Are there part-time options for the program?
The MA in Sustainable Energy (online) is a part-time, cohort-based program and has been designed to fill key skill gaps in the energy sector. As a result, it is only available as a part-time program.
Am I required to take a GRE or GMAT exam?
Applicants are not required to take the GRE or GMAT to be considered for the MA in Sustainable Energy program. See our admissions page for a full list of requirements.
What background do you want to see from someone applying to this program?
Although many applicants come from social science or environmental science backgrounds, we welcome all applicants who are passionate, driven to excel and are interested in being an active participant in the Johns Hopkins SAIS community. You can review our curriculum page for full course information, and feel free to contact an enrollment specialist if you have any questions about whether this program is a good fit for you.
Can I apply straight from completing an undergraduate degree?
Johns Hopkins SAIS considers all aspects of an applicant’s background, and there is no professional experience requirement for the MA in Sustainable Energy program. If you are applying with limited professional experience, we recommend highlighting any organizations and extracurricular activities you’ve participated in as well as your educational background in your personal essay and statement of purpose. Visit our admissions page for more information on requirements.
What do employment outcomes look like for this degree?
MA in Sustainable Energy graduates will be prepared for a variety of careers that include roles in policy, profit and non-profit organizations. Please visit our careers page for more information on outcomes for this program.
What support will I get from career services?
The Johns Hopkins SAIS offers career services to all students and alumni, whether they take classes online or on-campus. These services include coaching, tailored job searches and exclusive networking opportunities.
Are there prerequisites that are required? If so, can I be admitted conditionally and if so, when do prerequisites need to be completed?
Courses in Micro and Macro Economics are a prerequisite for this program. However, Johns Hopkins offers an Economics Basics: Self-Paced course, which is available to students enrolled in the MA in Sustainable Energy program for free. Students who successfully complete this course with a grade of B- or higher will fulfill this requirement for the program.
Will I be required to attend any part of the program in person?
The program features two on-campus experiences. The first is a week-long residency that offers the opportunity to connect with your peers and faculty at the school’s main campus in Washington DC. The second is a three-day experience that includes your capstone project presentation as well as the opportunity to participate in commencement with the entire Johns Hopkins SAIS graduating class.
See our residency experience page for more information.
I am an international student. Will I need a visa for the in-person residences?
Yes, all international students must obtain an F-1 visa before they attend each residency. This visa will only be valid for the duration of the individual residency — not for the length of the degree program.
Visit our international students page for more information about obtaining this visa, including how the Office of International Services assists students with this process.
Can I get an application fee waiver?
The school offers application fee waivers to participants or alumni affiliated with the following professional development programs:
- AmeriCorps Volunteer
- Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Graduate Program Finalist or Fellow
- Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Summer Enrichment Participant
- Congressional Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) Alumni
- Donald M. Payne International Development Finalist or Fellow
- Fulbright Program (for those currently on fellowship)
- Graduates of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
- Graduates of Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs)
- Harry S. Truman Scholar
- Institute for International Public Policy (IIPP) Fellow
- International Parliamentary Scholarship (IPS) Alumni
- Jesuit Volunteer Corps
- Johns Hopkins University Undergraduate
- Johns Hopkins SAIS Diversity Summit Attendee
- McNair Scholar
- Peace Corps
- The Public Policy and International Affairs Program (PPIA)
- SAIS Europe Applicants
- Teach for All (including Teach for America) Corps Member
- Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Finalist or Fellow
- U.S. Active Duty Military
- U.S. Military Veteran
In order to receive a fee waiver, you must submit an official document confirming your participation in the appropriate program to admissionssais@jhu.edu. We will waive the fee once the paperwork is received by our office and your application has been submitted. Unfortunately, we do not grant fee waivers for financial hardship.
For any questions or concerns regarding the application process, please contact an enrollment specialist at saisonline@jhu.edu or call +1 443-565-4632.
Are there scholarship/financial aid opportunities?
Students enrolled in the MA in Sustainable Energy (online) program are eligible for financial aid. Our FAFSA code is E00474. We also recommend that you talk with your employer about tuition reimbursement opportunities.
Visit our financial aid office website for more information on scholarships and other options for financial assistance.
Is the School of Advanced International Studies participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program?
Yes. For more information, please visit https://support.sis.jhu.edu/case or call +1 (877) 419-5131.
Can I get a TOEFL/IELTS waiver?
For applicants whose primary language is not English, most will need to submit English competency exam scores. However, waivers are available for students who graduated with an undergraduate degree where English is the language of instruction and the accredited institution is located in a country where English is an official language. Visit our admissions page for more information.
How do grades appear on a transcript?
Transcripts display grades by Academic Period (Fall, Spring, and Summer). Each grade corresponds to a numerical grade point equivalent to allow the computation of a grade point average. S and U grades have no effect on grade point average. The grades and their grade point equivalents are as follows:
| Grade | Description | GPA Value | Credit Earned |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Outstanding | 4.0 | Yes |
| A- | Excellent | 3.7 | Yes |
| B+ | Very good | 3.33 | Yes |
| B- | Good | 3.0 | Yes |
| C+ | Low pass | 2.33 | Yes |
| C | Minimal pass | 2.0 | Yes |
| D | Failure (also used when an Incomplete grade has not been resolved by the deadline) | 0.00 | No |
| F | Administrative failure (result of an Honor Code violation or when unfulfilled financial or academic obligations exist on non-degree student records) | 0.0 | No |
| S | Satisfactory completion of an offering | N/A | No |
| U | Unsatisfactory (D+ and below) | N/A | No |
| MT | Multi-term course | N/A | No |
| EX | Extension granted | N/A | No |
| X | Grade not yet submitted | N/A | No |
| MR | Missing roster | N/A | No |
| I | Incomplete | N/A | No |
| W | Withdrawal | N/A | No |
| W/AU | Withdrawal from an audit | N/A | No |
| AU | Audit | N/A | No |
| HP | High pass for Pre-Term | N/A | No |
| P | Pass for Pre-Term and Non-Credit Professional Skills | N/A | No |
| NP | No Pass for Non-Credit Professional Skills | N/A | No |
What is the purpose of the in-person residencies?
The dual Washington DC residencies serve as cornerstones of the program, giving you direct access to the epicenter of energy policy innovation. These carefully structured experiences put you in the room with industry leaders and policy architects while building connections that can define your career trajectory.
The first residency sets you up with specialized research skills and industry connections essential for completing your capstone project, while the second celebrates your achievements among established energy leaders. They serve as a powerful complement to your online education.
Learn more about the Washington DC residencies.
How does JHU support my career success?
SAIS Career Services provides personalized job search assistance, one-on-one career coaching, targeted interview preparation, and invitations to DC-area events, including career treks, pitch competitions, and high-level networking opportunities.
We have extensive recruitment channels, with nearly 200 employers visiting Johns Hopkins in person and online annually to present their organizations and recruitment processes.
JHU also offers more than 35 job skills courses annually that focus on highly marketable skills such as intros to R or Python, project management, crafting your “elevator pitch,” getting a security clearance, and more. These courses are completely free for current students and alumni, with most held on campus and some available online.
Other career advantages include:
- The Johns Hopkins name that’s synonymous with excellence and exceptionally capable employees
- A global network of 230,000+ alumni who remain highly engaged with the SAIS community
- Active mentorship opportunities to connect you with established industry professionals
How does the online MA in Sustainable Energy differ from renewable or clean energy master’s programs?
Our sustainable energy master’s program takes a broader approach than many renewable or clean energy degrees. Instead of focusing narrowly on specific technologies such as solar or wind, we incorporate the complete energy landscape. This includes a range of traditional and emerging energy sources.
This benefits our students because effective energy transitions require knowledge of the intricate relationships between existing infrastructure, policy frameworks, market dynamics, and new innovations. Our graduates excel at creating implementable energy solutions that account for political realities, economic constraints, and technical possibilities, a skill set increasingly valued by organizations driving sustainable energy transformation.
Who teaches in the MA in Sustainable Energy program?
The program features Johns Hopkins SAIS professors and instructors who have extensive experience in energy research, policy development, and industry leadership. These instructors bring their scholarly work and industry connections directly into their teaching, using these to provide students with theoretical foundations and practical insights from the sustainable energy sector. Meet our faculty.
What outcomes does JHU’s policy-focused approach offer compared to more technical programs?
Our program takes a policy-focused approach that sets us apart from technical degrees. While engineering programs teach you how to build energy technologies, we teach you how those technologies fit into the bigger picture of economics, politics, finance, and energy markets.
This broader perspective helps you understand why certain energy solutions succeed while others fail, often for reasons that have little to do with technical merit.
Learning with us means analyzing energy challenges through a multi-faceted lens that incorporates economic, political, financial, and environmental perspectives. This holistic approach helps you navigate systems and make decisions that take into account how politics and economics drive energy decisions.
Our graduates succeed because they understand both the “how” of sustainable energy and the “why” behind which solutions gain support, funding, and implementation in the real world.
Explore our policy-focused sustainable energy curriculum.
For additional information, download the Johns Hopkins SAIS Student and Academic Handbook here.
Request Information
To learn more about the MA in Sustainable Energy (online) and download a brochure, fill out the fields below, or call +1 443-565-4632 to talk with one of our enrollment specialist.