ETaP Graduate Option Curriculum

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Hands-on experience with renewable energy

Students learn to operate a solar pathfinder to optimize the operation of a solar PV system in their Renewable Energy Power Systems course

Hands-on experience with renewable energy

Using skills from their coursework, students conduct a shading analysis to improve the design of a solar PV system for Northern California's Yurok Tribe

Technology for international development

Indoor air pollution from biomass cookstoves is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Here students test the performance and emissions of an improved cookstove design

Crossing disciplines to solve the Big Problems

The complex challenges of our age can't be addressed from only one perspective. Students in our MS programs learn to merge insights from engineering, political science, economics, and other disciplines to deepen their understanding

Technology to improve lives

Students designed and installed a novel system to improve the operation of a small community hydropower system in rural Bhutan

The Energy, Technology, and Policy (ETaP) program is part of the Environmental Systems Graduate Program at Cal Poly Humboldt. Given the interdisciplinary nature of the program, students may enter with a variety of undergraduate degrees and work experiences.  

Recommended prior coursework:
An appropriate undergraduate degree in natural or social sciences is required. Prior coursework in areas including elementary statistics & probability, physics, chemistry, calculus and economics is encouraged. Engineering and natural science students will benefit from having had at least six semester units of sociology, political science, anthropology, or another related social science. Any gaps in a student's prior preparation may be made up concurrently with the required coursework, but this may extend time in the program.

Program Requirements:
Course requirements for the program are described in the university catalog at this link. The elective course requirement is intended to provide students with an opportunity to deepen their expertise in a selected area of specialization.  Students must complete a minimum of 30 units of coursework to receive a master's degree in Environmental Systems. Each student must also complete a master's thesis or project.

Additional Information
International Students can obtain additional information about graduate studies at Cal Poly Humboldt at the International Student Website.