There is simply no better place to pursue advanced training on the challenges and opportunities facing our environment than here. UC Berkeley was ranked the top university in Environment/Ecology by the U.S. News & World Report’s inaugural international rankings in 2014, and our department has ranked #1 in Environmental Sciences by the annual QS World University Rankings by Subject four years in a row. Our graduate programs offer a chance to work with award-winning faculty in climate science, biodiversity, environmental policy, land use, and community outreach – and to prepare for exciting careers addressing the complex environmental problems we face.
ESPM is the campus hub for connections to other renowned Berkeley programs such as the Energy and Resources Group, Agricultural and Resource Economics, the Goldman School of Public Policy, Integrative Biology, Berkeley Natural History Museums, and Berkeley Law. The Berkeley campus maintains close ties to world-class research facilities at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the U.S. Geological Survey, California Academy of Sciences, Stanford University, and many other institutions.
Organizations, cities, and states around the world are charting paths to quantify and curtail their carbon emissions and uncovering business avenues within climate solutions. In addition to focusing on reducing their environmental impact, they are proactively crafting robust policies and strategic plans that hinge on the intertwining of environmental stewardship and economic opportunity. They need graduates of the Master of Climate Solutions (MCS) program at the University of California, Berkeley’s Rausser College of Natural Resources.
Students admitted to our program work with their research mentor to select courses, individualize their training, and conduct research projects that meet their interests and goals. Learn more about faculty mentoring here. Our core graduate courses provide an introduction to the wide breadth and deep expertise of research on the environment within our department and help students apply for funding opportunities early in their graduate program.
ESPM's Graduate Degrees
Additional Opportunities for Graduate Students
The Master of Climate Solutions empowers the next generation of climate and sustainability leaders with the skills and knowledge needed to enact real solutions and create change. The 10 month, in-person program translates fundamental science and groundbreaking discoveries, enabling professionals to learn how to evaluate technologies, develop just climate strategies, and remove barriers to implementing practical climate solutions. More Info
ESPM graduate students with a particular interest in the interaction of law and environmental issues are encouraged to explore the environmental law classes available at Berkeley Law. More Info
The GIST enables specialized, multidisciplinary training and research opportunities in various emerging areas of geospatial information science and technology. Certificate students will be well positioned to compete for the most desirable jobs in geospatial technology, both in academia and in industry. More Info
Building on UC Berkeley’s strength as a multi-disciplinary pioneer in food systems studies, the Certificate in Food Systems prepares master’s and doctoral students to think critically about the multi-level, multi-system factors that affect food production, distribution, and consumption locally, nationally, and globally. This interdisciplinary program complements students’ primary fields of study by addressing the ecological, social, health, political, policy, legal, and economic dimensions of food and agriculture and providing graduates with the necessary theoretical framework and practical skills that can be applied across diverse and emerging food-systems challenges. More Info
A collaboration with the Center for Science, Technology, Medicine & Society, this program offers students a grounding in the studies of knowledge production and technological change. The program also facilitates a deeper involvement with the lively interdisciplinary research community at U.C. Berkeley dedicated to understanding the dynamic relations among science, technology, and social and political formations. More Info