Energy Policy and Governance

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

Energy Policy and Governance: Domestic and Global Perspectives focuses on how energy systems are shaped by political institutions, economic forces, societal values, and international power relations. The course explores how governments and other actors govern energy production, distribution, and consumption in pursuit of broader goals such as security, affordability, economic development, equity, and climate change. Students are introduced to the technical foundations of energy systems and then analyze domestic energy policymaking, regulatory institutions, market design, and political economy. The course expands to global and comparative perspectives, examining international energy governance, geopolitics, and variation across national and regional energy systems. Cross-cutting themes—including climate change, energy justice, development, finance, critical minerals, and misinformation—highlight the complexity of governing energy transitions in diverse political and economic contexts. Through case studies, policy analysis, and an interactive simulation of international negotiations, students develop the analytical tools and practical skills needed to evaluate energy policies, understand governance tradeoffs, and communicate policy-relevant insights. The course is designed for advanced undergraduates and graduate students from diverse disciplinary backgrounds and emphasizes real-world policy challenges at the intersection of energy, society, and global change. The goal is to cultivate students who can think holistically and design policy solutions that account for real-world constraints — political, institutional, financial, and social.