Energy Science and Policy Minor
Are our energy systems sustainable? If not, what could the world do differently? Energy underlies all of our modern technological, economic, social, and political systems. This undergraduate minor, hosted by the University of Michigan’s Program in the Environment (PiTE), provides students with the information and analytic skills necessary to help guide the world toward sustainable production and consumption of energy by drawing on a broad range of disciplinary perspectives.
Click here to learn more about the minor.
Master of Energy Systems Engineering
U-M’s master’s program in Energy Systems Engineering is the first in the nation established specifically to develop leaders who can design and implement energy systems to respond to expanding global environmental and energy needs. Engineers with broad and deep knowledge of energy systems engineering are critically needed as the opportunities to develop, select and implement new technologies expand throughout the world. Part of the College of Engineering’s Integrative Systems + Design (ISD) division, an energy systems specialization is a multidisciplinary endeavor that includes science, engineering, and policy studies to promote a holistic approach to sustainable systems.
All engineering disciplines will be engaged in finding power sources of the future. The new generation of energy technologists will also need the skills to communicate and collaborate effectively with policymakers. This degree program prepares engineers to creatively meet the needs of developed and developing economies by applying the latest technologies for renewable energy, chemical energy conversion, national and regional electric grids, microelectric and portable power, energy storage, and transportation energy use including electric vehicles.
For more information, see the Energy Systems Engineering webpage.
EECS Power and Energy Focus
The Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) trains students to pursue the many new opportunities in energy and power systems that are arising through advances in materials, communications, computation, and control.
Students and faculty are investigating energy conversion and control systems where enhanced performance of electrical machines and power electronics is being exploited to develop a variety of novel applications, from automotive propulsion systems to wind generators. Power systems research is seeking new tools and techniques for improving grid efficiency and robustness. An important aspect of this work is the development of network control strategies for enhancing grid responsiveness and enabling greater levels of renewable generation.
Read more on the EECS program and its admission and degree requirements.
SEAS Dual-Degree Master’s program – Energy Focus
The hallmark of U-M’s School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS, formerly SNRE) master’s program is its interdisciplinary focus. This focus can be extended further through the pursuit of a dual degree. Any SEAS field of study provides an excellent foundation for earning a dual degree. Formal dual-degree programs have been approved for Engineering, Business, Urban and Regional Planning, and Law, but students can combine a SEAS curriculum with studies in any appropriate unit from among U-M’s 18 other schools and colleges in pursuit of a dual degree. Close to one-third of master’s students elect to pursue a formal or self-initiated dual degree.
Read more on the program’s admission and degree requirements.
Science, Technology, and Public Policy (STPP) certificate program
The STPP graduate certificate program is designed for students already enrolled in an advanced degree program at the University of Michigan. Master’s or doctoral students from any field are welcome to apply. No background in science or in policy is required.
In 15 credit hours of course work (three core courses and two electives), students learn how science and technology are influenced by politics and policy, analyze the role of science and technology in the policymaking process, learn methods for science and technology policy analysis, develop writing skills for reaching policy audiences, and explore the political and policy landscape of specific science and technology areas, including biotechnology, health technology, information and communication systems, mobility systems, energy and the environment, and more.
Read more on STPP admission and certification requirements.