This college-wide interdisciplinary minor is designed for students considering a career in the field of renewable energy, or as preparation for graduate work in a wide range of academic disciplines.

Renewable energy, as normally understood, includes a variety of methods of energy generation, such as solar, wind, hydro, tidal, and geothermal, as well as energy storage methods and energy conservation. Jobs related to renewable energy lie in a wide range of areas including engineering, business, marketing, finance, installation, software, legal affairs, and research. Projections suggest that employment opportunities in the renewable energy field will increase dramatically in the near future. The renewable energy interdisciplinary minor is therefore ideally suited for students with majors in engineering, business, policy, and science.

Policies

Eight credits of coursework must be unique to the minor and students must complete all coursework with a minimum GPA of 2.00. For policies governing all minors, see AP.5.3.4 Minors.

Banner Code: RNRG

Minor Requirements

Total credits: 15-17

Students should refer to the Admissions & Policies tab for specific policies related to this program.

Core Courses

Complete the following core courses:
RENE 131Introduction to Renewable Energy3
RENE 411Renewable Energy Internship3
Total Credits6

Minor Options

Choose three courses, including:9 - 11
One (1) course (3 credits) from Category A
One (1) course (3-4 credits) from Category B
One (1) course (3-4 credits) from Category C or one (1) 300-400 level course (3-4 credits) from Category A or Category B
Category A: Economics and Policy
Economics for the Citizen (Mason Core)
Contemporary Microeconomic Principles (Mason Core)
Contemporary Macroeconomic Principles (Mason Core)
Environmental Economics for the Citizen (Mason Core)
Economic Problems and Public Policies
Environmental Economics
Economics of Energy (Mason Core)
Economics of Environmental Policy
Introduction to Environmental Policy
Energy Policy
Geography of Resource Conservation (Mason Core)
Geographic Approaches for Sustainable Development
American State and Local Government
Public Policy Making
Category B: Science and Technology
Environmental Issues and Solutions Around the World (Mason Core)
Introduction to Modern Chemistry (Mason Core)
Chemistry for Changing Times (Mason Core)
Chemical Science in a Modern Society (Mason Core)
Chemistry for Changing Times (Mason Core)
Introduction to Environmental Chemistry I (Mason Core)
General Chemistry I (Mason Core)
General Chemistry for Engineers Lecture (Mason Core)
Introduction to Environmental Chemistry II (Mason Core)
General Chemistry II (Mason Core)
Physical Chemistry I
Physical Chemistry II
Global Warming: Weather, Climate, and Society (Mason Core)
Introduction to Global Climate Change Science (Mason Core)
Physical Geography (Mason Core)
Dynamic Atmosphere and Hydrosphere (Mason Core)
Dynamic Geosphere and Ecosphere
Geology of Energy Resources
Physics of Renewable Energy
Solar Cells
Materials Science with Applications to Renewable Energy
Introductory Statistics I (Mason Core)
Probability and Statistics for Engineers and Scientists I
Probability for Engineers
Category C: Business and Communication
Survey of Accounting
Honors Survey of Accounting
Legal Environment of Business
Global Environment of Business (Mason Core)
Business Analytics I (Mason Core)
Business Analytics II
Introduction to Public Relations
Writing across the Media
Business and Sustainability
Nonprofit Financial Planning
Accounting in a Global Economy
Managing Projects and Operations
Principles of Management
Total Credits9-11