Professional Master's Programs

The Master of Energy Economics

The Master of Energy Economics (MEECON) develops and educates future leaders and strategic thinkers in the energy sector. Our program trains participants to provide insightful analysis and to inform such things as capital asset decisions, firm strategic direction and future market orientation by combining the disciplined study of market and economic principles with a deep understanding of the functioning and inter-connections of the energy industry. At the core of any discussion of these matters is the manner in which energy markets function. The inexorable link between economic activity and energy demand implies that understanding the sources of growth is critical to determining the market pull for energy resources. The economic factors that determine supply and deliverability then determine how the demand for energy services will be met. More specifically, the economics of energy supply and deliverability affect how energy resources are allocated through both space and time. Click here to learn more.

The Master of Global Affairs

The Master of Global Affairs is a unique, two-year professional master's degree offered by the James A. Baker, III Institute for Public Policy and the School of Social Sciences. Students benefit from the academic and research strengths of Rice and ingress the field of international policy to thrive as leaders in the next century. Nestled in the heart of Houston, Texas, the Master of Global Affairs provides the perfect setting for students to engage with world leaders and leading international organizations. Click here to learn more.

The Master of Human Factors and Human-Computer Interaction

The Master of Human Factors and Human-Computer Interaction is a full-time 2-year professional master’s program that will expand students’ knowledge of critical concepts and methods in psychology and how to apply those concepts to real-world problems. In this program, students will learn about findings and theories in critical areas of human factors and human-computer interaction, learn how to apply those concepts to solve real-world problems, learn how to design empirical studies to complement theoretical approaches, and develop quantitative skills that support these efforts. Graduates of the program will be well positioned to lead human factors and human-computer interaction efforts across a broad range of industries, including IT/telecommunications, health care, defense, e-commerce, and energy. Click here to learn more.

The Master of Industrial-Organizational Psychology

The Master of Industrial-Organizational Psychology is a 2-year full-time program that offers students graduate-level training in an applied area of psychology for which there is a very high demand. Students are provided with scientific and practical knowledge about the nature of the psychology of work and the workplace, the future of work, and a deep set of methodological and statistical skills. Graduates of the program will be well positioned to work in a wide variety of corporate, nonprofit, and government settings, on projects ranging from medical safety to the promotion of inclusive cultures (and prevention of harassing ones). Click here to learn more.

The Master of Social Policy Evaluation

The Master of Social Policy Evaluation (MSPE) offers a unique opportunity to learn and apply frontier methods of social policy impact analysis. Students pursue a one-year, full-time, 30-credit hour program that provides the quantitative skills and hands-on application for real-world policy evaluations conducted at the Texas Policy Lab and other research centers at Rice. Students have the opportunity to explore specific policy areas in depth, currently criminal and juvenile justice, public health, early childhood development and education, and labor markets. MSPE graduates will have acquired the skills necessary to address the challenges faced by entities in the development, implementation, and evaluation of social policies. Click here to learn more.