Program in Ecological Economics School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Ecological Economics - Program of Study

Rensselaer's Department of Economics offers the PhD degree in ecological economics. It provides students with a rigorous training in the usual fields that comprise a doctoral economics curriculum, as well as in the distinctive concepts, methods, and empirical studies that reflect the program's core concerns. It is a small program, in which about 12 students have opportunities to work closely with distinguished faculty members. They are expected to carry out original research and are provided with the skills and attention to establish leadership roles in this relatively new, highly interdisciplinary, highly international, and fast growing field.

The central insight of ecological economics is that the human economy is part of the global environmental system: economic activity is dependent on natural resources, which are extracted, processed, and fabricated into products, generating material wastes at every stage. Ecological economics is concerned with alternative technological, lifestyle, and governance options, and it offers approaches to promoting economic well-being and development while reducing pressures on the environment. Ecological economists are also concerned with efficiency and equity, subject to sustainability considerations.

Research assistantships cover diverse topics, including climate change and global agriculture, climate change policy, renewable energy economics, sustainable regional development, and sustainable livelihoods. In particular, work in the area of sustainable development involves quantitative models linking economic structure, socioeconomic characteristics, and ecosystem services. Such research covers both global analysis -- such as how climate change may impact future quantities and prices of food -- and community initiatives, in both the US and abroad, that involve public participation. The Department of Economics includes colleagues whose research is focused on various aspects of the economics of technological change and technological innovation.

Students may also opt for Professional Master's Degrees in Ecological Economics, Values, and Policy (EEVP), offered through a dual program in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology Studies.

Faculty Specializing in Ecological Economics

For many years, Dr. Faye Duchin, PhD, has been engaged in formulating alternative scenarios about technological change and changes in lifestyles, and analyzing their implications for employment and economic well-being as well as for resource use and the environment. The research makes use of mathematical models of individual economies and the world economy implemented with input-output databases and involves collaborations with colleagues in several countries. Dr. Duchin is also involved in building scholarly networks through her leadership roles in several international, interdisciplinary professional societies and scholarly journals. She is especially active in the integration of input-output economics and industrial ecology, in particular engineering-based life-cycle analysis and Material Flow Analysis.

Dr. John Gowdy, PhD, conducts research focused on ecological economics, including economic valuation of biodiversity and environmental theory and policy; behavioral economics and environmental policy; economic anthropology, including the sustainability of complex societies; evolutionary models of economic change; and biophysical models of sustainability.

Dr. Daniel Shawhan, PhD, performs research focused on environmental regulation of electric power industry, electricity market design, and human behavior in decisions involving up-front costs and delayed benefits.

• Degrees Offered
• Major Degree Levels Offered
• Ecological Economics, Values, And Policy Professional Master's (PMS)
• Ecological Economics Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

• Degrees Awarded
• Master's Degrees Not reported
• Doctoral Degrees 3
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported
• * Shows the number of degrees awarded for the last academic year that data was reported.

• Earning Your Degree
• Part-time study available? Yes
• Evening/weekend programs available? No
• Distance learning programs available? No
• Terminal master's degree available? Yes

• Degree Requirements
• Master's Degrees Not reported
• Doctoral Degrees Required and Required
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported

• Acceptance Rate
• Applied25
• Accepted6
• Acceptance Rate24%
• Enrolled3
• Applying
• Application Fee - Domestic $75
• Application Fee - International $75
• Electronic applications accepted? Yes
• Applications processed on a rolling basis? Yes
• Application Deadlines
• Type Domestic International Priority Date
• Fall deadline January 15th January 15th Yes
• Winter deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Spring deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Entrance Requirements
• Master's DegreesNot Reported
• Doctoral's DegreesGRE General Test or GMAT, writing sample, statement of background goals, and 2 recommendation letters, resume or curriculum vitae
• First-Professional's DegreesNot Reported
• Other Advanced DegreesNot Reported
• International DegreesTOEFL required, 600 paper based, TOEFL iBT, IELTS required

• Tuition & Fees
• In-state tuition *$39,600
• Out-of-state tuition *$39,600
• International student tuitionNot Reported
• * Tuition for full-time graduate student per academic year
• Fees
• Per-academic year fees$1,896.00
• Per-term feesNot Reported
• One-time feeNot Reported
• * Fees for full-time graduate students
• Financial Support
• Financial award applicants must submitNot Reported
• Application deadlines for financial awardsJanuary 15
• Types of financial support availableFellowships, Research Assitantships, Teaching Assistantships, Scholarship and/or loans, Graduate Assistantships

• Gender
• Total Graduate Students11
• Female Percentage64%
• Male Percentage36%
• Participation
• Total Graduate Students11
• Part-time PercentageNot Reported
• Full-time PercentageNot Reported
• Ethnicity
• Hispanic / Latino27%
• Black / African American0%
• White / Caucasian36%
• American Indian / Alaskan Native0%
• Asian36%
• Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander0%
• Two or more races0%
• Unknown1%

• Faculty Breakout
• Total Faculty8
• Full-time Percentage100%
• Part-time Percentage0%
• Female Percentage12%
• Male Percentage88%

• Existing Research
• Focus of faculty researchEconomic development and trade with a focus on technology, lifestyles, and environment; input-output analysis; pollution policy in the electric power sector; electricity market design; renewable energy integration in the power grid; experimental economics; law and economics; environmental economics; behavioral economics; technology change; applied econometrics
• Externally sponsored research expenditures last year$100,000