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 a 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 have changed as of Fall 2020. Some information below is provided for students who declared prior to Fall 2020 and are completing under the previous requirements.
If you are not sure which set of requirements you are completing the certificate under, please contact certificate coordinator Scott Williams at spwilliams@wisc.edu.
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.
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:
Sustainable Systems Engineering is an online master's degree designed to prepare students to understand and apply principles of engineering, science, policy, and economics to current and future environmental sustainability issues. Through objective, reliable, and cost-effective engineering methods, students will create sustainable solutions for society's energy and resource challenges.
In this program you will