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U-ENRENV-C - Energy and the Environment Certificate

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Students pursuing the certificate in energy and the environment have the opportunity to choose from two different pathways. The first option is a course-based pathway consisting of six courses, including the Core and Capstone courses (which are required for every certificate student). No more than three of the six courses may originate in a single department. No more than two courses counted toward the certificate in energy and the environment may also satisfy the requirements of any major, minor, or other certificate program.

The second option is an experiential pathway. This pathway combines four courses (the Core and Capstone courses and two electives) with two experiential components: one research/design experience and one field experience. In this pathway, no more than one course counted toward the certificate in energy and the environment may also satisfy the requirements of any major, minor, or other certificate program. Completion of a publicly- facing e-portfolio is also required.

AP credit may not fulfill certificate requirements in either pathway.

In the standard course-based pathway, six courses are required for completion of the certificate program:

  • One introductory course: Earth and Ocean Sciences/Environment/Energy 231 (Energy and the Environment)

  • One elective course from each of the following three areas: Markets and Policy; Environment; and Energy Science and Technology (See approved elective courses below.)

  • One additional elective course, selected from elective course list below, other energy courses, or approved independent study.

  • One Capstone Project Course: Energy 395/396 (Connections in Energy: Energy and the Environment: Design and Innovation). Teams of undergraduate and graduate students work with faculty supervisors on a Bass Connections team to identify, refine, explore and develop solutions to pressing energy issues. Teams may also include postdoctoral fellows, visiting energy fellows, and other experts from business, government, and the nonprofit sector. A team’s work may run in parallel with or contribute to an on-going research project. Teams will participate in seminars, lectures, field work and other learning experiences relevant to the project. Participation consists of a half-credit course in the fall and a full-credit course in the spring, typically taken in the certificate candidate’s senior year. Instructor consent required.

In the experiential pathway of the certificate, students take four courses and complete two experiences:

  • One introductory course: Earth and Ocean Sciences/Environment/Energy 231 (Energy and the Environment)

  • One elective course from both of the following areas: Markets and Policy; and Energy Science and Technology (See approved elective courses below.)

  • Two experiences: one research/design experience and one field experience. One experience must exceed 300 hours; the other must exceed 150 hours. Both experiences must be energy-related, and two different types of experiences must be completed. Students must receive pre-approval for the two thematically-related experiences.

  • One Capstone Project Course: Energy 395/396 (Connections in Energy: Energy and the Environment: Design and Innovation). Teams of undergraduate and graduate students work with faculty supervisors on a Bass Connections team to identify, refine, explore and develop solutions to pressing energy issues. Teams may also include postdoctoral fellows, visiting energy fellows, and other experts from business, government, and the nonprofit sector. A team’s work may run in parallel with or contribute to an on-going research project. Teams will participate in seminars, lectures, field work and other learning experiences relevant to the project. Participation consists of a half-credit course in the fall and a full-credit course in the spring, typically taken in the certificate candidate’s senior year. Instructor consent required.

  • E-portfolio: Must reflect coursework and experiential learning

Electives (requirement differs depending upon chosen pathway)

Four elective courses are required for the course-based pathway, with one course chosen from each of the three key areas (Markets and Policy, Environment, and Energy Science and Technology) taken from the below list. The fourth elective is a “free” elective and may repeat any one of the key areas. For the experiential pathway, two elective courses are required in the markets and policy and energy science and technology areas. The most up-to-date version of this list can be found on the program’s website at nicholas.duke.edu/academics/certificate-programs/certificate-energy-environment.

Markets and Policy

Economics

119. Introduction to Political Economy

339. Environmental Economics and Policy

Environment

212. United States Environmental Policy

363. Environmental Economics and Policy

544S. Collective Action, Property Rights, and the Environment

577. Environmental Politics

583S. Energy and U.S. National Security

Human Rights Program-Franklin Humanities Institute

213. United States Environmental Policy 

Political Science

145. Introduction to Political Economy

549S. Collective Action, Property Rights, and the Environment

663S. Energy and U.S. National Security

Public Policy

275. United States Environmental Policy

577. Environmental Politics

583S. Energy and U.S. National Security

Environment (required only for course-based pathway)

Chemistry

91. Chemistry, Technology, and Society

Civil and Environmental Engineering

461L. Environmental Aquatic Chemistry

462L. Applied Biological Principles and Processes in Environmental Engineering 

Earth and Ocean Sciences

355. Global Warming 364S. Changing Oceans Environment

102. Introduction to Environmental Sciences and Policy

245. The Theory and Practice of Sustainability

362S. Changing Oceans 

Sustainability Engagement

245. The Theory and Practice of Sustainability

Energy Science and Technology

Note: in selecting the elective course in energy science and technology, it is important to consider which course will provide optimal preparation for the student’s capstone project course. Students should discuss their selection of this elective with a codirector of the program.

Energy

310. Introduction to Energy Generation, Delivery, Conversion and Efficiency

383. Engineering the Global Middle East

630. Transportation and Energy

Energy Engineering

310. Introduction to Energy Generation, Delivery, Conversion and Efficiency

Environment

630. Transportation and Energy

Global Health

549S. Histories of Science and Technology

History

106. Science and the Modern World: Introduction to the History of Science

383. Engineering the Global Middle East

549S. Histories of Science and Technology

International Comparative Studies

118. Science and the Modern World: Introduction to the History of Science

Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

461. Energy Engineering and the Environment

Physics

137S. Energy in the 21st Century and Beyond

Science & Society

118. Science and the Modern World: Introduction to the History of Science

549S. Histories of Science and Technology

Students may also participate in a Bass Connections in Energy & Environment team (see Capstone Project description) as their fourth elective course for the certificate’s course-based pathway.