Majors & Programs

Energy Systems Engineering

New Program for Fall 2023

Degrees Offered: BS

Blue Lake Rancheria Micro-Grid Installation

Learn how to design and implement sustainable energy systems that help combat climate change.

The Energy Systems degree prepares you for a career in developing, designing, operating, and analyzing clean energy systems that help combat climate change. Our program will be the first Energy Systems Engineering degree in the California State University system and our graduates will be prepared to be leaders in this new field.

As an Energy Systems Engineering student, you’ll build on a solid foundation of engineering fundamentals so you can engage with project-based and interdisciplinary courses that cover key topics including building energy efficiency, renewable energy, electric power systems, and community energy planning. The program will be focused on energy-related infrastructure, devices, planning, and operations. It will emphasize systems integration, and use an interdisciplinary approach to considering how energy systems are situated in social, ecological, and economic contexts. The program will incorporate elements from civil, environmental, mechanical, and electrical engineering disciplines.

Learning Outcomes

  • Students will be able to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
  • Students will be able to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
  • Students will be able to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
  • Students will be able to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
  • Students will be able to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
  • Students will be able to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
  • Students will be able to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Careers

Potential career pathways for Energy Systems Engineering graduates include jobs in private practice, government, corporate and industrial organizations, energy utilities, the non-profit sector, and research and development.

The job descriptions for these careers include:

  • Energy Engineer
  • Environmental Engineer
  • Public Works Engineer
  • Utility Engineer
  • Energy Policy Advocate
  • Building Energy Efficiency Analyst
  • HVAC Engineer
  • Wind Power Analyst/Engineer
  • Solar Power Engineer
  • Energy Storage Systems Engineer
  • Energy Policy Analyst
  • Energy Manager
826-3619
HGH 119

Degrees & Requirements

More Information

Dr. Peter Alstone, Associate Professor of Environmental Resources Engineering
peter.alstone@humboldt.edu
707-826-4351