Overview
There are a variety of ways to study renewable energy topics at Penn State, ranging from individual courses that can be taken as electives as a part of more traditional degrees, to more formal certificates, minors and as Online/World Campus degrees. At the undergraduate level, there are resident and online degrees with an energy focus, such as the BS in Energy, Business and Finance, as well as minors in related areas such as Electrochemical Engineering. At the graduate level there are several online degrees, for example the iMPS RESS- Online Intercollege Master of Professional Studies in Renewable Energy and Sustainability Systems. Students can also obtain a minor, for example in BioRenewable Systems, or Certificates in Solar Energy (12 cr) or Wind Energy (9 cr). We list below the various undergraduate and graduate options, followed by a listing of courses with a strong emphasis in renewable energy topics.
Undergraduate Programs
Degrees- University Park
There are traditional degrees which can prepare students with fundamentals needed for renewable energy (e.g. Mechanical or Electrical Engineering). The following degrees are offered with an emphasis in energy that include renewable energy:
Degrees- Hazelton
The Bachelor of Science in Engineering with the Alternative Energy and Power Generation Track is designed to help prepare graduates to enter the job market in the alternative and renewable energy sector, as well as the power generation industry. Advice on courses for this track can be found here.
Degrees- Online/World Campus
- BA in Energy Sustainability & Policy. (Online for 10 yr).
- BS in Energy Sustainability & Policy. (3rd year online). Both the BA and BS degrees are administered through the EME department, in the EMS college.
Minors- University Park
Minors- Online/World Campus
Graduate Programs
Degrees- Resident Instruction
There are traditional degrees which can prepare students with fundamentals needed for renewable energy (e.g. Mechanical or Electrical Engineering). There are no graduate degrees specifically focused on renewable energy.
Degrees- Online/World Campus
- iMPS RESS- Online Intercollege Master of Professional Studies in Renewable Energy and Sustainability Systems. The iMPS-RESS curriculum consists of 32 credits, delivered online through the Penn State World Campus. The program provides broad coverage of topics related to renewable energy and sustainability systems while providing in-depth coverage of select topics. Students can choose from one of four program options: Sustainability management and policy; Bioenergy; Solar Energy; Wind Energy.
Minors: Graduate Instruction
- Electrochemical Science and Engineering. Offered by the College EMS.
- BioRenewable Systems Graduate Program Through Ag&Bio engineering, College of Engineering (COE).
Certificates – Hybrid Web/Resident Instruction
- Distributed Energy and Grid Modernization. Offered at Penn State Great Valley
Certificates – Online
- Graduate Certificate in Solar Energy (12 cr). (World Campus) Administered by Energy & Mineral Engineering, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.
- Graduate Certificate in Sustainability Management and Policy (12 cr). (World Campus) Administered by Energy & Mineral Engineering, College of Earth and Mineral Science. (Erich Schienke, EMS)
- Graduate Certificate in Wind Energy (9 cr). (University Park) Administered by Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering (Susan Stewart, COE)
Courses
Undergraduate Courses – Resident
Aerospace Engineering
- AERSP 497. Collegiate Wind Competition
Mechanical Engineering
- ME 403. Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Engines
- ME 408. Energy systems
Chemical Engineering
- CHEM 445. Electrochemistry and chromatography
Energy and Business Finance
- EBF 483. Introduction to the Electricity Industry (3 cr.)
Energy and Geo-Environmental Engineering
- EGEE 102.* Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection (3 cr.)
- EEGE 420. Hydrogen and Fuel Cells
- EGEE 437. Design of Solar Energy Conversion Systems
- EGEE 438. Wind and Hydropower Energy Conversion
- EGEE 439. Alternative Fuels from Biomass Sources
- EGEE 441. Electrochemical Engineering Fundamentals
- EGEE 442. Electrochemical Methods
- EGEE 497. Sustainable Energy in New Zealand and Geothermal Energy Engineering
Energy and Mineral Engineering
- EME 401.* Energy in a Changing World (3 cr.)
- EME 407. Electrochemical Energy Storage
- EME 444.* Global Energy Enterprise (3 cr.)
Engineering Science
- ESC 455. Electrochemical Methods Engineering and Corrosion Science
Engineering
- ENGR 405. Project Management for Professionals (3 cr.)
Geography
- GEOG 430. Human Use of the Environment (3 cr.)
- GEOG 431. Geography of Water Resources (3 cr.)
- GEOG 469. Energy Industry Applications of GIS (3 cr.)
Mechanical Engineering
- ME 400. Thermodynamics of Propulsion and Power Systems
- ME 403. Polymer electrolyte fuel cell engines
- ME 408. Energy Systems
- ME 422. Principles of Turbomachinery
Meteorology
- METEO 469. From Meteorology to Mitigation: Understanding Global Warming (3 cr.)
Psychology
- PSYCH 419. Psychology and a Sustainable World
Undergraduate Courses- Online
Community and Economic Development
- CEDEV 430. Principles of Local Economic Development (3 cr.)
- CEDEV 452. Community Structure, Processes and Capacity (3 cr.)
Energy and Geo-Environmental Engineering
- EGEE 102.* Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection (3 cr.)
Energy and Mineral Engineering
- EME 401.* Energy in a Changing World (3 cr.)
- EME 407. Electrochemical Energy Storage (3 cr.)
- EME 444. Global Energy Enterprise (3 cr.)
- EME 466. Energy and Sustainability in Society (Capstone Course)
Earth and Mineral Sciences
- EMSC 240N. Energy and Sustainability in Contemporary Society
Graduate Courses- Resident
Aerospace Engineering
- AERSP 583. Wind Turbine Aerodynamics (3 cr.)
- AERSP 880. Wind Turbine Systems (3 cr.)
- AERSP 886. Engineering of Wind Project Development (3 cr.)*These course are available as resident and online courses.
Civil Engineering
- CE 556. Environmental Electrochemistry
Community Environment and Development
- CED 452. Rural organization
Community and Economic Development
- CEDEV 500. Community and Economic Development: Theory and Practice (3 cr.)
- CEDEV 505. Leadership Development (3 cr.)
- CEDEV 509. Population, Land Use, and Municipal Finance (3 cr.)
- CEDEV 567. Resilient Communities and Environments (3 cr.)
- CEDEV 575. Methods and Techniques for Community and Economic Development (3 cr.)
Chemical Engineering
- CHE 510. Surface Characterization of Materials
Chemistry
- CHEM 524. Electroanalytical chemistry
Communications
- COMM 328. Effects of Science, Environmental and Health Media
Energy and Geo-Environmental Engineering
- EGEE 438. Wind and Hydropower Energy Conversion
Energy and Mineral Engineering
- EME 526. Solar Utility and Portfolio Management
- EME 527. Stochastic Modeling of Spatial Variability in Energy and Environmental Systems
- EME 541. Electrochemical Science & Engineering Fundamentals
- EME 570 (MATSE 570). Catalytic materials
Engineering
- ENGR 501. Engineering Leadership for Corporate Innovation (3 cr.)
Engineering Science
- ESC 501. Solar Cell Devices
Law
- ENVR 952. Energy Law and Policy
Materials Science and Engineering
- MATSE 510. Surface Characterization of Materials
Mechanical Engineering
- ME 551. High Power Energy Storage
- ME 552. Optimal control of energy systems
- ME/Emch/Matsc 597K. In Vehicle High Power Energy Storage
- ME 442W/443W. Advanced Vehicle Design I/II
- ME 597G. Electrochemical Engines with Lab
- ME 597C. Battery Systems Engineering
Management – BC
- MANGT 510. Project Management (3 cr.)
Systems Engineering
- SYSEN 505. Technical Project Management (3 cr.)
- SYSEN 507. Systems Thinking (3 cr.)
- SYSEN 520. Systems Engineering (3 cr.)
- SYSEN 533. Deterministic Models and Simulation (3 cr.)
*These course are available as resident and online courses.
Graduate Courses- Online
Agricultural and Biological Engineering
- ABE 884 & BE 464. Biomass Energy Systems
- ABE 885. Biomass Harvesting and Logistics
- ABE 888 & BE468. Conversion Technologies for Bioenergy Production
Architectural Engineering
- AE 868. Commercial Solar Electric Systems (3 cr.)
- AE 878. Solar Project Development and Finance (3 cr.)
Aerospace Engineering
- AERSP 583. Wind Turbine Aerodynamics
- AERSP 880. Wind Turbine Systems (3 cr.)
- AERSP 886. Engineering of Wind Project Development (3 cr.)
Agronomy
- AGRO 851. Applied Plant Population Management (3 cr.)
Bioethics
- BIOET 533. Ethical Dimensions of Renewable Energy and Sustainability Systems (2 cr.)
Business Administration
- BA 850. Sustainability Driven Innovation (3 cr.)
Energy and Mineral Engineering
- EME 504. Foundations in Sustainability Systems (3 cr.)
- EME 589. Management and Design of Renewable Energy and Sustainability Systems (3 cr.) (Capstone course in the RESS program)
- EME 801. Energy Markets, Policy and Regulation (3 cr.)
- EME 802. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems (3 cr.)
- EME 803. Applied Energy Policy (3 cr.)
- EME 805. Renewable Energy and Nonmarket Enterprise (3 cr.)
- EME 807. Technologies for Sustainability Systems (3 cr.)
- EME 810. Solar Resource Assessment and Economics (3 cr.)
- EME 811, Soar Thermal Energy for Utilities and Industry (3 cr.)
- EME 812. Utility Solar Power and Concentration (3 cr.)
Ecosystem Management
- EMGT 820. Environmental Law and Policy (3 cr.)
Engineering
- ENGR 802. Engineering Across Cultures and Nations (3 cr.)
- ENGR 804. Engineering Product Innovation (3 cr.)
Forestry
- FOR 880. Bioenergy Feedstocks
Supply Chain Management
- SCM 800. Supply Chain Management (4 cr.)