HEC Paris launches a double degree with Columbia University Climate School in New York

HEC Paris has announced a new double degree cooperatively with Columbia University’s Climate School. Students will be trained in international management, climate science and the implications of climate challenge on human society. This agreement follows in the footsteps of the Master in Management’s new curriculum organized around the ecological transition and the major challenges facing society.

The teaching programs at the Columbia Climate School and HEC Paris boast an international reputation. The two institutions have identified a one-of-a-kind opportunity to work together to develop a new double degree. The goal of this academic pathway, which was signed in June 2023, is to prepare students for taking decisions in companies, NGOs and governments so they can address crucial climate issues. Dual skills in management and climate science will play a decisive role for managers and leaders in the years ahead in both the public and private sector.

The course develops a systemic understanding of climate physics and the biological and societal implications in conjunction with political science, economics, management, financial management, and quantitative analysis.

At the end of the course, students will be awarded two degrees: the Master in Management (MiM) from HEC Paris and the Master of Arts (MA) Climate and Society from Columbia University.

There are two routes to obtain this double degree, each starting with students studying on the HEC Paris campus:

• Students attend HEC Paris after the competitive exam for the preparatory class. Students take all the teaching courses in the Pre Master year and the first year of the Master (M1) over four full-time semesters.
• Students join the HEC Paris Master cycle in the first year, i.e. two full-time semesters.

The next sequence is identical for both pathways: students are encouraged to take an optional gap year when they will be actively involved in a broad spectrum of personal and business development activities, including jobs or internships. Students then take the entire MA Climate & Society program run by the Columbia Climate School for three semesters in the United States.

"We are really happy with this new double degree between HEC and the highly prestigious Columbia Climate School", states Yann Algan, Dean of Pre-Experience programs at HEC Paris. "The course is unique in that it combines the very best of our two institutions to provide a multi-disciplinary perspective on climate issues, as well as the managerial and entrepreneurial methods for finding solutions to these challenges with a very strong impact on society. It’s a great opportunity for students from both institutions to undertake a transformative action on the climate at all levels and in every industry".

Dr. Mingfang Ting, Professor of Climate and Co-Senior Director for Education, Columbia Climate School notes: "Columbia Climate School strives to develop a diverse learning community deeply committed to addressing the challenges the world faces as a result of climate change. The program is particularly proud of the dynamic academic backgrounds represented in the degree, which includes students from the social sciences, natural sciences and humanities. HEC Paris students will build upon our strengths and bring a unique lens to our interdisciplinary learning environment given their strong foundation in management from an esteemed global business school."