ESF Academic Catalog
Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Energy Management
The Sustainable Energy Management (SEM) degree program introduces students to a wide range of energy markets and resources (e.g., fossil fuels, electricity, renewable and sustainable energy resources), while maintaining substantial flexibility for student-centered learning in understanding and managing energy systems. It combines professional competency in management skills with a strong foundation in the social and biophysical sciences.
The study of energy use and the development of sustainable sources of energy has become a critical national and global issue. Energy issues include concerns about the quality and quantity of the different potential resources, energy security, and the potential impacts on the environment and human health. It is essential that energy professionals understand the production and conversion of different forms of energy, their current and potential future supplies, the markets and policy mechanisms that regulate their supply, and their associated impacts on the environment.
The SEM program exposes students to views from a variety of disciplines as they investigate issues related to current and future energy supply and use. Students explore sustainable uses of energy and resources and develop the professional knowledge and skills needed to conserve and manage energy resources.
The SEM program develops the professional skills that private industry, public agency, and nonprofit organization employers look for in employees. These traits are acquired through foundational courses in the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities, communication, and quantitative and qualitative problem-solving, and critical thinking skills. The program requires a base of coursework in math and science, and additional work in applied economics, statistics, and applied energy courses. It has a strong focus on developing management skills needed to work in the energy field so that alumni are well-rounded managers in the energy field. The program also provides the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in future graduate degree work.
ESF provides a variety of opportunities to meet students’ needs through on-campus sustainable energy demonstration projects and research. Classroom- and laboratory-learned concepts and skills are expanded upon through experiential ESF-based and off-campus field learning. For example, the Central NY region has significant and diverse (e.g., solar and wind installations, hydropower, and biomass-based facilities) that the program uses for experiential learning opportunities.
SEM students integrate the skills and knowledge accumulated from professional and supporting coursework in their senior year capstone experience. Capstone projects analyze the technical, financial, and environmental aspects of a real-world energy related issue and develop recommendations based on those analyses. The results are presented orally and in a written report to demonstrate their abilities as future energy resource managers.
Importantly, the SEM major was designed with enough flexibility so that students can focus on specific interests and, if desired, supplement their employment credentials with one or more ESF minors (e.g., Sustainable Construction, Economics, Management). Many students also study aboard, and nearly all SEM students have paid internships between their junior and senior years.
Lower Division Required Courses
| Course Number | Course | Codes * | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| APM 103 OR APM 104 OR APM 105 |
G | ||
| APM 210 | G | ||
| EFB 100 | G | ||
| ESF 200 | |||
| EWP 190 | G | ||
| EWP 220 | |||
| EWP 290 | G | ||
| FCH 110 AND FCH 111 OR FCH 150 AND FCH 151 |
G | ||
| FOR 132 | |||
| FOR 110 | G | ||
| FOR 207 | G | ||
| FOR 360 | |||
| SRE 150 |
Lower Division Elective Courses
| Course | Codes* | Credits |
| General Education Courses - Select one from the following four subject areas: US History & Civic Engagement, The Arts, World History and Global Awareness, World Languages | G | 3 |
| General Education Course in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice | G | 3 |
Upper Division Required Courses
| Course Number | Course | Codes * | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| CME 305 | |||
| ESF 300 | |||
| EWP 407 | |||
| FOR 205 | |||
| FOR 333 | |||
| FOR 485 | |||
| SRE 325 | |||
| SRE 337 | |||
| SRE 416 | |||
| SRE 422 | |||
| SRE 441 | |||
| SRE 450 | |||
| SRE 454 | |||
| SRE 479 | |||
| SRE 491 | G |
Upper Division Elective Courses
| Course | Codes* | Credits |
| Directed Elective (see list below) | 15 | |
| Free Electives | 21 |
Directed Elective
- CME 215 Sustainable Construction
- CME 306 Engineering Materials for Sustainable Construction
- CME 444 Materials Marketing
- EEE 370 Intro. to Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises
- EFB 103/104 Biology II Lecture and Lab
- EFB 303 Introductory Environmental Microbiology
- EFB 320 General Ecology
- EST 203 Introduction to Sociology
- EST 220 Urban Ecology
- EST 231 Environmental Geology
- EST 366 Environmental Ethics
- EST 390 Social Processes and the Environment
- EST 395 Public Communication of Science and Technology
- EST 426 Community Planning and Sustainability
- EST 427 Environmental and Energy Auditing
- EST 550 Environmental Impact Analysis
- FIN 301 Essentials of Finance
- FOR 232 Natural Resources Ecology
- FOR 338 Meteorology
- FOR 465 Natural Resources Policy
- FOR 487 Environmental Law and Policy
- FOR 489 Natural Resources Law and Policy
- LSA 460 Land Use Law
- MAR 301 Essentials of Marketing
- PSC 302 Environmental Politics and Policy
- PSE 456 Management in Industry
- PSY 205 Foundations of Human Behavior
- RMS 387 Renewable Materials for Sustainable Construction
- SRE 419 Policy Assessment
Total Minimum Credits for Degree: 120