Equity and sustainability of energy resources in the face of increasing global population and economic development are key issues at the center of the public discourse today. The objective of this certificate program is to offer undergraduate students a suite of courses addressing energy sustainability. The courses span across the engineering curriculum, with firm roots in real-world design and engineering practices.
Students enrolled as degree-seeking undergraduates with a plan of study to fulfill the certificate requirements may enroll in the program. Applications may be submitted at any time, but students are encouraged to apply early in their undergraduate careers in order to ensure successful completion of the program; however, students may take courses that fulfill certificate requirements before submitting an application.
How to Get in
Declaring the Certificate
A student who is interested in declaring the certificate must complete an online application form. The application form requires students to fill out a tentative study plan for completing the certificate requirements.
Prior to completing the application form, students should either schedule a meeting with the certificate advisor/coordinator or complete an online orientation involving a short series of videos and accompanying questions.
Applications may be submitted at any time, but students are encouraged to apply early in their undergraduate careers in order to ensure successful completion of the program. Engineering students must meet progression requirements in their selected major before the certificate can be added to their record.
Requirements
Total credits required for certificate completion: Minimum of 16
- Minimum of 6 credits required in Liberal Studies and Science category (including one foundational course option)
- Minimum of 6 credits required in Engineering category (including one foundational course option)
- Additional 3 credits from either category above, or students may substitute an applied course such as senior capstone or independent study (with approval). See note under the Capstone heading below.
- 1 credit required in Seminar category
- Grade point average of 2.5 or above for all coursework that counts for the certificate
Liberal Studies and Science (Minimum of 6 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Studies and Science Foundational Courses | 3 | |
| Climate Change Economics and Policy | ||
| Energy, Resources and Economics | ||
| Climate Change Governance | ||
| Energy Resources | ||
| Energy Economics | ||
| Energy and Climate | ||
| Any Liberal Studies and Science Foundational course from above or | 3 | |
| Electives: | ||
| Environmental Studies: Social Science Perspectives | ||
| Environmental Studies: Environmental Humanities | ||
| Principles of Environmental Science | ||
| Global Environmental Issues | ||
| The Environment and the Global Economy | ||
| Environmental Conservation | ||
| Environmental Economics | ||
| Introduction to Air Quality | ||
| American Environmental History | ||
Engineering (Minimum of 6 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Foundational Courses | 3 | |
| Renewable Energy Systems | ||
| Energy Technologies and Sustainability | ||
| Electric Power Processing for Alternative Energy Systems | ||
| Power Plant Technology | ||
| Any Engineering Foundational course from above or | 3 | |
| Electives: | ||
| Biorefining: Energy and Products from Renewable Resources | ||
| Solar Energy Technology | ||
| Environmental Sustainability Engineering | ||
| Wind Energy Balance-of-Plant Design | ||
| Electric Power Systems | ||
| Thermal Systems Modeling | ||
M E 466 | ||
or CIV ENGR 423 | Air Pollution Effects, Measurement and Control | |
| Economic and Environmental Aspects of Nuclear Energy | ||
Seminar (1 credit)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| E P 418 | Sustainable Energy Challenges and Solutions | 1 |
| CBE 555 | Seminar-Chemical Engineering Connections | 1 |
Capstone (optional 3 credits)
Students may request to count no more than 3 credits of applied coursework toward the 16-credit total through an optional Capstone course. This course must be approved by the certificate’s faculty chair in consultation with the certificate’s oversight committee. Students must submit a description of their course project, demonstrating application of at least one of the certificate’s learning outcomes. Details of the project will be verified with the course instructor. Courses that may qualify include:
- Senior Design Project or Capstone
- Independent Study
- Honors Thesis
To submit a Capstone course request, complete this online course substitution form. Course substitution requests may be submitted any time, but should be submitted as early as possible once there are sufficient details (such as a course syllabus or a project description) that demonstrate how the course or project aligns with the certificate's learning outcomes.
Certificate Completion Requirement
This undergraduate certificate must be completed concurrently with the student’s undergraduate degree. Students cannot delay degree completion to complete the certificate.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the physical properties and processes related to energy resources and the conversion technologies involved.
- Understand how energy decisions are impacted by environmental, social, economic or political factors.
- Synthesize knowledge of the technical/physical aspects of energy with the social/environmental factors to analyze how energy choices impact the sustainability of energy systems.
- Apply interdisciplinary energy knowledge to analyze, design or solve a matter of real world significance related to sustainability of energy use.