from Other Departments
Students may take courses from other departments depending on their interests. Students should consult their advisors if they are unsure whether a course is appropriate for their focus field. These elective courses include:
ENVIR ST 343 Environmental Economics
ENVIR ST 402 Environmental Strategy and Sustainability
ENVIR ST 472 Scientific Background for Global Environmental Problems
ENVIR ST 502 Air Pollution and Human Health
ENVIR ST 507 People, Chemicals, Environment
ENVIR ST 513 Environment and Health in Global Perspective
ENVIR ST 515 Renewable Resources Policy
ENVIR ST 535 Atmospheric Dispersion and Air Pollution
ENVIR ST 539 Air Resources Science and Policy
AAE 431 Natural Resource Economics
AGRON/ENTOM/ENVTOX 630, Ecotoxicology: Toxicant Effects on Ecosystems
CEE 423/ME 466 Air Pollution Effects, Measurements and Controls
ECON 671 Energy Economics
LAW 837 Regulated Industries: Energy
NEEP 571 Economic and Environmental Aspects of Nuclear Energy
TRANS PU 725 Public Utilities
URPL 834 Land Use Policy and Planning
Core Courses
PA 818 Quantitative Tools for Public Policy Analysis
PA 869 Workshop in Public Affairs, Domestic Issues
PA 873 Introduction to Policy Analysis
PA 874 The Policymaking Process
PA 878 Public Management
PA 880 Microeconomic Policy Analysis
PA 800 Professional Development Workshop
Public Affairs Electives for this Focus Field
PA 809 Energy Analysis and Policy Seminar
PA 810 Energy Analysis Seminar
PA 819 Quantitative Methods for Public Policy
PA 827 Internship
PA 866 Global Environmental Governance
PA 881 Cost-Benefit Analysis
Employment and Internships
La Follette School alumni have interned or worked in these positions:
- research analyst, KEMA Inc.
- Marine Policy and Financing Team, The Nature Conservancy Coral Triangle Center
- Bureau of Cooperative Environmental Assistance, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
- Department of Safety and Environmental Affairs, Madison Gas & Electric Co.
- Bureau of Air Management, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources