Group of business students sitting together talking.

Natural Resource and Environmental Economics Certificate

Deepen your understanding of the economic forces that shape environmental policy, resource use, and sustainability with a certificate in Natural Resource and Environmental Economics. Through courses blending economics, public policy, and environmental applications, graduates develop the analytical toolkit needed to assess natural resource projects, environmental market failures, and ecological challenges.

This certificate is useful for anyone interested in working at the nexus of resource management, the environmental, and human dimensions.

Courses

Required Courses

In the nine-credit program, students take:

EC 5640 - Natural Resource Economics

Analyzes the economic aspects of producing/using natural resources. Nonrenewable resources and renewable resources are discussed. The economics of land use, macroeconomic topics such as economic growth, sustainability and green accounting are considered.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
Semesters Offered: Fall
Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate
Pre-Requisite(s): EC 2001 or EC 3002

EC 5650 - Market Failure & Environment

Considers the efficient and equitable use of environmental resources. Measures the benefits and costs of decreasing pollution and protecting scarce ecological resources; addresses market failures and the economic valuation of environmental amenities. Requires students to learn quantitative and technical techniques to determine the efficient use of resources.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
Semesters Offered: Spring
Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate
Pre-Requisite(s): EC 2001 or EC 3002

Elective Courses

Then choose an elective from a suite of options, including:

EC 5620 - Energy Economics

Introduction to the institutional, technical, and economic issues of the production and use of energy resources, including petroleum, natural gas, coal, nuclear, electric utilities, and alternative energy. Research project applies economic analysis to supply, distribution, and use of energy resources, including environmental and social consequences.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
Semesters Offered: Fall, in odd years
Restrictions: Permission of instructor required; Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate

EC 4620 - Energy Economics

Introduction to the institutional, technical, and economic issues of the production and use of energy resources, including petroleum, natural gas, coal, nuclear, electric utilities, and alternative energy. Coursework applies economic analysis to supply, distribution, and use of energy resources, including environmental and social consequences.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
Semesters Offered: Fall, in odd years
Pre-Requisite(s): EC 2001

SS 5300 - Environmental & Energy Policy

An overview of environmental and natural resource policies in the U.S. and internationally. Emphasizes policies regarding forests, wildlife, public lands, pollution, and climate change. Dicussion of policy adminstration by the USDA Forest Service and National Park Service.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
Semesters Offered: Fall, in odd years, Spring, in odd years
Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate

FW 5088 - Economic Analysis of Forestry

Financial analysis and economic theory applied to forestry project analysis and selection, focusing on prices. Covers risk, capital markets, taxation, auctions, land valuation, harvesting decisions, and non-market valuation.

Credits: 2.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (2-0-0)
Semesters Offered: Spring
Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate

FW 5180 - Ethics of Conservation and Sustainability

Discusses relationship between ecological science and environmental ethics as it relates to natural resource management, conservation and sustainability.

Credits: 2.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-2-0)
Semesters Offered: Fall, in even years
Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate

FW 4180 - Applied Environmental Ethics

Discusses relationship between ecological science and environmental ethics as it relates to natural resource management, conservation and sustainability.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
Semesters Offered: Fall
Restrictions: May not be enrolled in one of the following College(s): College of For Res & Env Sci; May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Freshman, Sophomore

Graduate Program Director:

Jenny Apriesnig

Graduate Program Assistant:

Laura Shawhan

Application Process and Admissions Requirements

Applications are reviewed on an individual basis using a holistic approach. Fill out our free graduate application online to apply to any of our programs. Official transcripts and scores are not required for the initial application, although you will need to upload them later.

Graduate School Admissions Process

Applying to the Graduate School is free (no application fees) and fast (no official transcripts, test scores, or letters needed to start). The application process involves three easy steps.

See Admissions Steps

Graduate School Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Graduate School as a degree- or certificate-seeking student, you need to:

have a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution, and
be prepared for advanced study in your chosen field, as demonstrated by your previous degree and your scholastic record.

See additional application requirements, including required materials:

Student Statements

Official Transcripts

Program Specific Requirements

Program Specific

2 Letters of Recommendation
GRE/GMAT not required
Admitted students generally have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale.

International Students

TOEFL: Required Minimum Score of 79 iBT
IELTS: Required Minimum Overall Band Score of 6.5
English Proficiency is required for all applicants who do not come from the US, Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand

Michigan Tech requires a minimum 79 overall TOEFL or 6.5 overall IELTS score.

Admissions Decisions

Made on a rolling basis

Recommended Deadline

Apply at least a semester in advance of projected admission to improve your chances of receiving funding.

Students take two required courses natural resource economics and market failure and environment and one elective course.

Certificate Admissions

Prospective Students

Prospective students and non-degree seeking students interested in obtaining a graduate certificate must apply to the certificate program using the online application.
Accelerated certificate options exist for current Michigan Tech undergraduate students in good standing and have achieved at least junior-level standing or recent bachelor’s graduates of Michigan Tech (less than two years).
The number of credits earned prior to admission that can be counted are restricted.

Current Graduate Students

Current Michigan Tech graduate students who are in a degree program do not need to formally apply. Current students must still submit the appropriate degree schedule in order to complete the certificate.

International Student Requirements

International Students must apply and be accepted into a degree-granting program in order to earn a graduate certificate. A non-refundable $10 processing fee per application is required.

See International Applicants

Accredited by HLC

Michigan Tech has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1928. Our Graduate School offers over 125 certificates, master's, and PhD programs to provide our students and the world with what tomorrow needs.