The program in Energy Studies offers students an interdisciplinary approach to the study of energy, its role in society, and its role in the environment. While not a major, courses applied toward requirements for Energy Studies may also be counted toward requirements in other programs, majors, or minors. The program encourages students to examine the topic of energy from many different perspectives such as technical, economic, political, and ethical perspective. The program culminates in an internship or research experience in a field related to energy.
Coordinator
G. Mackay Salley, Physics
As an interdisciplinary program students must complete one physics course and three additional courses focusing on the topic of energy. The program culminates in an internship or research experience in a field related to energy. Once a student has completed at least two program courses, the student must meet with an Energy Studies advisor and the Internship Coordinator in Career Services to create an internship or find a research opportunity. Typically, the internship or research activity will occur in the summer of the student’s junior year; however, this work could be completed during the regular semester. The internship requires an acceptable final project paper documenting what the student learned during the experience.
Program Requirements
Course List
Course |
Title |
Hours |
| General Physics I (with lab) | |
| Physics for Science & Engineering I (with lab) |
| |
| Business and the Environment: The Sustainable Enterprise | |
| Environmental Economics | |
| Global Issues | |
| |
| Chemistry: Concepts & Methods (with lab) | |
| Environmental Chemistry (with lab) | |
| Introduction to Earth System Science (with lab) | |
| Introduction to Sustainability Science (with lab) | |
| General Physics II (with lab) | |
| Physics for Science & Engineering II (with lab) | |
| |
| Chemistry: Science in Context | |
| Climate Change (with lab) | |
| Environmental Ethics | |
| Energy | |
| Internship, Apprentice Program | |
Total Hours | 15 |