Skip to Main Content      LA FOLLETTE HOME UW Home UW Directory My UW

Robert M. La Follette
School of Public Affairs
1225 Observatory Drive
Madison, WI 53706

Telephone:  608.262.3581
Fax: 608.265.3233


Last updated:
October 14, 2011



UW Logo

© Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System


Domestic Policy Field: Energy & 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:

Both the energy and environment focus field and the energy analysis and policy certificate curricula can prepare students for professional work with governments, utilities, consulting firms, and other organizations concerned with these issues.  

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

PA 866 Global Environomental Governance

La Follette School Courses

Alumni Employment

La Follette School alumni have interned or worked with these organizations: