Environmental and Sustainabili - Arizona State U

The Environmental and Sustainability Economics Graduate Certificate equips students with the economic theory and quantitative modeling skills to analyze environmental and resource issues. The program emphasizes hands-on experience with economic modeling and quantitative analysis, focusing on real-world application of theoretical concepts. Graduates are prepared for positions in various sectors, including business, sustainability, government, and environmental protection.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

Program Title:

Environmental and Sustainability Economics (Graduate Certificate)

Overview:

This certificate program equips students with the economic theory and quantitative modeling tools to analyze and evaluate environmental and resource issues. It focuses on understanding the consequences, societal benefits, and costs of changes in markets and environmental policies.

Objectives:

Train students to identify and evaluate economic assumptions embedded in policy analyses and recommendations.
Enhance the ability to critically evaluate research publications in environmental and resource economics.
Develop proficiency in applying economic modeling approaches to real-world scenarios.
Provide experience in using econometric techniques for causal inference and prediction.
Enable testing hypotheses through applied economic modeling.

Outline:

Structure:

17 credit hours total
Core curriculum (5 credits):
SOS 512 Environmental and Resource Economics (3 credits)
SOS 529 Research Seminar in Environmental and Sustainability Economics (2 credits)
Elective coursework (12 credits):
One course each from the following categories: microeconomic theory, statistical and econometric modeling, environmental and resource economics, modeling and empirical methods
Specific electives list provided by the academic unit.

Schedule:

Rolling admissions for both Fall and Spring sessions.

Modules:

Microeconomic Theory:

Applies microeconomic principles to environmental and resource issues.
Analyzes consumer and producer behavior, market equilibrium, and welfare economics in an environmental context.
Explores topics like externalities, public goods, property rights, and market failures related to the environment.

Statistical and Econometric Modeling:

Introduces statistical and econometric methods for data analysis in environmental and resource economics.
Covers regression analysis, hypothesis testing, and causal inference techniques.
Provides hands-on experience using statistical software packages.

Environmental and Resource Economics:

Examines the economic aspects of environmental problems and resource management.
Analyzes environmental policies, such as pollution control, sustainable development, and natural resource conservation.
Explores valuation methods for environmental goods and services.

Modeling and Empirical Methods:

Focuses on the application of economic models to analyze environmental and resource issues.
Develops skills in building and analyzing economic models using software tools.
Applies economic modeling to real-world case studies.

Assessment:

Assessment methods may include:

Exams
Assignments
Projects
Research papers
Presentations
Participation in seminars

Teaching:

Teaching Methods:

Lectures
Discussions
Case studies
Group projects
Independent research

Faculty:

Experienced faculty with expertise in environmental and resource economics.
Strong research backgrounds in relevant areas.

Unique Approach:

The program emphasizes hands-on experience with economic modeling and quantitative analysis.
Focuses on real-world application of theoretical concepts.

Careers:

Career Opportunities:

Chief Sustainability Officer
Economist
Environmental Economist
Environmental Engineer
Environmental Protection Specialist
Environmental Restoration Planner
Health Sciences Manager
Postsecondary Environmental Sciences Professor
Sustainability Specialist

Career Outcomes:

Graduates are prepared for positions in various sectors, including business, sustainability, government, biology, and applied mathematics.

Other:

Students are strongly encouraged to have at least one semester of calculus or equivalent coursework before entering the program.
The program welcomes students from diverse academic backgrounds, including sustainability, public affairs, biology, environmental social science, applied mathematics, and agribusiness.