An understanding of the "iron triangle" of energy, water and food security, the threats posed by global climate change, and possible solutions to these daunting problems is a critical component of the ERE graduate's tool kit
2017 Frontiers in Energy, Science and Technology (FEST) study trip researching implementing urban sustainability in the “model” city of Curitiba, Brazil
Presentation of the Clean Water Action (CWA) practicum team's research on "The Environmental Risks and Oversight of Enhanced Oil Recovery in the U.S."
Swiss Re practicum team with their faculty adviser Celeste Connors
Overview
Faculty
Program Activities
Curriculum
Minor
Featured Courses
Events Calendar
Our Alumni
Research
Contact
The Energy, Resources and Environment (ERE) Program prepares the next generation of global leaders to address urgent energy and environmental concerns and threats. Under the guidance of expert faculty, ERE students gain the intellectual framework and analytic skills required to address important issues such as climate change, international agriculture, forestry, wildlife conservation, and international water issues.
The ERE curriculum requires students to take both energy and environment courses to ensure that all graduates understand the deep links between these two subject areas. Students gain an understanding of the threats posed by climate change, the functioning of energy markets, the "iron triangle" of energy, water and food security, as well as, begin to formulate possible solutions to these daunting challenges.
As one of the largest programs at Johns Hopkins SAIS, students in the ERE program are afforded several opportunities to participate in experiential learning opportunities such as the International Energy and Environment practicum, Frontiers in Energy, Science and Technology (FEST) study trips, the Global Leaders Forum (GLF), alumni discussions, and more. For a more complete overview of ERE please check out our Prospectus.
Andrew W. Mellon Professor of International Relations, Director of Global Theory and History, Director of Canadian Studies, Director of International Political Economy
Director and Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Professor of Energy, Resources and Environment, Founding Director, Initiative for Sustainable Energy Policy (ISEP)
The Practicum is an innovative program that allows students to combine a for-credit course with extensive, in-depth, real world experience consulting for client organizations on projects aimed at addressing international environmental and energy policy challenges. The Practicum is designed to provide quality research and analysis on intractable challenges to clients, while providing students with the opportunity to apply concepts learned in the classroom to critical problems. Where possible, the work is integrated into the on-going research of an ERE faculty member. Learn more about the International Energy and Environment Practicum.
Global Leaders Forum
The Global Leaders Forum is a speaker series that brings together leaders from the public sector, research, finance and industry throughout the academic year to explore solutions to key domestic and international energy and environmental challenges. The GLF serves as a platform for policymakers and executives to share their expertise and insight with faculty and students and the broader academic, business and media communities. Our invitations are sent to professionals from the energy and environment sectors in the Washington, DC area as well as the Johns Hopkins SAIS' student and faculty body and alumni. Typically a diverse audience of approximately100-150, including students professionals and faculty attend Global Leaders Forum events. Learn more about the Global Leaders Forum.
Frontiers in Energy, Science and Technology (FEST)
To supplement its rigorous academic curriculum, the Energy, Resources and Environment Program also developed the Frontiers in Energy, Science and Technology (FEST) Field Visits initiative to provide its students with first-hand experience visiting utility, nuclear power and LNG plants, hydraulic fracturing and off-shore oil facilities, sewage treatment plants, and solar panel manufacturing facilities, among others. FEST offers student enrichment activities designed to provide first-hand exposure to innovations in the energy and environment sectors. Learn more about Frontiers in Energy, Science and Technology (FEST).
Global Issues in Agriculture Seminar Series
The Global Issues in Agriculture Seminar Series brings professionals working in the fields of Food Security, Agricultural Economics and Resource Management to the Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies in Washington, DC. The speaker series was founded by Dr. Robert L. Thompson, who recently retired from his position as a visiting professor in the Energy, Resources and Environment and International Development Programs. Learn more about the Global Issues in Agriculture Seminar Series.
Curriculum
Energy, Resources and Environment | MA Requirements (Entering Class 2018-2019)
MA students must complete 64 credits and all degree requirements in order to graduate.
Students who are approved for a Dual Degree program or with Advanced Standing only need to complete 48 credits or 56 credits as determined by Academic Affairs, but still must fulfill all degree requirements.
Energy, Resources and Environment Concentration
MA students concentrating in Energy, Resources and Environment must complete 24 credits of applicable coursework and a program capstone. At least 16 credits must start with the course prefix SA.680.XXX and of these courses, one must be designated "Energy" and one must be designated "Environment" on the ERE Course Matrix.
All ERE concentrators and MIPP Affiliates must complete the Online Basics of Energy (OBE) course before the start of classes of their first term with ERE.
All ERE concentrators are required to complete either Global Energy Fundamentals (SA.680.697) or Global Environment Fundamentals (SA.680.698) in their first year.
Students can use the ERE Curriculum Sequences to help plan their concentration. These energy and environment sequences are recommended courses that that are geared toward students' career goals and academic interests. The sequencing of courses is encouraged, but not required.
Capstone Energy, Resources and Environment concentrators must complete one of the following capstones:
Energy, Resources and Environment Oral Exam
MA Oral Exam (to compete for honors—if eligible)
International Economics Concentration
MA students must complete a concentration in International Economics (16 credits). The four required courses are:
Microeconomics
Macroeconomics (pre-requisite or concurrent: Microeconomics)
International Trade Theory (pre-requisite: Microeconomics)
International Monetary Theory (pre-requisite: Macroeconomics)
If a student is waived from a required course(s), the student must take a replacement International Economics course(s) to fulfill the concentration requirement.
Students who pass the non-credit Microeconomics course in Pre-Term will have this concentration reduced to 12 credits, but still must complete the remaining required International Economics courses (or a replacement course(s) if waiver exam(s) passed).
International Economics GPA Requirement Students must achieve an International Economics concentration GPA of at least 2.67.
In the standard case, the concentration GPA is the average of the grades in Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, International Trade Theory, and International Monetary Theory. If a student completed the non-credit Microeconomics course in Pre-Term, the concentration GPA is calculated based on the grades in the remaining required International Economics courses. If one or more of the required courses is waived, the highest grade(s) from any eligible replacement International Economics course(s) is used.
Students who do not meet the minimum International Economics concentration GPA must re-take required courses (or take additional replacement courses if any required course(s) are waived) until the minimum is achieved. The highest grade from any attempt at a required course is used in this calculation.
Quantitative Reasoning Requirement
MA students must fulfill the Quantitative Reasoning Requirement (4 credits). Eligible courses include:
Statistical Methods for Business & Economics
Econometrics (pre-requisite: Statistical Methods for Business & Economics)
Students may not double-count the same course toward the Quantitative Reasoning requirement and as a replacement International Economics concentration course and vice-versa.
If a student is waived from a Quantitative Reasoning course, the student must take a different course from the list above to fulfill the Quantitative Reasoning requirement.
Students who pass the non-credit Statistical Methods for Business & Economics course in Pre-Term will have fulfilled the Quantitative Reasoning requirement.
Core Requirements
MA students must fulfill two Core requirements from the subjects below. Students may fulfill a Core requirement by passing a for-credit Core course or by passing a non-credit Core exam.
American Foreign Policy Since WWII
Comparative Politics
Evolution of the International System
Theories of International Relations
Students may not take a Core exam in the semester in which they plan to graduate. If Core requirements are not completed before the start of a student’s final semester, the student no longer has the option of completing the exam and must enroll in the Core course(s) for credit.
Language Proficiency
MA students must pass exams to demonstrate proficiency in a non-native language taught at SAIS. Students enroll in non-credit language courses to prepare for the proficiency exam.
Students whose native language is not English may use English as their proficiency language. All non-native English speakers are required to pass an English placement exam upon entering the school, even if not using English for proficiency, and may be required to take additional English language coursework.
Electives, Minors and Specializations
Beyond the requirements, MA students may have room in their degree for electives, a minor, and/or a specialization(s).
Students may pursue an optional minor in any policy/regional area other than General International Relations.
Energy, Resources and Environment Minor Requirements:
3 ERE courses (12 credits) including:
SA.680.697 Global Energy Fundamentals or SA.680.698 Global Environment Fundamentals
2 additional ERE courses (8 credits), of which at least 1 must have the ERE prefix SA.680.XXX
General Minor Requirements:
MA students may pursue an optional minor in a policy or regional program. A student cannot pursue a minor in General IR or International Economics, but can pursue a Specialization in International Economics
A student can have only one minor and can declare a minor at any time prior to graduation.
Students do not receive bidding priority for a minor.
All minors require three courses. Some minors require a specific course(s) and/or language proficiency.
A student may use a maximum of one applicable cross-listed course (4 credits) toward both a minor AND concentration requirements. In the IR or Asia concentrations, the cross-listed course must be from the primary concentration area and not from the 2 additional required courses in the other IR or Asia areas. For example, a Conflict Management concentrator may only use 1 of the 4 Conflict Management courses toward a minor, provided it is cross-listed and meets requirements for both the concentration and the minor.
General IR concentrators can minor in an IR area or policy area (Conflict Management, Global Theory and History, International Law and Organizations, International Political Economy, Energy, Resources, and Environment, or Strategic Studies) by completing 2 additional area/policy courses (8 credits) beyond the 1 used toward the concentration.
Featured Courses
The ERE program provides its students both an academic and academic enrichment focus. Currently, the program offers a MA degree or a minor. We also accept applications for MIPP candidates to affiliate with ERE. If you are interested in opportunities to obtain a PhD in ERE please contact Professor Johannes Urpelainen at johannesu@jhu.edu.
This class is geared to provide a good energy background to students who have pr...
This class is geared to provide a good energy background to students who have previously not had much exposure to the wide array of issues that encompass the energy policy arena. Topics covered include: oil; gas; electricity (including traditional and new generation resources); alternative transportation fuels; energy efficiency options across the transportation, industrial, and buildings economic sectors; climate change, and energy in developing countries. Students learn how to make “back-of-the-envelope” calculations regarding the scope of a given problem or a proposed solution. They also learn how to evaluate problems and suggest solutions within a two-page policy format that is used widely both in the public and private sectors. The class will be taught in an innovative format called the flipped class where students will be asked to view the online lectures outside the class. Class time will be devoted to more interactive group activities as well as professor-student interaction providing students a higher critical understanding of policy issues related to energy.
To this day, more than a billion people do not have electricity at home and almo...
To this day, more than a billion people do not have electricity at home and almost three billion people rely on traditional biomass for their cooking. This course investigates this problem of energy poverty and how policymakers can overcome it. The course covers all regions of the world but focuses on South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, where energy poverty is concentrated. In the lectures, students learn about the socio-economic causes of energy poverty, the impact of the problem, and the political economy of energy access policy. All students conduct an original research project to identify, analyze, and solve an energy access problem in a country of their choosing.
This course is designed to provide an introduction to the electric power industr...
This course is designed to provide an introduction to the electric power industry. The focus is on the policy, technology, institutional, and regulatory factors affecting the industry, major current issues, and the prospects for the industry’s future development and sustainability. Students are not required to have a background in engineering, economics, finance, etc., although these disciplines are woven into the discussion. The course is anchored in the US market experience, but emerging and OECD markets will also be discussed. The overall objective of the course is to provide students with the knowledge to understand, analyze and formulate policy paths that address the questions of industry reform and meeting the challenges of demand and global climate change. This course is a good complement to the “Innovation in the Electric Power Sector” course, which addresses challenges facing the global industry as well as innovative approaches to rural electrification in the advanced developing nations.
This course is designed for future practitioners tackling the challenges in sust...
This course is designed for future practitioners tackling the challenges in sustainable development. Environmental sustainability threatened by resource depletion, ecosystem degradation and global climate change is among the greatest challenges of the 21st century. Sustainable development can be achieved only by understanding and addressing the interconnected needs of environmental conservation, economic growth, and social inclusion.
Real-world problem solving requires multidisciplinary policy analysis skills that can greatly benefit from practicing with cases in a variety of contexts. This course introduces a wide range of policy issues pertaining to local, national and global environmental sustainability through case discussions and analyses in various socio-economic and institutional contexts. Students then engage in self-proposed original research of a real-world policy challenge through a structured and guided process, resulting in a substantial term paper that informs policy making. The goal is to improve students’ understanding of multidisciplinary policy issues in sustainable development and their problem-solving skills to accurately identify, critically think, and effectively communicate real-world policy problems.
Moving beyond the idea that differences in public opinion are primarily to blame...
Moving beyond the idea that differences in public opinion are primarily to blame for such variation, this course focuses instead on how the design of the state itself influences energy and environmental governance outcomes. Regime type, electoral systems, party rules, fiscal structures, and institutions that determine regional and municipal policy-making authority have enormous impact on policy-design and implementation. In addition, energy and environmental problems span regional and national borders, mapping poorly onto existing governance institutions and spawning a range of unintended consequences. To systematically examine the link between state institutions and energy and environmental governance, this course applies theories and concepts from literatures on comparative politics to topics in energy and environment, moving gradually from multilateral institutions, through institutions at the national, regional, and municipal levels. The course ends with a class on nonstate, market-based institutions for energy and environmental governance. Each week draws on comparative empirical cases, primarily from the China, Germany, and the United States.
Faced with limited resources to confront growing challenges, conservation organi...
Faced with limited resources to confront growing challenges, conservation organizations must show that their efforts are strategic, systematic, and results-oriented. This course provides students with the skills and knowledge to collaboratively design effective wildlife conservation projects that are integrated with human well-being. Conservation plans will generate strategies and theory-of-change that can be evaluated to establish clear evidence of progress toward achieving conservation results. The course provides theory and practice in adaptive management (AM) planning for real-world conservation projects for continued monitoring, implementing, analyzing, learning from, and adapting – offering essential knowledge and skills for current and emerging professionals.
Students in conservation-focused programs require experiential learning in the practical and applied processes (i.e. adaptive management) and skills (e.g. developing goals and objectives, budget drafting, and leadership) that are essential for achieving conservation results. In addition this course offers a review of literature on theoretical and applied conservation topics related to conservation project design and planning and international wildlife conservation issues with an emphasis on Africa. Course Number: SA.680.881 Term: Fall 2018
Events
Please stop by often to see a list of upcoming ERE events.
The driving force of our mission has always been the zeal and excellence of our students.
Whether you are a recent graduate or one of the trail-blazing students whose passion helped start the program (formerly the International Policy Program) at Johns Hopkins SAIS, we wish to hear from you!
We welcome alumni to engage and participate in upcoming ERE events. Connect with us in person and online:
Join our Alumni Listserve to get program updates and alerts about upcoming Alumni Happy Hours.
To successfully develop solutions to complex and critical energy and environmental problems, the ERE program embraces a vision that unprecedented and multi-faceted innovation will be required, in many cases involving new public-private partnerships, to undertake technology development, deliver the needed investment, create the appropriate policy environment, establish an appropriate governance framework and succeed in international diplomacy. This vision is borne out both in ERE classes and in the research work conducted by ERE faculty.
Banks, John P., co-author, “ Business and Nonproliferation: Industry's Role in Safeguarding a Nuclear Renaissance” (2011) Banks, John P., “Does decarbonization mean de-coalification? Discussing carbon reduction policies, Coal in the 21st Century Series” (2015) Banks, John P., “Fostering low carbon energy: Next generation policy to commercialize CCS in the United States, Coal in the 21st Century Series” (2015) Banks, John P., “Transforming the Electricity Portfolio: Lessons from Germany and Japan in Deploying Renewable Energy” (2014)
Bleviss, Deborah, co-author A New Role for UNFCCC: The Matchmaker of Global Climate Governance (published in 2011) Bleviss, Deborah, lead author of the transportation mitigation chapter in Second Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (published in 1995) Bleviss, Deborah, Author, The New Oil Crisis and Fuel Economy Technologies: Preparing the Light Transportation Industry for the 1990s (published in 1988)
Haskett, J.D., and P. Gutman, 2010. Taking stock of the Global Environment Facility experience with payments for environmental services projects. in Tacconi L., Mahanty S., Suich H. eds. ‘Livelihoods in the REDD?: Payments for Environmental Services, Forest Conservation and Climate Change’. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham Haskett, J.D., B. Schlamadinger and S. Brown, 2009. Land-based carbon storage and the European union emissions trading scheme: the science underlying the policy. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Climate Change, Vol. 15(2) pp. 127-136 Haskett J.D., 2005. Experiencias en la Introducción y Promoción de la Inoculación con Rhizobium para Mejorar la Productividad de las Leguminosas en la Región Central Interandina del Ecuador. In: G. Bernal and V. Diego eds. La Fijación Biológica de Nitrógeno: Un proceso clave en la agricultura sostenible en el Ecuador. ANCUPA, Quito, Ecuador Haskett, J.D., Y.A. Pachepsky, B. Acock. 1997. Increase of C02 and climate change effects on Iowa soybean yield, simulated using GLYCIM. Agronomy J. 89: 167-176 Haskett, J.D. 1995. The Philosophical Basis of Soil Classification and its Evolution. Soil Sci. Soc. Am J., 59:179-184
Keller, Kenneth H., "From Here to There in Information Technology," in American Behavioral Scientist (2008) Keller, Kenneth H., "Nanotechnology and Society" in Journal of Nanoparticle Research (2007) Keller, Kenneth H., "Improving the Understanding of Science and Technology," in Technology in Society (2006)
Kohl, W.L., author, “Outlook for Nuclear Power Revival After Fukushima,” USAEE Dialogue, Vol. 20, No. 1 (2012) Kohl, W.L., author, “Consumer Country Energy Cooperation: The IEA and the Global Energy Order” in A. Goldthau and J.M. Witte, Global Energy Governance: The New Rules of the Game (Brookings, 2010)
Mintzer, Irving, co- author of “Counting the Gigatonnes: Building trust in greenhouse gas inventories from the United States and China,” World Wildlife Fund Commissioned Report (2010) Mintzer, Irving, co-author of “U.S. Energy Scenarios for the 21st Century,” Pew Center on Global Climate Change (2003)
Nahm, Jonas, “Renewable Futures and Industrial Legacies: Wind and Solar Sectors in China, Germany, and the United States.” Business and Politics. (2017) (Forthcoming) Nahm, Jonas, “Exploiting the Implementation Gap: Policy Divergence and Industrial Upgrading in China’s Wind and Solar Sectors.” The China Quarterly. (2017) (Forthcoming) Nahm, Jonas, and Kostka, Genia, “Central–Local Relations: Recentralization and Environmental Governance in China.” The China Quarterly. (2017) (Forthcoming) Nahm, Jonas and Steinfield, Edward S., “Scale-Up Nation: China’s Specialization in Innovative Manufacturing.” World Development 54: 288-300. (2014) Nahm, Jonas and Steinfield, Edward S., “The Role of Innovative Manufacturing in High-Tech Product Development: Evidence from China’s Renewable Energy Sector” in Production in the Innovation Economy, edited by Richard Locke and Rachel Wellhausen. MIT Press. (2014) Nahm, Jonas, “Energy Efficiency in Buildings: The Case of Germany.” MIT Industrial Performance Center Working Paper 11-0005. (2011)
Wang, Rui, The Capitalization of Subway Access in Home Value: A Repeat-Rentals Model with Supply Constraints in Beijing.” Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 80: 104-115, 2015 (with W. Sun and S. Zheng) [Award] Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Best Valuation Paper, Asian Real Estate Society, 2014 Wang, Rui, “Urban Spatial Structure and Motorization in China.” Journal of Regional Science, forthcoming (with B. Sun, T. Zhang, and Z. He) Wang, Rui, “The Housing Market Effects of Local Home Purchase Restrictions: Evidence from Beijing.” Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, forthcoming (with W. Sun, S. Zheng, and D.M. Geltner) Wang, Rui, “Urban Spatial Structure and Commute Duration: An Empirical Study of China.” Wang, Rui, International Journal of Sustainable Transportation, forthcoming (with B. Sun, Z. He, and T. Zhang)
Contact Us
Johannes Urpelainen
Director and Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Professor of Energy, Resources and Environment
JohannesU@jhu.edu 202-249-7324 Rome Building
1619 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, 4th floor
Washington, DC 20036
Deborah Bleviss
Administrative Director
dbleviss@jhu.edu 202.663.5761 Rome Building
1619 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, 4th floor
Washington, DC 20036
Shonda Hurt
Program Manager
shurt3@jhu.edu 202-349-0989 Rome Building
1619 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, 4th floor
Washington, DC 20036
Address & Phone
Energy, Resources and Environment Rome Building
1619 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, 4th floor
Washington, DC 20036
Learn more about the International Energy and Environment Practicum.
Learn more about the Global Leaders Forum.
Learn more about Frontiers in Energy, Science and Technology (FEST).
Learn more about the Global Issues in Agriculture Seminar Series.
JohannesU@jhu.edu
202-249-7324
