Climate Solutions

About the Program

Master of Climate Solutions (MCS)

Applications will open in September 2024 and the first cohort will enroll in Fall 2025.

The Master of Climate Solutions (MCS) at Rausser College offers a focused curriculum tailored to the evolving demands of the job market in climate-related fields. The program is built around teaching students how to accelerate the implementation of solutions that mitigate greenhouse gas emissions or protect against the harms of climate change through adaptation, with an awareness of equity and justice. This 29-unit program provides core knowledge and practical skills needed by professionals to excel in various sectors dealing with climate challenges.

Upon graduation, you will be poised to forge impactful climate solutions in varied contexts. Your potential paths include assisting a company in devising internal incentives to curtail its carbon emissions, crafting a resilient climate adaptation plan for a local government, assisting a transportation company pivot towards cleaner operations, rallying for climate-friendly legislation, or sculpting a business plan that propels a green entrepreneur’s product to market.

Master of Business Administration and Master of Climate Solutions (MBA/MCS)

The Master of Business Administration and Master of Climate Solutions (MBA/MCS) is designed to educate professional students who will go on to be business leaders and entrepreneurs in industries where climate innovation is central to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

The program focuses on developing a comprehensive set of skills. Leadership training includes negotiation, conflict resolution, project management, influencing others, building coalitions, and reaching consensus. Professional skills are also emphasized, covering presentation techniques, climate data analysis, data visualization, life cycle analysis, carbon accounting, climate risk analysis, and Scope 3 assessment and reporting. 

In terms of the career focused activities, the students will engage in resume development and career visioning exercises to further enhance their professional profiles and strategic planning abilities.

Moreover, the program will provide networking opportunities with industry professionals, as well as a mentorship program, enabling the students to create connections in the industry.

Visit Program Website

Admissions

Applying for Graduate Admission

Thank you for considering UC Berkeley for graduate study! UC Berkeley offers more than 120 graduate programs representing the breadth and depth of interdisciplinary scholarship. The Graduate Division hosts a complete list of graduate academic programs, departments, degrees offered, and application deadlines can be found on the Graduate Division website.

Prospective students must submit an online application to be considered for admission, in addition to any supplemental materials specific to the program for which they are applying. The online application and steps to take to apply can be found on the Graduate Division website.

Admission Requirements

The minimum graduate admission requirements are:

1. A bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution;

2. A satisfactory scholastic average, usually a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale; and

3. Enough undergraduate training to do graduate work in your chosen field.

For a list of requirements to complete your graduate application, please see the Graduate Division’s Admissions Requirements page. It is also important to check with the program or department of interest, as they may have additional requirements specific to their program of study and degree. Department contact information can be found here.

Where to apply?

Visit the Berkeley Graduate Division application page.

Admission to the Program

For the application process, it is not mandatory to submit GRE or GMAT scores; however, a quantitative resume that demonstrates relevant quantitative skills and experiences is required.

Master's Degree Requirements (MCS)

Applications will open in September 2024 and the first cohort will enroll in Fall 2025.

8 Core Courses: Foundational courses designed to provide shared knowledge and skills, and to build community among a diverse cohort of students (2 units each):

• Organizational, Political, and Societal Change for Climate Solutions

• Climate Science and Impacts

• Economic Insights for Climate Solutions

• Climate and Energy Policy & Politics

• Technological & Nature-Based Solutions

• Business Solutions & Industry Pathways

• Data Sciences for Climate Solutions

• Carbon Accounting & Lifecycle Analysis

Real World & Applied Learning Courses: Courses designed to connect academic learning with the real-world solutions and practices:

• Colloquium (1 unit per semester)

• Capstone Project (5 units split between Fall and Spring): Practical application of learned concepts through real-world projects, pre-approved to align with track specialization

Electives (6 units): Electives allow for deeper exploration and specialization, with a pre-approved list that draws from across RCNR and other campus units to ensure relevance to the selected track.

Specialized Tracks:

Students commence the MCS by choosing one of three tracks, which directs their learning pathway towards specific professional landscapes:

1. Climate Strategy and Management: Focuses on implementing business-driven solutions and strategic management practices in response to climate challenges.

2. Climate Policy and Politics: Designed for those aiming to influence policy and political frameworks at governmental, non-governmental, and multilateral agency levels. This track prepares students to navigate and shape the complex interplay of policies and politics critical to global climate governance.

3. Self-Designed Track: Offers flexibility for students to tailor their studies to unique interests or emerging fields within climate solutions.

These tracks are designed to ensure that graduates not only gain a robust foundation in climate science and solutions through core courses and colloquia, but also deepen their expertise and develop strategic approaches through track-specific electives and capstone projects tailored to their chosen field of focus.

Master's Degree Requirements (MBA/MCS)

Year 1 Fall

Year 1 Spring

Year 2 Summer

Year 2 Fall

Year 3

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During the 2024-25 academic year, MBA/MCS students will have access to MBA classes only. They will take the MCA Colloquium in the 2025-26 academic year.