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.
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 |
Assistant Professor at the Harris School of Public Policy
“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’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’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’23, student at Tsinghua University
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.
This program is a fit if you:
Instructor Profile
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:July 28 - August 8, 2025
15-20 hours per week
The program will be delivered fully in-person at the Peking University campus in Beijing, China.
Issued by Peking University and University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy to showcase your academic rigor.
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.
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)
International students 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, students 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.”
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.”
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.”
EEPL’23, student at Xian Jiaotong University
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 |
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.
|
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 |
Round 3 |
April 8, 2025 |
Mid April |
May 5, 2025 |
Round 4 |
May 6, 2025 |
Mid May |
May 26, 2025 |
Admissions notifications are issued approximately two weeks after the deadline. Notifications are issued by email. Reply deadline is the date for admitted students to confirm their intent to enroll by submitting the Admission Reply Form and non-refundable Enrollment Deposit. Details are noted in the letter of admission.
We encourage you to apply early to take advantage of the early action discount and longer timeline to confirm acceptance. For participants who need to apply for a visa to go to China, please reserve enough time for visa application.
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.
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.
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.
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.
There are no scholarship offerings for EEPL participants. Details about the possible discount types can be found in the “Program Fee and Payment” section.
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.