General Questions
I am a prospective student and would like to schedule a call or meeting with EDGE. Can I schedule an appointment?
Thank you for your interest in EDGE and the Energy & Environment program at Fuqua. To learn more, we encourage you to review this website thoroughly and read our blog articles, which include profiles of our alumni and descriptions of many student experiences. You may also want to check out the websites for the Duke MBA Energy Club, Net Impact Club, and MEM/MBA Club, as well as the website for the Duke University Energy Initiative.
If you still have questions after reviewing those sites, feel free to email us with your name, contact information, status of your Duke MBA application, brief information about your background and interests, and your questions. We will either answer questions by email or put you in touch with a current student to discuss. Due to the large volume of requests we receive, we usually cannot accommodate Applicants’ requests for individual phone calls or in-person meetings with EDGE staff during the initial application phase. If you are an Admitted student, we would be happy to talk with you by phone or in person if you have questions as you are making your decision.
How can I get involved with EDGE as a student?
We’re so glad you asked! There are a wealth of opportunities for students to collaborate with EDGE. Our EDGE Seminar in Energy & Environment is a great place to start. This is a for-credit course offering hosted by EDGE (register through the normal elective registration process, or during Drop/Add). You might also take other classes offered by EDGE faculty, like Business Strategies for Sustainability or Project Finance, and/or you can opt to complete one of the two MBA Concentrations focused on Energy & Environment or the three-year MEM/MBA or MF/MBA joint degree.
EDGE also works closely in partnership with the Duke MBA Energy Club, Net Impact Club, and MEM/MBA Club to develop and deliver extracurricular and experiential learning opportunities to students. You might choose to join one of these clubs on a Week-in-Cities trip, attend (or help plan) the annual Duke University Energy Conference or Sustainable Business & Social Impact Conference, or join us for a social or career event.
EDGE faculty and staff also coordinate and advise student teams on the Energy & Environment projects in the Fuqua Client Consulting Practicum program, which is another great opportunity to work with us. We also have periodic opportunities for students to join us as Teaching Assistants or EDGE Fellows, assisting with specific research projects and program development. If you join any of the above clubs as a student, you will receive announcements about relevant opportunities from EDGE through the club’s weekly newsletter.
How is EDGE different than the Duke University Energy Initiative?
EDGE is based at the Fuqua School of Business and serves as a hub for education and research activities related to Energy & Environment at Fuqua. We are one of the partners in the Duke University Energy Initiative, which serves as a hub for “all things energy” across Duke’s entire campus. Fuqua MBA students can take advantage of programs and events offered by DUEI, as well as those offered by EDGE.
In addition, EDGE’s focus goes beyond energy. Our lens includes environment and sustainability issues across a wide range of business sectors–from sustainable food and agriculture production to water, climate change, and social sustainability issues. EDGE supports students’ interests across a broad range of energy interests, but if you are interested in other sustainability issues, we are your home, too.
What kinds of energy- or environment-related careers do Fuqua MBAs go on to after graduation?
Check out our Careers page for more information about the types of careers and internships our students pursue, as well as the kinds of career support they receive at Fuqua.
I’ve never worked in energy (or sustainability) before. Is it really possible for me to move into this sector after my MBA?
Absolutely! Most Daytime MBA students are career changers. During your 2-year MBA (or 3 years if you are a joint degree student), you will have a chance to not only broaden your functional career options by building your skills in strategy, finance, accounting, marketing, and operations, but you will also have an opportunity to develop the necessary industry-specific expertise through energy and environment curricular, extracurricular, and experiential learning opportunities. At the beginning of each academic year, we provide lots of workshops aimed at those who want basic introductions to industry issues. We can also meet individually with you to help you map out a plan for your involvement as a student. Taking classes at Fuqua and in other departments across campus; attending “lunch & learns,” conferences, speakers, and networking events; and participating in career activities will provide you will plenty of opportunities to develop expertise about relevant industry issues, even if you worked in an entirely different field before grad school. We also have a few Recommended Reading resources on our website for those looking for the basics.
Questions About the MEM/MBA and MF/MBA Joint Degrees
How does the joint degree program work?
The Duke MEM/MBA (Master of Environment/MBA) and MF/MBA (Master of Forestry) joint degree program compresses the requirements of two professional degrees into an intensive 3-year program. MEM/MBA and MF/MBA students complete 65 credits at Fuqua School of Business and 36 credits at the Nicholas School of the Environment, including completing a required Master’s Project.
By design, the joint degree program is not a separate, stand-alone program, but an interdisciplinary collaboration between two schools, Fuqua and the Nicholas School. Joint degree students spend their first year at the Nicholas School, their second year at Fuqua, and conclude with the final year of combined work in both schools. Joint degree students are fully enrolled students at each of the two schools and have the same support resources as any other MEM, MF, or MBA student.
How can I maximize my MEM/MBA (or MF/MBA) experience?
Duke MEM/MBA and MF/MBA students and alumni advise you to enjoy the diversity of two very different academic experiences at two very different schools. The Nicholas School and Fuqua have their own cultures, styles, and programming, and they each have unique strengths to contribute to your experience as a student. It is our deliberate intention in the design of the joint degree program not to isolate the MEM/MBA and MF/MBA students, but instead to give you the broadest exposure to the riches of diversity on our campus. We believe that no matter what your career path, your success as a leader and change agent will undoubtedly be benefited by experience working as much with scientists as with investment bankers. Duke MEM/MBAs and MF/MBAs train to be collaborative, engaged, and persuasive contributors, working with constituents along the entire spectrum from field office to corporate boardroom.
How many students are in the Duke MEM/MBA and MF/MBA program?
Each graduating class typically has between 8 and 12 joint business and environment students (MEM/MBAs and MF/MBAs). That means that at any given time, there are between 24-36 business and environment joint degree students enrolled, divided between three class years. The majority of these are MEM/MBAs, with fewer MF/MBAs.
Which Nicholas School concentration do most MEM/MBA students pursue?
MEM/MBA students can choose to concentrate in any one of the seven Nicholas School concentrations (or program areas) for their MEM degree. The distribution of Nicholas School Concentrations varies from year to year. Among currently enrolled MEM/MBA students, the largest concentration represented is Energy & Environment (EE), but students are also concentrating in Business and Environment (BE), Environmental Economics and Policy (EEP), and other programs.
Which Fuqua concentration(s) do most MEM/MBA and MF/MBA students pursue?
MBA concentrations at Fuqua are optional, and students can have from zero to two concentrations for their MBA degree. Among joint degree students, the concentration selection is very diverse, with students concentrating in a variety of combinations of the following: Energy & Environment, Finance, Strategy, Decision Sciences, Social Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Operations Management, Marketing, Financial Analysis, Management, and other concentrations.
I want to apply to the concurrent MEM/MBA (or MF/MBA) program. What do I need to know?
If you haven’t yet applied to the program, it is helpful to apply to both programs before starting at either school. This makes course planning for the three years easier and enables you to take advantage of the resources at both schools from the very beginning. It also simplifies tuition and financial aid, as the blended rate tuition can be applied to your account from the outset. To apply to the MEM/MBA (or MF/MBA) program, you’ll need to complete both the Fuqua application and the Nicholas School application. Many of the requirements are the same or similar for both applications.
It is also possible to enroll at one school and then apply to the other during your first year. In this case, you are encouraged to be proactive about planning courses, finding coursework advisors, and joining the MEM/MBA and MF/MBA community as soon as you are accepted, so you can plan your curriculum with the end goal of concurrent degrees in mind.
Joint degree applicants to the MEM/MBA and MF/MBA program may provide official GRE or GMAT scores in support of their applications. Fuqua will accept the GRE from applicants who are applying for the MBA and the MEM or MF at the same time; likewise, the Nicholas School will accept the GMAT in lieu of the GRE from concurrent applicants.
How does tuition work for the MEM/MBA and MF/MBA program?
MEM/MBA and MF/MBA students pay a special combined tuition for this program. It is slightly higher than Nicholas School tuition and lower than Fuqua’s tuition. Students pay the special combined tuition every semester regardless of where courses are taken.
What types of career resources are available to MEM/MBA and MF/MBA students?
Duke joint degree students have full access to the career management centers and activities at both the Nicholas School and Fuqua from the very start. As a joint degree student, you will be assigned both a peer mentor (a second- or third- year MEM/MBA or MF/MBA student) and a Career Fellow to help guide you through the academic and job search process. We also offer joint degree students early access to career resources at Fuqua, so you can benefit from this content while still in your first year at the Nicholas School.
There are a number of career fairs and internship programs that Duke offers, such as the Stanback Internship Program and CASE Social Sector Internship program, and joint degree students can participate in any of these, in addition to on-campus recruiting and other career resources.
What kinds of careers do MEM/MBA and MF/MBA graduates go on to?
Business and environment joint degree graduates are exceptionally well qualified candidates for a variety of leadership roles at the intersection of business and environment–from sustainability consulting roles with major management consulting firms to leadership positions with renewable energy companies to corporate sustainability strategy positions with Fortune 500 companies. Duke MEM/MBAs work in both the private sector and public/NGO sector. Visit our Careers page for example careers and internships held by our graduates.
Learn more in our video Q&A about the MEM/MBA and MF/MBA degree options
