MS in Environment and International Affairs
MS in Environment and International Affairs

Curriculum

The complexity of global environmental challenges requires decision makers with both international affairs and environmental sciences training. Explore the degree’s unique coursework offered on Georgetown’s historic Washington, DC campus, as well as the in-demand degree concentrations to prepare you for a future of interdisciplinary collaboration and changemaking.

Concentrations

Students in this program have the opportunity to go beyond the core curriculum and develop expertise in a specific area related to environmental and energy challenges by choosing one of three concentrations. These concentrations cater to students’ academic interests and career goals, preparing them for specialized roles in various employment sectors. To fulfill the requirements, students must take at least one science or technology elective and at least one politics or policy elective. Alternatively, they have the option to develop a personalized concentration in consultation with the program director.

A graphic of a sample curriculum for the global sustainable energy technology & policy concentration with course titles, credit values, and each course designated as either core courses, skills courses, or electives. The Fall column has 13 credits comprised of: Global Env Science, 4 credits, core course; Global Env Politics & Security, 3 credits, core course; Analytic & Statistical Tools, 3 credits, skills course; International Climate Policy and Diplomacy, 3 credits, elective. The Spring column in gray has 14 credits comprised of: Global Env Science 4 credits, core course, Capstone Seminar, 1 credit, core course; Remote Sensing, 3 credits, skills course; Climate and Development, 3 credits, elective; Sea Level Change & Coastal Adaptation, 3 credits, elective. Summer consists of 3 total credits of a core global capstone course for three credits, which is a core course.

1. Global Sustainable Energy Technology & Policy

This concentration provides students with the knowledge base and tools to identify the implications of energy policy choices and to pathways to a sustainable energy future. Pictured: sample curriculum.

Explore electives
A graphic of a sample curriculum for the Global Environmental Politics and Policy—climate focus concentration with course titles, credit values, and each course designated as either core courses, skills courses, or electives. The Fall column has 13 credits comprised of: Global Env Science, 4 credits, core course; Global Env Politics & Security, 3 credits, core course; Analytic & Statistical Tools, 3 credits, skills course; International Climate Policy and Diplomacy, 3 credits, elective. The Spring column in gray has 14 credits comprised of: Global Env Science 4 credits, core course, Capstone Seminar, 1 credit, core course; Remote Sensing, 3 credits, skills course; Climate and Development, 3 credits, elective; Sea Level Change & Coastal Adaptation, 3 credits, elective. Summer consists of 3 total credits of a core global capstone course for three credits, which is a core course.

2. Global Environmental Science and Policy

This concentration provides students with a background in the environmental sciences including atmospheric and oceans science and the implications for global environmental change. 

Explore electives
A graphic of a sample curriculum for the global environment and international security concentration with course titles, credit values, and each course designated as either core courses, skills courses, or electives. The Fall column has 13 credits comprised of: Global Env Science, 4 credits, core course; Global Env Politics & Security, 3 credits, core course; Analytic & Statistical Tools, 3 credits, skills course; Environmental Security, 3 credits, elective. The Spring column in gray has 14 credits comprised of: Global Env Science 4 credits, core course, Capstone Seminar, 1 credit, core course; Remote Sensing, 3 credits, skills course; Environment., Development, & Conflict,, 3 credits, elective; Global Hunger, 3 credits, elective. Summer consists of 3 total credits of a core global capstone course for three credits, which is a core course.

3. Environmental Science and International Security

This concentration provides students with an understanding of food, energy and water insecurity and their impact on the global landscape.

Explore electives

Coursework

Within each concentration, at least 1 elective must be a science or technology course, and at least 1 must be a politics or policy course.

Core and skills courses

Students must take all core courses listed below and at least 6 credits of skills courses. Examples of skills courses are listed below.

Core and representative skills courses
Course TypeNameCredits
CoreScience of Global Environmental Challenges I4
CoreScience of Global Environmental Challenges II4
CoreGlobal Environmental Politics and Security3
CoreCapstone Seminar1
CoreGlobal Capstone Course3
SkillsGeographic Information Systems1.5
SkillsRemote Sensing1.5
SkillsQuantitative Methods3
SkillsQualitative Field Research1.5
SkillsData Science and Analytics3
SkillsPython for Policymakers1
SkillsClimate Modeling3
SkillsInternational Negotiations 3

Representative Electives by Concentration

Representative elective courses by concentration
Course NameConcentrationCredits
Global Energy Transitions and ModelsGlobal Sustainable Energy Technology & Policy3
Deep DecarbonizationGlobal Sustainable Energy Technology & Policy3
Clean Energy InnovationGlobal Sustainable Energy Technology & Policy3
Energy and Environment in EurasiaGlobal Sustainable Energy Technology & Policy3
Energy & Environment in ChinaGlobal Sustainable Energy Technology & Policy3
Renewable Energy Climate and DevelopmentGlobal Sustainable Energy Technology & Policy3
Clean Energy Investment Development EconomicsGlobal Sustainable Energy Technology & Policy3
The Energy TransitionGlobal Sustainable Energy Technology & Policy3
Sustainability, Innovation, and TechGlobal Sustainable Energy Technology & Policy3
Energy: Players, Markets, Projects Global Sustainable Energy Technology & Policy3
Caspian Energy: Theory & PracticeGlobal Sustainable Energy Technology & Policy3
Deep DecarbonizationGlobal Environmental Science and Policy3
The Ocean and Global Change Global Environmental Science and Policy3
Global Environmental NegotiationsGlobal Environmental Science and Policy3
Environmental Change in the Arctic Global Environmental Science and Policy3
Environmental EconomicsGlobal Environmental Science and Policy3
Environmental PolicyGlobal Environmental Science and Policy3
Science and Policy Development in Latin AmericaGlobal Environmental Science and Policy3
Sea Level Change & Coastal AdaptationGlobal Environmental Science and Policy3
Physics and Chemistry of Earth’s ClimateGlobal Environmental Science and Policy3
Energy and Environment in EurasiaGlobal Environmental Science and Policy3
Policies for Clean Air and Global HealthGlobal Environmental Science and Policy3
Infrastructure and the EnvironmentGlobal Environmental Science and Policy3
National Climate Solutions: Tackling ChallengesGlobal Environmental Science and Policy1.5
Agricultural Food Systems and Econ DevelopmentGlobal Environmental Science and Policy3
Climate and DevelopmentGlobal Environmental Science and Policy3
Climate Change ResilienceGlobal Environmental Science and Policy1.5
International Climate Policy and Diplomacy Global Environmental Science and Policy3
Navigating a Climate of Change Global Environmental Science and Policy3
Caspian Energy: Theory & PracticeGlobal Environmental Science and Policy3
Gender & Environment: Latin AmericaGlobal Environmental Science and Policy3
Environmental Policy in EuropeGlobal Environmental Science and Policy3
Global Justice/The EnvironmentGlobal Environmental Science and Policy3
Global Environmental & Climate HistoryGlobal Environmental Science and Policy3
Global HungerEnvironmental Science and International Security 3
Agri-Food Systems and Economic DevelopmentEnvironmental Science and International Security 3
Environment, Development and Conflict Environmental Science and International Security 1.5
Food System, Transformation and Global Development Environmental Science and International Security 1.5
The Energy TransitionEnvironmental Science and International Security 3
Transnational SecurityEnvironmental Science and International Security 3
Energy: Players, Markets, ProjectsEnvironmental Science and International Security 3
Environmental SecurityEnvironmental Science and International Security 3
Russia/Europe Relations: Climate/Energy/WarEnvironmental Science and International Security 3
Water in MENA: Local Practices and Politics Environmental Science and International Security 3
Water, Conflict and PeaceEnvironmental Science and International Security 3
Critical, Human and Environmental Security Environmental Science and International Security 3
Sea Level Changes & Coastal AdaptationEnvironmental Science and International Security 3
Physics and Chemistry of Earth’s ClimateEnvironmental Science and International Security 3

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Secure a meaningful career with a positive impact on people and the planet through this flexible yet rigorous interdisciplinary degree from Georgetown University.

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