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.
As an interdisciplinary program students must complete one physics course and three additional courses focusing an 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.