Energy & Environment Concentration

From stormwater and sewage runoff to global emissions, the Energy and Environment concentration equips students to evaluate and improve upon policies affecting the water we drink, the ecosystems we enjoy, and the climate we rely upon. We use the city and the region as our classroom to develop versatile skills and insights essential for addressing energy and environmental challenges in our backyards and around the globe. The Pittsburgh region has experienced dramatic improvements in air and water quality, and yet the legacy of heavy industry and fossil fuel extraction remains and often burdens the most vulnerable. Similarly, the region is at the forefront of change in the global energy landscape, being the epicenter of the shale gas boom and now the transition away from coal with all its attendant consequences on local opportunity and well-being. Building on its manufacturing base, the Pittsburgh region, like many others, also seeks to harness opportunities in the burgeoning renewable energy industry so that its 21st century is cleaner and more prosperous than its 20th century. Thus, the Pittsburgh region is a useful laboratory to study how these issues affect societies around the world.

Download Plan of Study »