Yuan Yao
Manufacturer’s Association Professor of Industrial Ecology and Sustainable Systems; Director of the…
Industrial Ecology and Green Chemistry Specialization
Students gain an understanding of systems analysis applied to environmental problems in production-consumption systems, acquire methods to quantify the use of energy, materials, water, and land for industrial production, and the comparative evaluation of different pollution types. They learn about how organizations use these approaches in environmental management.
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The Specialization will prepare students for employment in corporate sustainability and environment, health and safety positions, in environmental consultancies and think-tanks, nongovernmental organizations, and governmental and multi-lateral agencies.
Note that a capstone course used to fulfill the MEM capstone requirement cannot also be used toward fulfilling an MEM Specialization requirement; a capstone course taken once cannot be used to fulfill multiple requirements. Learn more about YSE capstone courses by visiting the MEM Capstone page.
Industrial Ecology and Green Chemistry
Core
Two required courses: ENV 771 and ENV 884. For Spring ’26 only, ENV 982 is serving as a temporary substitute for ENV 771. Starting in Spring ’27, ENV 771 will be offered again yearly, and ENV 982 will no longer be a core course option.Electives
To complete your electives requirement, complete four elective courses from the options below; there are no requirements or restrictions on the number of courses you should select from each bin.Environmental Systems Analysis
These electives strengthen students’ ability to quantify and compare pollution types, assess chemical and environmental risks, and support life-cycle–based decision-making for cleaner production and industrial systems.Course NameFall 2026Spring 2027Fall 2027Spring 2028Green Design and Solutions for Industrial and Urban Systems
These electives offer systems knowledge and design skills to support decision-making in various industrial sectors and urban systems.Course NameFall 2026Spring 2027Fall 2027Spring 2028Climate Transitions
These electives deepen students’ ability to analyze climate systems and investigate climate solutions.Course NameFall 2026Spring 2027Fall 2027Spring 2028Environmental Data Analytics and Communication
These electives develop data synthesis, statistical analysis, modeling, visualization, and communication skills needed to communicate industrial ecology and green chemistry data and analyses to scientific, policy, and organizational audiences.Course NameFall 2026Spring 2027Fall 2027Spring 2028ENV 730
Environmental Data Science in R: Introduction to Data Integration and Machine LearningCorporations, Operations, and Supply Chains
These electives emphasize how firms and supply chains apply systems analysis to advance sustainability, directly aligning with environmental management and industrial ecology practice.
Course NameFall 2026Spring 2027Fall 2027Spring 2028ENV 612
Transforming Global Value Chains for Sustainability: The Case ofFashion and TextilesENV 612
Transforming Global Value Chains for Sustainability: The Case of
Fashion and TextilesMGT 872
Managing Sustainable OperationsMGT 873
Supply Chain ManagementEnvironmental Economics, Policy, and Decision Contexts
These electives equip students with knowledge and skills about economic incentives, policy instruments, legal frameworks, and ethical considerations, enabling comparative evaluation of environmental and economic trade-offs.Course NameFall 2026Spring 2027Fall 2027Spring 2028Land and Water Systems
These electives provide contextual understanding of land and water systems that are major sources of material, energy, and nutrient flows. They offer important system-level knowledge that can inform analyses in industrial ecology and green chemistry.
Learning Community
There is a corresponding “Learning Community” for each specialization, where anyone interested in the topic can find related news, spotlights, colleagues, and events.
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