The U.S. is undergoing an historic transition of its energy system in order to decarbonize and help mitigate the worst effects of global climate change. Optimistically, the electrical system will become largely based on renewable and sustainable sources in the next ten years, and major energy consumption sectors of transportation, residential and commercial buildings, and industrial production will electrify and approach net-zero carbon emissions around 2050. These controversial changes constitute complex transitions in economic, political, and regulatory alignments along with technological innovation and continuing scientific advances. There is an urgent and growing need for technically and scientifically literate practitioners who can join cross-disciplinary teams working in both the public and private sectors to craft transition pathways and help deploy sustainable energy systems. The Sc.M. in Sustainable Energy challenges students to integrate knowledge across a wide range of science, engineering, policy, and business topics, develop a focused expertise in one aspect of sustainable energy systems, and prepare to enter or re-enter a career path directly impacting the progress of electrification and decarbonization.
Core Courses
| ENGN 2721 | Energy and the Environment | 1 |
| MPA 2722 | Dimensions of Energy, Climate, and Environmental Policy | 1 |
| ENGN 2709 | Electrification and Decarbonization | 1 |
Existing Engineering and Physical Science Courses
For their remaining 5 courses in the 1-year / 8-credit program, students shall select one focus area consisting of at least 3 related courses, with the remaining courses being free electives. In all cases, students consult with the Program Director in choosing from among existing Brown courses, including those comprising the following focus areas:
Energy Conversion Processes, Components, and Systems (at least 3 courses)
| CHEM 1560N | Organometallic Chemistry | 1 |
| CHEM 1560S | The Chemistry of Polymeric Organic Materials | 1 |
| CHEM 1700 | Nanoscale Materials: Synthesis and Applications | 1 |
| CHEM 2320 | Solid State Chemistry | 1 |
| EEPS 2410 | Kinetics of Geochemical Processes (Other 2000-level courses with approval ) | 1 |
| ENGN 1130 | Chemical and Statistical Thermodynamics | 1 |
| ENGN 1931A | Photovoltaics Engineering | 1 |
| ENGN 1931P | Energy and the Environment | 1 |
| ENGN 2920H | Materials and Interfaces for Energy Storage Devices | 1 |
| PHYS 1530 | Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics | 1 |
| PHYS 2140 | Statistical Mechanics | 1 |
| PHYS 2410 | Solid State Physics I | 1 |
| PHYS 2600 | Computational Physics | 1 |
| Other 2000 level courses with approval | ||
Energy and Environment: Economics and Policy of Systems in Transition (At least 3 courses)
| ECON 1110 | Intermediate Microeconomics | 1 |
| or ECON 1130 | Intermediate Microeconomics (Mathematical) | |
| ECON 1210 | Intermediate Macroeconomics | 1 |
| ECON 1350 | Environmental Economics and Policy | 1 |
| ECON 1355 | Environmental Issues in Development Economics | 1 |
| ECON 1480 | Public Economics | 1 |
| ECON 1490 | Theory of Market Design | 1 |
| EEPS 1400 | Climate Modeling I | 1 |
| EEPS 2410 | Kinetics of Geochemical Processes | 1 |
| ENGN 2920H | Materials and Interfaces for Energy Storage Devices | 1 |
| ENGN 1931P | Energy and the Environment | 1 |
| POLS 1435 | Politics of Climate Change | 1 |
| EPI 1730 | Climate Risks and Health Solutions | 1 |
| EPI 1855 | Infectious Disease Modeling | 1 |
| PHYS 2410 | Solid State Physics I | 1 |
| PHYS 2600 | Computational Physics | 1 |
| SOC 1315 | Macro-Organizational Theory: Organizations in Social Context | 1 |
| SOC 2385 | Environmental Sociology | 1 |
| Other 2000-level course with approval | ||