Online Energy Sustainability Degree :: Accredited Universities

This MSc is designed to receive graduates from a range of backgrounds (engineering, business, architecture, environmental and social sciences) and draw them into an understanding of the full breadth of human sustainability with energy as the core theme.

Energy systems have much wider implications than just how far we can drive or whether the lights stay on; energy is a fundamental component of our water and food resources too. This course allows you to reinforce your knowledge and understanding of sustainability within your own field of expertise, before inviting you to leave your comfort zone and engage with aspects which will be new to you.

For example, engineers may want to examine behavioural issues, environmentalists perhaps need to understand business drivers and architects need to assess how residents may interact with their structures. The course is designed in such a way that you can select modules of interest for CPD purposes, or accumulate towards an exit award, e.g. PgCert, PgDip or MSc.

You will be able to select from a broad range of modules including: Corporate social responsibility, risk, urban environment, social regeneration, economic contexts, energy security & conflict, strategy, renewable energy (issues, technologies & resources), building design & improvement, life-cycle analysis, energy systems, food, water, travel transport, environmental impact and CO2 management.

Robert Gordon University has long-established strengths in the areas of engineering, business, social sciences and architecture, with a substantial collective staff experience in sustainable practices, corporate social responsibility and other related fields.

The University is a major provider of personalised Open and Distance Learning education to thousands of professionals around the world. This course builds on the recognised strengths of established courses across the School of Engineering, Aberdeen Business School, Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and the Built Environment and the School of Applied Social Studies, all of whom are committed to high quality postgraduate development.

Entry Requirements

This course is suitable for those who hold an honours degree, or equivalent, in an appropriate discipline at 2:2 or above. However, we treat each applicant individually – if you have appropriate experience and the academic potential then we will interview you for a place.

English Language Requirements
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All international students for whom English is not their first language must provide evidence of linguistic ability, by gaining either

IELTS Academic Test 6.5 overall* (with a minimum score of 5.5 in each component)

TOEFL iBT 90 (with a minimum score of Listening 17, Reading 18, Speaking 20 and Writing 24)

Pearson PTE Academic 61 (with a minimum score of 51 in each component)

Other Fees

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The Bachelor of Arts degree in Energy and Sustainability Policy can prepare you for success in energy careers related to foreign and domestic policy analysis, legislative or regulatory affairs, sales engineering and post-sales account management, permitting and compliance, purchasing, and public relations in energy-related government agencies and nongovernmental organizations, public utilities, regulatory bodies, energy trade organizations, and businesses. You can gain the knowledge and skills you need to gather, analyze, synthesize, and communicate diverse information about emerging global trends in energy policy, technologies, and economics.

Why an Energy and Sustainability Degree Online at Penn State?

Innovative Course Work — This degree was designed by an advisory board of energy industry experts and Penn State faculty. Enhance your research and communication skills and foreign language and international competencies with our instructor-led online classes and internship and/or field experiences.

The energy and sustainability policy curriculum was designed to help you achieve five overarching educational objectives:

energy industry knowledge
a sustainability ethic
analytical skills
communication skills
global perspective

Entry Requirements

The energy and sustainability policy bachelor's program is designed for persons who have:

- an interest in energy security, sustainability management, foreign and domestic energy policies, or other fields related to energy and sustainability

- been working in a relevant energy- or sustainability-focused career and want to complete a degree to advance in their current position or seek out a new career opportunity

- earned an associate degree in a related field or have completed the first two years of a bachelor's degree (not required)

International applicants
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International students whose native language is not English must submit proof of English language proficiency.
The scores must be less than two years old. The following are ways in which you can satisfy the language proficiency requirement:

TOEFL: A minimum TOEFL score of 80 on the Internet-based TOEFL or 550 on the paper exam (score reports must be official and cannot be more than two years old (code #2660);

IELTS: A minimum IELTS score of 6.5 on the academic test

SAT score of 530 or higher on the critical reading section (code #2660);

ACT score of 24 or higher on the English section (code #3656);

IGCSE score of A, B, or C on the English language exam,
IB score of 5 or higher on the English Language & Literature (SL/HL) exam.

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Policy changes, technological advances, and an increased awareness of the world's resources are creating a growing need across the world for advanced expertise in renewable and sustainability systems. Now more than ever, it's critical to prepare professionals to serve as leaders of the emerging "green" economy.

To meet the demands of this dynamic marketplace, professionals must have technical depth in areas related to renewable energy, but they must also fully understand the applications of the technology in society, the energy economics, as well as the entire project development process. A master's degree program in the field of renewable energy is designed to prepare you to lead the transformation of fossil energy economy to a sustainable basis of operation. You can enhance your technical understanding and gain the advanced project management skills to help move sustainability projects forward.

Why an Online Renewable Energy and Sustainability Degree from Penn State?

Penn State's online intercollege Master of Professional Studies in Renewable Energy and Sustainability Systems (iMPS-RESS) program provides a broad coverage of topics related to renewable energy and sustainability systems while providing in-depth coverage of select topics. Delivered in a strong partnership between four colleges and eight academic departments from within the University, the program offers you the opportunity to draw upon the expertise and unique perspectives of faculty with diverse backgrounds.

This program is designed to give you a focused curriculum along with the flexibility appropriate to a rapidly changing field; you will take a number of core program courses. Then, to meet your individual learning goals, you will select additional courses from an array of electives. If you would like to tailor your studies even further, you can choose one of four program options that will provide more specialized, technical instruction:

Sustainability Management and Policy
Bioenergy
Solar Energy
Wind Energy

Who Should Apply?

If you have a technical mindset and are interested in more fully understanding the systems behind renewable energy and sustainability, Penn State's online RESS program was designed for you. The program is appropriate for you if you are already in the renewable energy industry and are looking to advance your career. The program can also benefit you if you are looking to better define yourself in the growing renewable energy industry.

As an applicant to the program, you should have strong academic preparation, including a minimum of either a bachelor's degree from a U.S. regionally accredited institution or a postsecondary degree that is equivalent to a U.S. baccalaureate degree earned from an officially recognized degree-granting international institution.

After completing the master's program, you should be able to perform your tasks in the management and development of renewable energy systems even if you have received your bachelor's degree in an area other than renewable energy and sustainability systems.

Career Opportunities for Graduates

Sustainability is a strategic concern for every large organization, as each works to remain globally competitive regarding renewable energy concerns and to address the environmental challenges expected in the coming decades. As a graduate of the program, you could be qualified for many positions that require a mix of technical skills and management responsibilities.

The iMPS-RESS program can prepare you to excel in a wide variety of commercial and industrial occupations that apply engineering principles to the business of energy, including:

sustainability project manager
VP of business development
environmental scientist
energy project analyst
research analyst
community planner
energy project engineer

Entry Requirements

For admission to the Graduate School, an applicant must hold either (1) a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or (2) a tertiary (postsecondary) degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. This degree must be from an officially recognized degree-granting institution in the country in which it operates.

For your admission to the program, it is preferred that you have a technical mindset and are interested in focusing on the implementation and interpretation of existing policies and regulations as they related to renewable energy and sustainability.

International applicants
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All international applicants must take and submit scores for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System), with the exceptions noted below. The minimum acceptable score for the TOEFL is 550 for the paper-based test, or a total score of 80 with a 19 on the speaking section for the internet-based test (iBT). Applicants with iBT speaking scores between 15 and 18 may be considered for provisional admission, which requires completion of specified remedial English courses ESL 114G (American Oral English for Academic Purposes) and/or ESL 116G (ESL/Composition for Academic Disciplines) and attainment of a grade of B or higher. The minimum acceptable composite score for the IELTS is 6.5. Graduate programs may have more stringent requirements.

Other Fees

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Increasing demands for renewable energy sources will continue to drive the focus of companies toward bioenergy solutions. The bioenergy industry is rapidly expanding; many companies have an increasing need for knowledgeable individuals with advanced, multidisciplinary skills in feedstock production, supply chain systems, and conversion.

The role of professionals in this field will not be strictly technical in nature. There will also be an ever-growing demand for people who can develop, manage, and improve the bioenergy industry through project development, system design and analysis, and process improvement.

Why an Online Bioenergy Degree from Penn State?
Penn State's online intercollege Master of Professional Studies in Renewable Energy and Sustainability Systems (iMPS-RESS) degree with an option in bioenergy covers a broad range of topics related to renewable energy and sustainability systems. In the bioenergy option, you can gain an in-depth understanding of the applied technologies used in production, harvesting, and handling of biomass and its various energy products.

Offered through a partnership between four colleges and eight academic departments in the University, the iMPS-RESS program provides you with the opportunity to learn from faculty with unique expertise and perspectives, as well as diverse backgrounds.

In addition to taking courses in the focused core curriculum, you will refine your studies even further with course work specific to the bioenergy option — one of four program options that will provide more specialized, technical instruction. In order for you to reach your individual learning goals, you will select additional courses from an array of electives offered in conjunction with the other program options:

Solar Energy
Sustainability Management and Policy
Wind Energy

Who Should Apply?

Penn State's online iMPS-RESS program with an option in bioenergy could be right for you if you have a technical mindset and want to focus on finding uses for renewable biomass as a source of energy.

The program is appropriate for students with a diverse background — whether you received your bachelor's degree in renewable energy and sustainability systems or in another field of study. A background of courses in calculus, physics, thermodynamics, and plant biology is advised for students interested in this option.

If you are already in the bioenergy engineering industry and looking to advance in your current position, or if you want to move into another segment of the growing bioenergy engineering industry, this program could benefit you.

Career Opportunities for Graduates

The iMPS-RESS program with an option in bioenergy can prepare you to lead projects involving crop production, harvesting, storage, ecology, genetics, fermentation, engineering, value chain systems modeling, marketing, economics, and sociology.

With a balanced focus on helping you acquire technical understanding and advanced project management skills, in the bioenergy option you can gain the qualifications for positions such as:

biofuel project manager
bioenergy research analyst
fermentation scientist – biofuels
bioenergy feedstock crop analyst
chemical process engineer – biofuels

Entry Requirements

For admission to the Graduate School, an applicant must hold either (1) a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or (2) a tertiary (postsecondary) degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. This degree must be from an officially recognized degree-granting institution in the country in which it operates.

For your admission to the program, it is preferred that you have a technical mindset and want to focus on diminishing fossil fuel supplies, increasing demand for energy, and national security as it relates to the use of renewable biomass as a source of energy.

International applicants
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All international applicants must take and submit scores for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System), with the exceptions noted below. The minimum acceptable score for the TOEFL is 550 for the paper-based test, or a total score of 80 with a 19 on the speaking section for the internet-based test (iBT). Applicants with iBT speaking scores between 15 and 18 may be considered for provisional admission, which requires completion of specified remedial English courses ESL 114G (American Oral English for Academic Purposes) and/or ESL 116G (ESL/Composition for Academic Disciplines) and attainment of a grade of B or higher. The minimum acceptable composite score for the IELTS is 6.5. Graduate programs may have more stringent requirements.

Other Fees

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With an ever-growing "green economy," the need is increasing for professionals who understand resource assessment, project development, system design, and emerging technologies for both solar thermal and solar electric systems.

As more employment opportunities become available, companies will look for professionals with the skills to effectively lead their colleagues and move solar energy improvement projects forward.

Why an Online Solar Energy Degree from Penn State?
Penn State's online intercollege Master of Professional Studies in Renewable Energy and Sustainability Systems (iMPS-RESS) with an option in solar energy provides a broad coverage of topics related to renewable energy and sustainability systems.

In the solar energy option, you can choose from parallel paths of study that focus on either electric-driven (PV) or thermal-driven study, which can also be pursued from the large-scale or from the distributed approach.

Because it is provided through a partnership between four colleges and eight academic departments in the University, the iMPS-RESS program offers you the opportunity to learn from our faculty who are highly skilled solar energy experts — and you can also gain additional perspectives from our diverse faculty with various sustainability backgrounds.

In addition to the concentrated core curriculum, you can focus your studies and meet your individual learning goals by selecting additional courses from an array of electives offered through the other program options:

Bioenergy
Sustainability Management and Policy
Wind Energy
Who Should Apply?
Penn State's online iMPS-RESS program with an option in solar energy could be right for you if you have a technical mindset and are interested in focusing on effectively designing and using solar energy systems.

The program is appropriate for students with a diverse background — whether you received your bachelor's degree in renewable energy and sustainability systems or in another field of study. A background in systems science, engineering, or physics is strongly recommended if you are interested in the solar energy option.

If you are already in the solar energy industry and are looking to further excel in your current position, or if you want to distinguish yourself in the growing solar energy industry, this program could benefit you.

Career Opportunities for Graduates

In this focused curriculum, the iMPS-RESS program with an option in solar energy can prepare you to lead projects involving:

- solar resource assessment for selected locales
- effective communications designed to maximize the solar - economic utility to clients/stakeholders
- thermal- and electric-derived solar conversion technologies
- hybridized solar systems design
- social and policy context of solar systems project design

Because of the balanced perspective of technical understanding and advanced project management skills you can gain as a graduate in the solar energy option, you could be qualified for positions such as:

solar energy project manager
solar PV design engineer
VP business development – commercial solar
solar research analyst
project engineer – solar energy

Entry Requirements

For admission to the Graduate School, an applicant must hold either (1) a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or (2) a tertiary (postsecondary) degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. This degree must be from an officially recognized degree-granting institution in the country in which it operates.

For your admission to the program, it is preferred that you have a technical mindset and are interested in focusing on solar systems project development and advancing the solar energy sector.

International applicants
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All international applicants must take and submit scores for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System), with the exceptions noted below. The minimum acceptable score for the TOEFL is 550 for the paper-based test, or a total score of 80 with a 19 on the speaking section for the internet-based test (iBT). Applicants with iBT speaking scores between 15 and 18 may be considered for provisional admission, which requires completion of specified remedial English courses ESL 114G (American Oral English for Academic Purposes) and/or ESL 116G (ESL/Composition for Academic Disciplines) and attainment of a grade of B or higher. The minimum acceptable composite score for the IELTS is 6.5. Graduate programs may have more stringent requirements.

Other Fees

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