Energy and the Environment Certificate
Program Code: U-ENRENV-C
Plan Type: Certificate
Department: Pratt School of Engineering, School of Engineering, Environmental Sciences
Website: nicholas.duke.edu/academics/certificate-programs/certificate-energy-environment
Program Summary
The undergraduate certificate in energy and the environment is designed to provide Duke undergraduates in both Trinity and Pratt with an understanding of the breadth of issues that confront our society in its need for clean, affordable, and reliable energy. An expertise in energy will expand the student’s career options in the private, nonprofit, government, and academic sectors. In addition to integrative core and capstone courses, the certificate will expose students to the three key disciplines in the study of energy and the environment: markets and policy; environmental impacts and resources; and energy technology. The goal of the certificate is to develop innovative thinkers and leaders who understand the energy system as a whole and the important interconnections among policy, markets, technology, and the environment. Energy use is a multifaceted problem that draws upon the perspectives and expertise of a variety of disciplines; the certificate in energy and the environment is therefore similarly interdisciplinary.
Beyond traditional coursework, the certificate in energy and the environment will offer a variety of activities intended to provide students with a real-world perspective and hands-on experiences. These include field trips, guest speakers such as visiting executives and practitioners, research opportunities, and internships. Additional information may be obtained from the Energy Initiative.
Go to Programs by Department to view all related programs.
Academic Requirements
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 programs. 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 the 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 the 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 ongoing research project. Teams will participate in seminars, lectures, fieldwork 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 is 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 ongoing research project. Teams will participate in seminars, lectures, fieldwork, 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 is 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 co-director 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.