Students interested in energy studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have a number of formal programs to choose from. Below is a list of energy-related certificates, degrees, distance degrees, and degree focus areas offered to both undergraduate and graduate students at UW–Madison.
Electrical engineers design and develop anything and everything that uses electricity. Undergraduate electrical engineering students with particular interest in electricity generation, transmission, distribution and storage may decide to pursue one of the following focus areas within the EE curriculum:
The Energy, Minerals, and Mining track of the B.S. in Geological Engineering trains students in the sustainable and efficient extraction of traditional and renewable energies as well as mineral resources. Resources include fossil fuels, geothermal and wind energy, metals, and minerals.
Nuclear engineering involves the design of systems and processes in which nuclear physics and radiation plays an important role. The B.S. in Nuclear Engineering emphasizes the use of nuclear fission energy for electricity production. The undergraduate curriculum is comprehensive, covering nuclear physics, reactor physics, thermohydraulics, materials, and environmental issues.
Energy Analysis and Policy (EAP) is an optional graduate-level certificate or Ph.D. minor that gives students the knowledge and skills needed to become leaders in industry, government, consulting, and key energy fields. EAP's interdisciplinary curriculum considers technical, economic, political, and social factors that shape energy policy formulation and decision-making.
Equity and sustainability of energy resources in the face of increasing global population and economic development are key issues at the center of the public discourse today. The objective of this certificate program is to offer undergraduate students a suite of courses addressing energy sustainability that span across the engineering curriculum, with firm roots in “real world” design and engineering practices.
**Please note: the requirements and declaration process for this certificate has changed as of Fall 2020. The information below is provided for students who declared the certificate before Fall 2020 and are finishing the certificate under the previous requirements. For those completing under the new requirements in Fall 2020 and beyond, please refer to the UW-Madison Guide page here.
The objective of the Certificate in Engineering Thermal Energy Systems program is to provide students with an organized set of courses that will improve their capacity to analyze and design innovative thermal energy systems. These systems include, but are not limited to, energy conversion systems and their fuels, refrigeration, combustion, and solar energy.
This 10-month Master's program provides training in the economics, analytical methods and quantitative tools needed to design, manage, and evaluate programs to conserve energy, water and other natural resources. Explosive growth in smart technologies – thermostats, utility meters – is generating “big data” to measure which conservation initiatives work. Utilities, businesses promoting renewables and conservation, consulting firms, and regulators all need analysts with specialized training to fill this emerging job market. Students acquire a unique skill set tailored to meet the needs of energy and resource managers working to promote efficiency and conservation around the world. REDA is the only training program of its kind, anywhere.
Electrical engineers design and develop anything and everything that uses electricity. Graduate electrical engineering students with particular interest in electricity generation, transmission, distribution and storage may decide to pursue one of the following focus areas within the EE curriculum:
Graduate students in Nuclear Engineering may focus their studies on nuclear fission energy for electricity production or fusion science and technology. In the area of fission reactors, UW-Madison has strong programs in reactor safety, thermohydraulics, nuclear materials, neutronics, and the nuclear fuel cycle. In the area of fusion science and technology, UW-Madison has world-class programs in computational, theoretical and experimental plasma physics; imploding fusion targets; and fusion technology.
The MSEE distance degree prepares students around the world to advance their careers in the growing field of power electronics. Taught by distinguished faculty from the Wisconsin Electric Machines and Power Electronics Consortium, students will advance their engineering skills and learn the most recent technological developments in:
The Master of Engineering in Engine Systems is a unique online program designed specifically for the internal combustion engine industry. Students will:
The Master of Engineering in Sustainable Systems Engineering (SSE) program is designed to prepare working professionials to understand and drive change within their organizations as it relates to complex systems and their impact on the quality of water, land, air, energy, economics, and society. As a graduate of SSE, you will not only gain an understanding of sustainable principles, but you will have the opportunity to specialize in: