Energy & Environment Concentration



Our modern life is based on the availability of low cost and reliable energy. To supply these energy needs, we have relied on a global system that combines vast physical infrastructure, complex economic and political relationships, and cutting-edge science and technology. This system—and the constantly increasing efficiency with which it has converted energy resources into usable energy—has allowed industrialization and the growth of a robust global economy.

Most of our energy needs are supplied by hydrocarbons. Yet supplies of these energy resources are finite, and at least in the case of petroleum, may soon face a peak in production capacity. Geopolitical events further constrain supplies; at the same time, demand is growing, especially in developing nations such as India and China. Finally, the environmental impacts of current energy system are significant, and in the case of climate change, potentially catastrophic.

Rising energy costs, concerns about CO2 emissions, and worries about the environmental effects of "business as usual" have led many companies to look for ways to respond to current and future environmental issues. In particular, implementation of CO2 regulations, whether tax or cap-and-trade, will lead to a carbon-constrained economy; companies will have to find ways to control energy costs and emissions, develop a strategy for meeting regulatory requirements. Large opportunities for innovators and entrepreneurs will exist, as will pitfalls for companies that do not adapt to the new business environment.

In this concentration, students will learn about the energy industry, how energy and environmental issues will affect businesses in the future; tools for analyzing energy and environmental problems; and strategies that business can use to succeed in an economy in which energy and environmental issues are much more important than they have been in the past. The variety of business and non-business electives listed below provide the opportunity for a student to choose courses to fit his or her interests, ranging from a focus on energy topics per se to a more general coverage of energy, environment, and sustainability topics.

Coursework requirements:

To complete the concentration, a student must complete a total of 18 course credits according to the requirements shown below (credits in parentheses). These 18 credits are part of the total Fuqua credit requirement.

Required Course
ENRGYENV 491 — Energy, Markets, & Innovation (3 credits)

Depth Courses (minimum 6 credits):

Offered at Fuqua
ENRGYENV 380 — Modeling and Analysis for Environmental Sustainability (3 credits)
ENRGYENV 491/ENVIRON 233 — Sustainable Business Strategy (listed as ENVIRON 233 through Nicholas) (2 credits)
ENRGYENV 491 — Energy Focused Industry Topic (3 credits)
MANAGEMT 491 — Corporate Social Impact Management (3 credits)
MGRECON 305 — Environmental Economics [Note: not offered 2011-2012]

Offered through other schools at Duke*
ENVIRON 211 — Energy and the Environment (3 credits)
ENVIRON 298.20 — Transportation and Energy (3 credits)
ENVIRON 298.23 — Energy Technology (3 credits)
ENVIRON 298.29 — Energy Models and Modeling (3 credits)
ENVIRON 298.80 — Energy Economics and Policy (3 credits)
ENVIRON 298.83 — Climate Change Economics and Policy (3 credits)
ENVIRON 298.92 — Environmental Life Cycle Analysis and Decision Making (2 credits)
ENVIRON 298.93 — Markets for Electric Power (3 credits)
ENVIRON 301 — Approaches to Low Carbon Economy (1 credit)
LAW 235 — Environmental Law (3 credits)
LAW 520 — Climate Change and the Law (2 credits)
LAW 598 — Environmental Law and the Constitution (3 credits)
PPS 388.01 — Economic Development and Environmental Conservation (3 credits)

*Other courses offered through the Nicholas School (listed under ENVIRON) are also eligible with approval.

Breadth courses (minimum 6 credits):
ACCOUNTG 341 — Managerial Accounting (3 credits)
ACCOUNTG 442 — Valuation and Fundamental Analysis (3 credits)
DECISION 312 — Decision Models (3 credits)
DECISION 410 — Strategic Modeling and Business Dynamics (3 credits)
DECISION 411 — Statistical Forecasting (3 credits)
FINANCE 351 — Corporate Finance (3 credits)
FINANCE 353 — Derivatives (3 credits)
FINANCE 356 — Entrepreneurial Finance (3 credits)
FINANCE 458 — Raising Capital (3 credits)
MANAGEMT 328 — Managing Innovation in a Global Organization (3 credits)
MANAGEMT 422 — Power and Politics in Organizations (3 credits)
MANAGEMT 426 — Social Entrepreneurship (3 credits)
MARKETNG 361 — Market Intelligence (3 credits)
MARKETNG 362 — Consumer Behavior (3 credits)
MARKETNG 463 — Marketing Innovations (3 credits)
MGRECON 301 — Global Economic Environment of the Firm (3 credits)
MGRECON 431 — Competitive Analysis (3 credits)
OPERATNS 475 — Global Operations (3 credits)
OPERATNS 476 — Supply Chain Management (3 credits)
STRATEGY 333 — Entrepreneurial Strategy (3 credits)