University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

What you'll study

This programme builds a rigorous foundation in economic theory and applied quantitative methods, then applies those tools to questions about natural resources, pollution, climate change and regulatory design. Core modules typically include advanced microeconomic theory, econometrics, and applied policy evaluation alongside specialised courses such as environmental and resource economics, cost–benefit analysis of environmental regulation, energy economics, and the economics of climate change.

Students can expect a mix of classroom work and applied projects. Typical topics and modules include:

• Advanced Microeconomics: theory of consumer and producer behaviour, market failure and externalities.
• Econometrics for Policy Analysis: causal inference, panel data, instrumental variables, programme evaluation methods.
• Environmental and Resource Economics: valuation of ecosystem services, common-pool resources, renewable and non-renewable resource modelling.
• Energy and Climate Economics: carbon pricing, emissions trading, energy market dynamics.
• Policy Design and Regulation: incentive-based instruments, regulation, environmental law and institutions.
• Interdisciplinary and Applied Work: practicum or research projects in collaboration with the Institute for the Environment and local agencies, use of GIS and data platforms for environmental analysis.

Students may have the option to complete a research thesis or a non-thesis capstone project based on applied policy analysis or empirical research. Coursework emphasises programming and data skills (for example R, Stata or Python), policy communication, and quantitative evaluation techniques.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognised institution, ideally with substantial quantitative coursework. Typical preparation includes intermediate microeconomics, introductory macroeconomics, calculus, linear algebra and statistics or econometrics. Degrees in economics, environmental science with strong quantitative training, mathematics, engineering or related social sciences are suitable.

Admission materials commonly required are:

• Academic transcripts demonstrating quantitative coursework and strong grades.
• Statement of purpose explaining research interests in environmental economics and career objectives.
• Letters of recommendation from academic or professional referees who can speak to quantitative ability and potential for graduate study.
• Evidence of quantitative skills such as coursework in econometrics, statistics, calculus or relevant research experience; programming experience is a plus.

Some applicants pursue bridging coursework if their undergraduate background lacks formal economics training. Specific documentation and any standardised test policy are provided by the university’s admissions office; applicants should consult the programme pages for current procedural details.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for roles that require strong economic analysis of environmental problems. Common career paths include:

• Policy analyst or economist in government agencies at state, national or international levels (environmental protection, energy, natural resources).
• Analyst or consultant in environmental or regulatory consulting firms, advising on valuation, cost–benefit and compliance strategies.
• Researcher or analyst in think tanks, NGOs and international organisations working on climate policy, conservation finance and sustainable development.
• Data scientist or quantitative analyst applying econometric and modelling skills to environmental datasets.
• Progression to doctoral study in economics, environmental economics or related interdisciplinary programmes for those pursuing academic or high-level research careers.

The programme’s applied focus, quantitative training and opportunities for local internships can help graduates move directly into policy-making, consulting and research roles.

Why study at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Studying this specialism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers access to a strong economics department with faculty working on environmental and resource questions, and interdisciplinary collaboration through the University’s Institute for the Environment. Students benefit from connections to regional policy bodies and research networks in the Research Triangle, enabling applied projects, internships and engagement with state and federal agencies.

Carolina’s emphasis on rigorous quantitative training combined with interdisciplinary environmental research provides a practical environment for students who want to translate economic analysis into real-world policy impact. Small seminar classes, opportunities for supervised research, and access to data resources and methodological support units help prepare graduates for analytical careers or further academic study.