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HOME > ACADEMICS > CREDENTIAL PROGRAMS > ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS AND POLICY LAB

Environmental Economics and Policy Lab

Deepen your understanding of environmental policy issues with UChicago economics framework in Beijing this summer.
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× Notification: Attend a credential event and learn more about our program Environmental Economics and Policy Lab.
  • Overview
  • Curriculum
  • Instructors
  • Student Experience
  • Program Fee & Payment
  • Admissions
  • Frequently Asked Questions
Start your application

Overview

The Environmental Economics and Policy Lab is a course for undergraduate students, graduate students, and working professionals interested in environmental economics and energy policy areas. It’s taught by faculty from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy with field visits and networking opportunities in Beijing, China.

Features

  • Rigorous interactive academic training from the University of Chicago faculty at the PKU campus in Beijing, China.
  • Field trips and visits to energy and environmental organizations to expand your career knowledge and industry network.
  • Shareable certification of completion to showcase your academic rigor.
  • Learners across all backgrounds and levels are welcome.
Peking-Nature
Subjects

Environmental Economics, Environmental Policy, Energy Policy

Level

Beginner, Intermediate

Duration

2 weeks, 15-20 hours per week

Dates

July 28 - August 8, 2025

Cost

$3,000 with various discount types 

Format

In-person at the Peking University campus in Beijing, China

Shaoda Wang
Shaoda Wang

Assistant Professor at the Harris School of Public Policy

Read Shaoda Wang's Profile

“Professor Wang's lecturing style is very concise and clear, and he is also very humorous in person. He always simplifies complex issues and gives us an intuitive but to-the-point presentation. The visit to Friends of Nature also gave me a more comprehensive understanding of the various forces in society that promote environmental protection.”

EEPL_yinuo

Yinuo Chang

EEPL’23, DPSS’23, student at Peking University

“I really enjoyed the program! The learning process was great, as the class integrated real-world examples in policymaking, had a detailed curriculum, and included data-oriented graphs and information. My biggest takeaway from EEPL was the combination of classroom learning and experiential learning outside, being able to experience one of the biggest and most amazing cities in the world at a top university in the country.”

EEPL_Diaz-Martinez,-Selene

Selene Diaz Martinez

EEPL’23, MA Candidate at the University of New Mexico

"What attracts me most about EEPL is that it not only teaches environmental economics, allowing everyone to think about environmental issues like an economist, but also provides cases from the latest research papers and uses economic models to analyze reality. Meanwhile, Prof. Wang is very accomplished in research in this field. I read his articles before EEPL and enjoyed communicating with him in class.”

EEPL_zhongyang

Zhongyan Li

EEPL’23, student at Tsinghua University

Curriculum

This course studies the application of economic analysis to the management of the environmental and natural resources. We will consider the role of economic theory in understanding and solving environmental and energy problems and discuss empirical examinations of the theory. Policy implications will be addressed with particular attention paid to data analyzing and environmental quality valuation.

Topics are introduced in the context of real-world environmental and energy policy questions, then translated into the microeconomic theory to highlight the salient constraints and fundamental trade-offs faced by policymakers. You will conduct a policy analysis in groups with feedback from faculty as the program capstone project. In addition, you will visit related organizations to expand your network and career exploration.

Who Will Benefit

This program is a fit if you:

  • Are interested in analyzing environmental issues using the framework of economics.
  • Are considering a graduate degree or professional path in the field of economics, environmental science, data analytics, or public policy.
  • Are professionals in adjacent areas, such as environmental engineering, environmental biology, or architecture who would like to seek career advancement or pivot.

What You Will Learn

  • Property rights
  • Externalities
  • Pigouvian taxes
  • Command-and-control regulation
  • Cap-and-trade
  • Valuation of environmental quality
  • Cost-benefit analysis
  • Policymaking under uncertainty
  • Inter-regional competition

After completing the program, you will be able to

  • Apply economic analysis to the management of the environment and natural resources.
  • Analyze theoretical and empirical research in environmental economics and energy policy area.
  • Prepare an analytical policy report that develops knowledge and practical implementation of relevant economic theory in understanding and addressing an environmental or energy issue.
  • Demonstrate good inter-personal and communication skills through writing a policy report, giving a group presentation and contributing to critical discussion.

Sample Schedule

FY25 EEPL Schedule
EEPL-Sample-Syllabus

2024 EEPL Sample Syllabus

Download the Syllabus

Instructor

 

Shaoda Wang

Instructor Profile

Shaoda Wang 

Shaoda Wang is an Assistant Professor at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, and a Faculty Research Fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). He also serves as the Deputy Faculty Director at the Energy Policy Institute at UChicago, China center (EPIC-China). 

Shaoda is an applied economist with research interests in development economics, environmental economics, and political economy. His main research agenda aims at understanding the political economy of public policy, with a regional focus on China. 

Shaoda holds a BA from Peking University, and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. Prior to joining Harris, he was a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Department of Economics and Energy Policy Institute (EPIC) at the University of Chicago.

Check Shaoda's Curriculum Vitae and part of his publications: 
  • "Watering Down Environmental Regulation in China" (with Guojun He and Bing Zhang) 
  • "Does the Squeaky Wheel Get More Grease? The Direct and Indirect Effects of Citizen Participation on Environmental Governance in China" (with Mark Buntaine, Michael Greenstone, Guojun He, Mengdi Liu, and Bing Zhang)
  • ​"The Environmental and Economic Consequences of Internalizing Border Spillovers" (with Zenan Wang)
Read Shoada Wang's profile

Participant Experience

 

Icons_Yellow-Calendar
Program Dates and Time Commitment

July 28 - August 8, 2025

15-20 hours per week

Icons_Yellow-Urban
In-Person Format

The program will be delivered fully in-person at the Peking University campus in Beijing, China.

Icons_Yellow-Orientation
Certification of Credential Completion

Issued by Peking University and University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy to showcase your academic rigor.

Office Hours

All courses have office hours with faculty and graduate teaching assistants, conducted in-person. You will also leverage a virtual discussion board for quick communication with peers and teaching assistants.

On-campus Accommodation

PKU-UChicago Summer School participants can apply for on-campus accommodation for the duration of the program. Please note that vacancy is limited and on first-apply first served basis.

Option 1: PKU Global Village (opposite PKU east gate)

Successful applicants will be assigned to the dormitories consisted of two or three bedrooms (one student occupies one room) with a shared living room and shared bathroom.

Option 2: PKU Wanliu Apartment Center (4.7km to PKU campus, 10-15mins’ drive or 30-40mins by bus)

Successful applicants will be assigned to the dormitories consisted of four beds (one student occupies one bed) with a shared bathroom.

Air-conditioning, and cable Internet are available for both options. Please check the detail information as below. 

Accommodation Fees:

Location

Global Village

Wanliu Apartment Center

Deposit

500 RMB

TBD

Room Rate (per person per night)

120-220 RMB

100 RMB

*Payment for housing will be at the reception desk upon check-in.

*Participants' lodging, meal, travel and health insurance, transportation, visa application fee, etc. are not covered in the program fee.

PKU Global Village:

Check-in: Reception Desk of Building No. 1

Room type:1 or 2 or 3 single bedrooms with shared living room and bathroom

Address: No. 126 North Zhongguancun Street, Haidian, Beijing (10 mins walking to PKU main campus)

Phone: +86-10-62752288

Website: http://pkugv.pku.edu.cn/ (in Chinese)   

PKU Wanliu Apartment Center:    

Check-in: Reception Desk of Front Building at Wanliu Apartment Center

Room type: Four students share one room with four beds and shared toilet & shower facilities

Address: No. 29 Wanliu Central Street, Haidian, Beijing (4.7km to PKU campus, 10-15mins’ drive or 30-40mins by bus)

Phone: +86-10-62758588

Website: http://dorm.pku.edu.cn/guide/wlgy_fw/index.htm  (in Chinese)      

Off-Campus Accommodation

International participants not living in on-campus housing or a hotel must, according to Chinese law, register at their local police station within 24 hours of arriving in the country. When registering, participants must provide their exact address as well as a telephone number.

“Professor Wang explained the concepts and methods of environmental economics through actual cases and empirical data from social enterprises and environmental organizations in China and the United States very professionally. Our problems have always been solved very quickly and effectively by the awesome faculty and staff team, which gives me a very good experience during EEPL.”

Chunchen-Xiang

Chuncheng Xiang

EEPL’23, student at Shandong University

“This program gave me a relatively focused period of time and the opportunity to shadow brilliant economists in the discipline of environmental economics that interests me. At the same time, I met students from prestigious schools around the world and made good friends with similar interests during the program.”

Rongyu-Liu

Rongyu Liu

EEPL’23, student at Sun Yat-Sen University

“The entire learning process was truly enriching. Prof. Wang's classes were not only interesting but also profound. His openness encouraged me to actively engage in class interactions. Additionally, the field visits to several NGOs at the end of EEPL left a lasting impression on me. It was my first exposure to the operations of Chinese NGOs, and conversations with NGO practitioners sparked new insights into my future career planning.”

Hanchen-Li

Hanchen Li

EEPL’23, student at Xian Jiaotong University

Program Fee & Payment

The program fee is $3,000. We offer partial discounts to early action applicants, PKU and UChicago community members. In addition, we support applicants to explore funding sources from your academic institution, employer, or external scholarships. 

Audience

Fee

General Applicant

$3,000

Early Action Applicant

$2,700

Current PKU / UChicago students or alumni 

$2,500

Organizational Sponsorship for 3+ Applicants

Contact us at harriscredential@uchicago.edu to discuss group

If enrolling in two or more credential programs during the same cycle

Receive an additional 20% discount on the program fees (After the initial discounts and scholarships)

Once being admitted, participants will secure the seat by submitting a $1,000 USD enrollment deposit, which is non-refundable and applies toward your total program fee. The remaining program fee balance will be paid before the program starts. Detailed payment instructions will be provided to admitted participants via email.

Starting in April 2025, the application for admission to the Environmental Economics and Policy Lab will include a supplemental essay prompt for applicants who wish to be considered for the Community Impact Scholarship. Essays will be evaluated by the Harris Credential Programs admissions committee. Applicants who are admitted and demonstrate eligibility for the Community Impact Scholarship will receive the award, which will be granted at the time of admission.

Admissions

We welcome participants across all walks of life including undergraduates, graduates, recent grads, and professionals worldwide to join our program. The online application is free and convenient to complete. 

Eligibility

  • Minimum age of 18
  • One-year, full-time undergraduate study completed at least one month prior to the start of the program

How to Apply

  • Start your online application today. You can start, save, close, and return to the application prior to submission.
    • Select “2025” - “2025 Cred” - “Non-Degree” - “Environmental Economics and Policy Lab”.
  • Motivation statement (300-word limit) describing why you want to join the program and how it will benefit your future development. 
  • Resume (1-2 pages recommended). 
  • Unofficial Academic Transcripts - 
    • Must include your full name, institution/university name. Transcripts must include the course names, dates (term and year), grades and grading scales for each year of post-secondary education (college or university). 
    • Provide a transcript for each degree conferred (undergraduate and graduate). 
    • Unofficial transcripts are accepted. Please upload a PDF copy. 
    • English translation must be submitted for all foreign language transcripts. 
  • English language proficiency proof for some international applicants.
    • See detailed requirements here. 
       

Application Deadline

 

Application Deadline

Notification

Reply Deadline

Early Action

November 12, 2024

Late November

December 9, 2024

Round 1

January 14, 2025

Late January

February 10, 2025

Round 2

February 11, 2025

Late February

March 10, 2025

*Special Round

March 25, 2025

Early April

April 21, 2025

Round 3

April 22, 2025

Early May

May 19, 2025

Round 4

May 20, 2025

Late May

June 9, 2025

*Applicants who submit their application between February 11 and March 25 (Special Round deadline) will receive a guaranteed $300 Harris scholarship. This scholarship is granted in addition to any other discounts or scholarships they may receive. Applicants who have submitted their application before February 11 will receive an additional $300 Harris scholarship if they submit the enrollment deposit by March 25, deposit deadline.

Refund and Cancellation Policy

If the participant decides to cancel their Program enrollment, the participant must submit a request in writing at least 30 days prior to the program start date to harriscredential@uchicago.edu to receive the paid amount less the non-refundable enrollment deposit. Requests received 14 to 30 days before the Program start date are subject to a payment of 50% of the Program fee. Requests received within 14 days of the Program start date are subject to full payment of the Program fee. If the participant is unable to join the Program due to circumstances that the participant has no control or influence over, the refund amount will be considered on an individual case-by-case basis. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore the EEPL Program FAQ section for quick answers to common program inquiries. Find valuable information about admissions, program fees, and more, ensuring a smooth and informed EEPL Program experience. 

Are there any prerequisites of joining EEPL?

EEPL content is rigorous, but we accommodate participants of all backgrounds. There are no prerequisites for this program. Our aim is to provide support and guidance to help you succeed, regardless of your prior experience.

What do the housing options and campus access look like?

For participants who need accommodation support, we provide on-campus housing at the PKU Global Village (opposite PKU east gate) for the duration of the program. The dormitories are consisted of two or three bedrooms (one student occupies one room) with a shared living room and shared bathroom. Please note that vacancy is limited and on first-apply first served basis, and the housing fee is not included in the program fee. Details regarding the accommodation application will be provided to admitted students.  

Participants will be given a PKU Student ID Card that allows you to enjoy a variety of cuisine in the campus dining halls. The card will also allow you to get access to the campus library.  

Is this a for-credit program?

The program is a non-credit program. You will receive a shareable certification from Peking University and the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy upon completion to showcase your academic rigor after successfully completing the program.

Are scholarships offered for EEPL?

There are no scholarship offerings for EEPL participants. Details about the possible discount types can be found in the “Program Fee and Payment” section.

What if I have further questions regarding the program and application?

Please feel free to reach out to us at harriscredential@uchicago.edu. You can also book a 20-minute online appointment with the admissions team to talk through your questions directly.

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