Natural Resources & Energy Policy
M.S. in Natural Resources and Energy Policy (NREP)
Program Overview
NREP applies a multidisciplinary social science lens to natural resources and energy issues, teaching a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, with a strong focus on original research, critical thinking, and written and oral communication.
Courses are offered in small seminar settings with excellent faculty to student ratios; most classes have 10-20 students. Our faculty will work with you to create the optimal education to meet your individual goals. The program is a 30 credit-hour program; it includes four core (required) courses, three HASS electives, one quantitative course, and two electives from any department.
Core and elective courses will generally have students from other programs on campus, helping link our course material to engineering programs where faculty and students work on technologies for renewable energy, fossil fuels, mining, hydrology and more. Students typically complete the program in 3 semesters.
Our Students
Our classrooms are truly interdisciplinary, with students coming from a variety of academic backgrounds: engineering, social sciences, law, business, and humanities are all welcome.
We have a wide range of experiences in the classroom, from students who have just received their Bachelor’s to those with decades of work experience. Mid-career professionals may be looking for a career pivot, from domestic to international work, or from engineering to community outreach, policy, etc. Or they may want to gain acumen for advancement from processing engineer to general manager; from general manager to executive. Ask your company for tuition support.
Currently enrolled Mines undergraduates, you should apply before you graduate to count two of your undergrad courses toward the Master’s degree. Make sure to take the undergraduate equivalent of our graduate courses for double-counting.
nREP-Related Careers
NREP prepares you for either of two career paths:
- an engineering career with credentials that demonstrate you have the skills and knowledge to understand the social and political contexts in which engineers work, making you a standout job candidate and preparing you for a leadership role as general manager or executive manager.
- a career that goes beyond engineering, such as a natural resources and energy expert with government, international development banks, and other related agencies; a social responsibility manager or human resources specialist in industry; or an employee with an advocacy organization such the Colorado Oil and Gas Association, Solar Energy Industries Association, or Western Resource Advocates.
How you use your degree depends on your academic and work background and your career goals. Some examples of our current alumni are:
- Monadnock Mineral Services
- National Nuclear Security Administration
- Natural Resources Governance Institute
- Newmont Goldcorp
- Payne Institute for Public Policy
- Samson Oil & Gas
- Shell International Exploration and Production
- SINOPEC
- Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association
- Trout Unlimited
- Wood Mackenzie
- World Bank
Your faculty advisor, our Advisory Board members, internships, and Mines’ excellent Career Center will help you find the job that’s right for you.
Resources for NREP Students
The following websites include fellowship and career opportunities.
- American Water Works Associations Intermountain Careers
- Coalitions & Collaboratives Careers
- Colorado WaterWise Careers
- Colorado Science & Engineering Policy Fellowship
- Colorado School of Mines Career Center
- Congressional Research Service
- Dept. of Energy Fellowships
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Payne Institute for Public Policy
- World Bank Careers
- Resources for Careers in Sustainability
- Resources for Careers in Clean Energy
- Resources for Careers in Water
Student Fellowships and Funding Opportunities
Department Awarded Funding
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- Research Assistant Opening – Working with Professor Hancock on a DOE grant. Full graduate tuition coverage plus hourly. Deadline 1 October 2024. See more
- Teaching Assistant Positions: Each semester, we offer about 10 teaching assistant positions, paid on an hourly basis. These are competitive and offered on a rolling basis. Professors may also hire research assistants with their own funding. For priority consideration, apply by January 15.
- Fellowships: We offer merit-based fellowships of $5,000 to $20,000. For priority consideration, apply by January 15th. No additional application materials are needed.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
- Applicants who apply early may be eligible for a paid fellowship with the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL). NREL also offers competitive paid internships.
Internships
- Our students have held internships with the National Renewable Energy Lab, Congressional Research Service, United Nations, Platts Analytics and Energy Africa. Once accepted, students may apply through the Mines DiggerNet system for a wide variety of internships with energy, mining and engineering companies.
Other Financial Aid
- For other opportunities, see the Mines Financial Aid Office
Contact Us
For Prospective Student questions contact co-directors Dr. Derrick Hudson or Dr. Adrianne Kroepsch
Application Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree. All disciplines are welcome.
- 3 letters of recommendation from professors or employers
- Statement of purpose
- TOEFL scores for international students: a minimum of 79 internet-based test (iBT) or 550 paper-based test (PBT).
- The GRE is optional
- Deadlines for Fall: US residents July 1; International students March 1
- Deadlines for Spring: US November 1; International October 1
- To be considered for a TA or Fellowship position, apply by January 15.
Combined BS-MS Program
Mines students: earn our MS degree in just one year. You can start completing the MS in NREP while earning your bachelor’s. You will want to take 400-level HASS courses that count toward the degree, so sign up early!
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Faculty
- Natural Resources and Energy Program Faculty
- Hussein Amery
- Linda Battalora
- Elizabeth Davis
- Tina Gianquitto
- Kathleen Hancock
- Derrick Hudson
- Adrianne Kroepsch
- Jon Leydens
- Shannon Mancus
- Kenneth Osgood
- Nicole Smith
- Jay Straker
Website Dr. Amery specializes in water politics and policy in the Middle East and North Africa, with a focus on threats to water and food security in the Arab World. Graduate courses: Global Water Politics & Policy, International Development (Middle East)
Website Dr. Battalora is an active member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Health, Safety, Security, Environment and Social Responsibility (HSSE-SR) Advisory Committee and the Sustainable Development Technical Section Steering Committee. Graduate courses: Environmental Law & Sustainability
Dr. Davis—who has lived and worked in Asia for many years—initially focused her academic research on Chinese energy policy and the environment, though it has expanded to other parts of Asia, including field work and publications on Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, and Korea. Graduate courses: Energy & Security Policy, International Development (Asia)
Dr. Gianquitto is interested in examining the intellectual and aesthetic experience of nature for women in nineteenth-century America and investigating the linguistic, perceptual, and scientific systems that were available to women to describe those experiences.
Graduate courses: Available for independent studies.
Website Dr. Hancock specializes in politics of renewable energy, African energy, and Russia and Eurasia. Graduate courses: Natural Resources & Energy Policy: Theories and Practice, Political Risk Assessment, Energy Politics
Dr. Hudson specializes in African natural resources and development, renewable energy strategies in Africa, and social justice issues and development in Africa.
Graduate courses: International Development (Africa)
Dr. Kroepsch studies environmental governance in the American West and has active research projects on water, unconventional oil and gas, and wildfire.
Graduate courses: U.S. Water Politics & Policy, Environmental Communication
Dr. Leydens specializes in engineering education research that looks at how stakeholders leverage communication and social justice to transform and challenge educational practices and the engineering profession.
Graduate courses: Available for independent studies.
Graduate courses: Environmental Communication
Dr. Osgood specializes in U.S. political and diplomatic history, as well as the history of intelligence and propaganda.
Graduate courses: Available for independent studies.
Dr. Smith specializes in artisanal and small-scale mining, sustainable development and energy and extractive industries, corporate social responsibility, and engineering education.
Graduate courses: Energy, Natural Resources & Society
Dr. Straker specializes in changing experiences and representations of youth in West Africa.
Graduate courses: Available for independent studies.
Core Courses
All students take four core courses: Natural Resources & Energy Policy; Environmental Law & Sustainability; Energy, Natural Resources, and Society; and Political Risk Assessment. They select three additional HASS courses from the electives list and one quantitative skills course; options are listed below. The remaining two electives can be taken from any department. For the quantitative skills class, with the program director’s prior approval, students may take an online or in-person course from another university that is equivalent to those offered at Mines.
For descriptions of core and elective courses, see the graduate catalog: https://catalog.mines.edu/graduate/programs/HASS/
Natural Resources & Energy Policy: Energy Politics (HASS 591) – Fall
We will use political science approaches, theories, and methods to investigate the global, regional, state, and local politics of renewable and non-renewable energy, spanning all uses: transportation, heating and cooling, and electricity. We will look at the politics behind energy in a subset of countries to be chosen by the class, such as China, Brazil, India, Austria, Spain, Venezuela, and Germany. We will then focus on energy in Colorado (and possibly a few other US states), conducting primary research on the stakeholders and the relevant political outcomes for non-renewables and renewables, making comparisons between the two groups. We will work with energy companies, non-governmental organizations, university and research entities, government representatives, and local activists. 3 lecture hours, 3 semester hours.
Environmental Law & Sustainability (PEGN 530) – Fall
In this course, students will be introduced to the fundamental legal principles that are relevant to sustainable engineering project development. General principles of United States (U.S.) environmental regulation pertaining to air quality, water quality, waste management, hazardous substances remediation, regulation of chemical manufacture and distribution, natural resources, and energy will be discussed in parallel with international treaties, and conventions pertaining to environmental protection and human rights. In the context of engineering project design, students will explore legal, societal, and ethical risks, and risk mitigation methodologies.
Energy, Natural Resources & Society (MNGN 571) – Spring
This is a graduate course that applies a social science lens to understanding the intersections between energy and mineral developments and communities. In this course, we will examine these intersections through a case study approach that includes directed readings, such as ethnographies and peer-reviewed journal articles, and that incorporates student-led discussions and research projects. By exploring various development initiatives, such as oil and gas, mining, wind, solar, nuclear, hydropower, and geothermal, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the energy-mineral-society nexus and the role communities play in both furthering and limiting these developments.
POLITICAL RISK ASSESSMENT (HASS 550) – SPRING
Uses social science analytical tools and readings as well as indices prepared by organizations, such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, to create assessments of the political, social, economic, environmental and security risks that multinational corporations may face as they expand operations around the world. Students will develop detailed political risk reports for specific countries that teams collectively select. Prerequisite: LAIS 545 and IPE Minor. 3 hours seminar; 3 semester hours.
Three HASS courses from the electives list
See options in the Electives list.
Quantitative Methods
Select one. These may also be used for the two additional electives. (These courses teach quantitative methods. There are many other courses that use quantitative methods, but do not teach them. Only the following are approved for the methods course.) Life Cycle Assessment and GIS are usually taught on-line.
- Life Cycle Assessment (CEEN 501)
- Econometrics I (EBGN590)
- Geological Data Analysis (GEGN532)
- Applications of Geographical Information Systems (GEGN575)
- Introduction To Statistical Methods (MATH530)
- Mine Risk Management (MNGN565)
Electives
The following courses qualify for the required three HASS electives and the two additional electives from any department. There are no required tracks. In addition, students can request the Director’s approval for relevant HASS 498 and HASS 598 (special topics) courses. Students may also take an independent study (599) with HASS or other faculty. Independent studies are between a faculty member and one or more students and are generally meant to cover topics not covered in existing classes or for more in-depth research. Up to two electives may be at the 400-level (advanced undergraduate). Be sure to check with the relevant professor on pre-requisites for courses outside of the HASS department.
Electives by Focus Areas
Students may opt to take courses within a focus area in order to demonstrate a particular expertise. Alternatively, students may select across the focus areas to demonstrate breadth. Other Mines graduate programs may offer a minor in their area. Consult with the relevant program to learn what courses they require for a minor.
Energy, Water, and the Environment
- CEEN 573 Reclamation of Disturbed Lands
- CEEN 574 Solid Waste Minimization and Recycling
- CEEN 575 Hazard Waste Site Remediation
- CEEN 576 Pollution Prevention: Fundamentals and Practice
- CEEN 501 Life Cycle Analysis (Online)
- CEEN 591 Environmental Project Management
- CEEN 593 Environmental Permitting and Regulatory Compliance
- EBGN 537 Water Economics
- EBGN 570 Environmental Economics
- GEGN 466 Groundwater Engineering
- GEGN 585 Fluid Mechanics for Hydrology
- HASS 498B Sustainability, Extraction, and Governance
- HASS 521 Environmental Philosophy
- HASS 525 Environmental Communication
- HASS 565 Science, Technology & Society
- HASS 568 Environmental Justice
- HASS 584 U.S. Water Politics & Policy
- HASS 587 Environmental Politics and Policy
- HASS 588 Global Water Politics & Policy
- HASS 591 Energy Politics
- HASS 592 Energy and Security Policy
- HASS 598D Energy Equity
International Development and Global Issues
- HASS 535 International Development: May be taken up to three times for different regions (Asia, Africa, Latin America, Middle East, Eurasia)
- HASS 541 African Development
- HASS 558 Natural Resources and Development
- HASS 591 Energy Politics
- HASS 592 Energy and Security Policy
Mining
- CEEN 556 Mining and the Environment
- EBGN 521 Microeconomics of Mineral and Energy Markets
- EBGN 535 Economics of Metal Industries and Markets
- GEOL 514 Business of Economic Geology
- GEGN 532 Geological Data Analysis
- MNGN 501 Regulatory Mining Laws and Contracts
- MNGN 503 Mining Technology for Sustainable Development
- MNGN 510 Fundamentals of Mining and Mineral Resource Development
- MNGN 540 Clean Coal Technology
- MNGN 562 Mining Environmental and Social Responsibility
- MNGN 565 Mine Risk Management
- MNGN 567 Sustainable Development and Earth Resources
Business, Economics, and Energy Analytics
- EBGN 509 Mathematical Economics
- EBGN 510 Natural Resource Economics
- EBGN 521 Microeconomics of Mineral and Energy Markets
- EBGN 530 Economics of International Energy Markets
- EBGN 535 Economics of Metal Industries and Market
- EBGN 537 Water Economics
- EBGN 570 Environmental Economics
- EBGN 590 Econometrics I
- EBGN 594 Time-Series Econometrics
- EBGN 632 Primary Fuels
- GEOL 514 Business of Economic Geology
- MATH 530 Introduction to Statistical Methods
- Courses approved for Quantitative Methods may also be taken as electives
Science and Risk Communication
- HASS 415 Mass Media Studies
- HASS 416 Film Studies
- HASS 425 Intercultural Communication
- HASS 427 Risk Communication
- HASS 523 Advanced Science Communication
- HASS 525 Environmental Communication
- HASS 527 Risk Communication
Professional Development
Note: one credit hour
- LICM 501 Professional Oral Communication
- SYGN 501 Research Skills for Graduate Students
- SYGN 502 Introduction to Research Ethics
- SYGN 503 Tools for Success: Integrating into the Mines Community
Graduate Minor
A 9 credit-hour minor for graduate students pursuing degrees in other Mines academic units. Please contact either a HASS faculty member with whom you are interested in working or the director of the HASS graduate program. The Graduate Minor must be approved by the student’s graduate committee and by the HASS department.
Certificate in Natural Resources & Energy Policy
Designed to be completed in a single semester, or over two semesters for part-time students, the Certificate in Natural Resources & Energy Policy (NREP) is a 9 credit-hour program affiliated with the MS in NREP. To earn the certificate, students must take two of the five required courses for the Master’s program plus an elective to be approved by the NREP Director.