HomeProgram

Universal Climate and Energy

Extend your skills to understand, engage with, and act on climate and energy solutions.

Program Information

4 Courses to complete program
Estimated: 16 weeks, 4-5 hours per week

About this Program

Universal Climate and Energy is a self-paced program that helps you identify your area of climate action by exploring the complex, system-level interactions underlying the causes, impacts, and potential solutions to climate change. Developed by 65+ MIT faculty across 16+ departments, the course is designed to (1) unpack the fundamental limitations in technology, policy, economics and society facing climate and energy today and (2) supports learners in the design and implementation of strategies to build a sustainable world. With a flexible, modular format and stackable credentials, you can learn at your own pace while gaining skills that give you a differentiated perspective on how to turn the climate and energy challenge into opportunity.

Universal Climate and Energy includes four foundational courses that introduce key concepts in the climate and energy space, from social science to engineering, plus optional sector-specific modules for deeper dives into specialized content. Join leading experts at MIT for an engaging and practical learning experience and contribute to a thriving climate and energy future.

This program is expected to launch in Spring 2027.

Show more

What you'll learn

  • Understand how human and natural systems interact on local, regional, and planetary scales.
  • Analyze energy systems and technologies by evaluating energy flows, high-emitting industries and processes, and alternative options.
  • Explore strategies for change by assessing implementation options from local to global scales that address technical, economic, and social dimensions, including mitigation, adaptation, and community engagement approaches.
  • Evaluate impacts of possible actions including benefits, feedbacks, equity, and cascading social, economic, and environmental effects.
  • Integrate cultural, historical, political, and economic perspectives by applying ethical reasoning, systems and design thinking, and engaging with emotional dimensions of climate change.

Courses

To complete this program, you must take 4 required courses.

How you'll learn

  • Real-World Learning

    Learn from MIT faculty and experts who ground their teaching in real-world cases rather than mathematical models, making the material approachable for all.

  • Practical Application

    Apply your new knowledge with hands-on, practical exercises drawn from healthcare, sports, finance, sustainability, and more.

  • AI-Enabled Support

    Deepen your understanding of the course material and get help on assignments from AskTIM, the AI assistant built by MIT researchers.

  • Stackable Credentials

    Earn an MIT Open Learning certificate at each milestone—module, course, and program—demonstrating your AI expertise. Available in paid courses only.

Prerequisites

The program is designed for non-technical professionals and is grounded in real-world case studies and practical applications. No experience with climate science or engineering is required.

Meet your instructors

David Hsu

Associate Professor of Urban and Environmental Planning, MIT

David's research and teaching focus on how planners, policymakers, and advocates can shape and implement these systems using technology, data, and analysis. David taught previously at the University of Pennsylvania and New York University, and worked in engineering, finance, and city government. He holds a B.S. from Yale University in physics; a M.S. from Cornell University in applied and engineering physics; a M.Sc. from the London School of Economics and Political Science in city design and social science; and from the University of Washington in Seattle, a Ph.D. in urban design and planning with a certificate in social science and statistics. (source)