The primary objective of the Program in Industrial Ecology (PIE) is to provide University of Michigan graduate students fundamental skills in, and knowledge of, industrial ecology methods and applications. PIE's certificate complements any field of study by providing specialization in technological and industrial innovation, consumer behavior and consumption patterns, policy and regulatory issues, and economic factors and market forces to achieve more sustainable systems. Participating students will be better prepared to design and manage natural and industrial systems to meet human needs in an environmentally, economically and socially sustainable manner.

Due to the interdisciplinary emphasis of the Program in Industrial Ecology, required courses are offered from a variety of University of Michigan units, including Natural Resources and Environment, Engineering, Public Health, Public Policy and the Business School.

Program in Industrial Ecology Requirements

Five courses totaling 15 credit hours selected from a group of core courses and includes fulfillment of the core PIE curriculum.  The 5 core areas are listed below: 

Industrial Ecology

• NRE 557/CEE 586 Industrial Ecology

System Analysis and Sustainability (one course from this section is required)

• NRE 514/EHS 572 Environmental Impact Assessment or
• AOSS 467 Biogeochemical Cycles or
• NRE 550/STRATEGY 566 Systems Thinking for Sustainable Development and Enterprise or
• MECHENG 589 Sustainable Design of Technology Systems

Energy Systems

• NRE 574/PUBPOL 519 Sustainable Energy Systems

Environmental Policy and Strategies (one course from this section is required)

• NRE 475  Environmental Law or
• NRE 532 NR Conflict Management or
• EHS 503 Law and Policy in Environmental Health or
• NRE 565 Principles for Sustainability
• NRE 513/STRATEGY 564&565 Strategies for Sustainable Development
• MECHENG 589 Principles of Ecodesign and Manufacturing

Risk and Economic Analysis (one course from this section is required)

• PUBPOL 573 Cost Benefit Analysis or
• EHS 508 Principles of Risk Assessment or
• NRE 570 Microeconomics with Natural Resource Application or
• NRE 571 Environmental Economics

• Many relevant optional courses are available for additional coursework
• Participation in a field/intern experience

Application Codes

Applicants will need the following codes to complete their application:

• Program of Application: Industrial Ecology
• Numeric Code: 01584
• Plan (Subplan): 4720 CGR
• Program Level: Certificate