Energy

Energy Secondary Core, a graduate area of curriculum concentration

Students at gas power plant. View Large

Introduction

The energy program in the graduate environmental studies (ENVS) program at CU-Boulder provides students with skills and knowledge in three areas:

  1. Energy science and technology: energy flows, energy conversion technologies, energy efficiency and the role of technology in changing energy use.
  2. Energy economics and markets: energy supply and demand, price and regulation as influences on energy markets, energy and carbon market interactions.
  3. Energy policy and planning: policies affecting energy supply and demand, ties to environmental policy and alternative energy futures.

Why Study

Energy extraction, conversion, transportation, and use are at the heart of many of our most pressing environmental issues. Global climate change, local and regional air quality concerns, high-level nuclear waste storage – these and other issues are a direct result of how we use energy. Responding to these issues, therefore, requires an in-depth understanding of energy: how we use it; how it links to economic, social, and political issues; what are the alternatives to our current use patterns; and how we might implement them.

Curriculum

The M.S. in Environmental Studies, with a focus on energy, requires the ENVS common core plus the following courses:

Energy Core: 10 credit hours

  • ENVS 5100 - Energy Science and Technology
  • ENVS 5820 - Renewable Energy Policy
  • ENVS 5100 - Energy Seminar
  • MBAX 6830 - Commercialization of Energy Technologies

Energy Electives

Electives can be drawn from the following energy-related courses, or others not on this list with the agreement of the student’s advisor. At least one course must be taken from each of the three areas. For a list of energy-related courses at CU-Boulder, see Energy Initiative

Energy science and technology:

Energy economics and markets:

  • ECON 4545 - Environmental Economics
  • ECON 4535 - Natural Resource Economics

Energy policy and planning:

  • LAWS 7132 - Energy insecurity
  • LAWS 7122 - Mining and Energy Law
  • ENVS 5720 - Problem Orientation
  • ENVS 5730 - Decision Process
  • ENVS 5100 - The Nuclear West

Advising

Those interested in graduate environmental studies are encouraged to contact potential advisors as part of the application process. However, as the Energy secondary core director, Paul Komor reviews all applications in the energy area and does not commit to advising during the application process. Applicants are welcome to explore the CU Boulder resources listed below and to contact other faculty on campus, many of whom are listed on the Energy Initiative website. Please consult the How to Apply and FAQ sections of this website. For additional questions regarding a graduate application, email: envsgrad@colorado.edu.

CU Boulder Resources

  • Energy Initiative of the University of Colorado “addresses the challenges of developing and implementing renewable and sustainable energy.”
  • Building Systems Program at the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Achitectural Engineering focuses on energy efficiency in the buildings and industrial sectors as well as on practical applications of renewable energies.
  • Facilities Management group at CU-Boulder is a leader in implementing energy and resource efficiency on the CU-Boulder campus. This group manages CU’s cogeneration system and also heads up the campus resource conservation effort.
  • CU Environmental Center runs several energy programs, and was the driving force behind CU’s investment in wind power.
  • EESI The Energy and Environmental Security Initiative is an interdisciplinary research and policy center at the University of Colorado Law School. It is designed to facilitate progress toward a global sustainable energy future through the innovative use of laws, policies, quality information, and technology solutions.

Faculty

Grad Students