Energy engineering is a relatively new field that deals with alternative energy technologies, energy efficiency, energy management, energy services and any other aspect that deals with energy. Universities and colleges have begun implementing programs that award undergraduate and graduate degrees in the field of energy engineering. This field is full of career opportunities; read on to see what is offered by the schools at the forefront of this exciting field.

Penn State University

Penn State University was one of the first universities in the country to offer a Bachelor of Science degree in the field of energy engineering. The curriculum of this program focuses on the ways and means of developing and implementing alternative sources of energy.

The main courses of this program develop an understanding of renewable sources of energy and teach the practical applications of electrochemical engineering. Students also take elective courses in business, finance and management.

The university hopes that graduates can understand the engineering fundamentals required to produce, process, store and implement alternative energy systems.

University of Colorado at Boulder

The University of Colorado Boulder offers undergraduate degrees and graduate degrees in energy engineering through its Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering. The department offers two undergraduate degrees: Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Both of these degrees give students an understanding of energy engineering and ready them for a career in the field.

The classes of both of these undergraduate degrees deal heavily with the engineering principles behind the search for alternative sources of energy. Students work directly with the Colorado Renewable Energy Collaboratory in their research on subjects such as wind energy and become deeply immersed in the process that goes into establishing a system of renewable energy.

Lawrence Technological University

Lawrence Technological University offers a graduate degree in energy engineering through its College of Engineering. Students planning to apply must have achieved a Bachelor of Science in engineering, chemistry of physics.

To obtain this degree, students must complete 18 credit hours. The program focuses not only on the engineering of alternative energy sources, but also looks at the principles behind traditional energy sources such as fossil fuel and nuclear energy. Students can address the issues related to the supply and demand of current fossil fuels, while gaining a complete understanding of the engineering essential to developing new and clean-burning fuel sources.

Stanford University

Stanford University recently began offering courses on energy engineering through its Department of Energy Resources. Bachelor, masters' and doctoral degrees are available through this department's programs.

The courses of this program are concerned with the process and engineering behind energy recovery. Students also take part in research dedicated to finding, testing and implementing clean-burning sources of energy. This program not only focuses on renewable energy but also teaches the engineering behind advanced oil recovery, hydrocarbon reservoir properties, selecting and implementing methods for enhancing fluid recovery, and various other aspects of the field.

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