Bachelor’s in Energy, Climate, and the Environment
Why pursue a bachelor's degree within Energy, Climate, and the Environment?
The challenges of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss are, at their root, driven by the world's growing demand for energy. Solving them will take more than any single discipline can offer. A degree in Energy, Climate, and the Environment (ENCE) prepares you to be part of that solution, whether your path leads to inventing low-carbon technologies, shaping the policies and markets that drive decarbonization, protecting ecosystems and public health from climate impacts, or reimagining how humanity relates to the planet through the arts, ethics, and culture. Because ENCE spans the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the FAS Divisions of Arts & Humanities, Social Science, and Science, you'll build deep expertise in one specialized track while also gaining the literacy and collaborative skills to work fluently with people trained in the other fields. The Tracks within the ENCE program are:
- Nature, Ethics, and the Human Imagination
- Science and Engineering for Sustainable Solutions
- Markets, Politics, and Societies
- Climate and Biodiversity
This cross-disciplinary approach matters because real-world solutions rarely respect disciplinary boundaries: for example, engineers designing the next generation of clean energy need to understand markets and social impact, and policymakers need to understand the science behind the technologies they're regulating. ENCE is built around that insight from day one, with a shared introductory course and a team-based senior capstone bookending your specialized coursework, so you graduate not just as an expert in your chosen area, but as someone genuinely prepared to lead alongside people who think differently than you do.
Students interested in pursuing the SEAS-based Track within Energy, Climate, and the Environment can pursue the following concentration option:
Prerequisites for ENCE - SESS
Learn about the prerequisites for the Science and Engineering for Sustainable Solutions Track of the Energy, Climate, and the Environment concentration on our First Year Exploration page. Students interested in concentrating in ENCE - SESS can be matched with a Peer Concentration Advisor.
Research Opportunities
Opportunities for undergraduates to conduct research in Energy, Climate, and the Environment abound. As part of your coursework, or perhaps as part of individual research opportunities working with professors, you will have the chance to take part in or participate in some extraordinary projects working with faculty that span all academic areas within SEAS.
Learn more about undergraduate research opportunities at Harvard SEAS.
Clubs and Organizations
SEAS-affiliated student organizations are critical to the overall growth of our concentrators as engineering and applied science professionals. These organizations enable our students to pursue passion projects and events in areas of interest that are complementary to the current formal academic curriculum. Learn more about SEAS-affiliated student clubs and organizations.
Hands-on Learning
At Harvard SEAS, we are committed to active learning as an integral part of undergraduate education. This approach is supported by our Active Learning Labs. These labs are meticulously designed to equip students with essential skills across the mechanical, electrical, computational, biological, environmental, and design disciplines. In collaboration, the Active Learning team and SEAS faculty develop engaging, hands-on activities that align with educational objectives and enhance coursework. This integrative approach ensures a robust learning environment that fosters practical and theoretical proficiency.