B.S. in Energy Science and Technology

concrete circular structure next to a body of greenish water and trees

The goal of the Energy Science and Technology degree is to give students knowledge and analytic skills in the science and technology of today’s diverse energy systems and industries. The degree is designed to prepare graduates to become leaders in Washington’s emerging clean energy economy with an interdisciplinary education that emphasizes applied science and technology, complemented by energy policy and business practices, that industry experts have prioritized among Washington’s energy workforce needs. 

Program Contact

Institute of Energy Studies

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Net Zero Energy Design Track

This optional track within the BS degree is recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy as meeting the requirements for the Zero Energy Design Designation. Students completing this track with both have a solid foundation in building science and will have opportunities to apply that knowledge in a design practicum. Currently the ZEDD only applies to students in the BS degree who take 360 and 464.

  • ENRG/ESCI 360 - Energy Efficient and Carbon Neutral Design Credits: 4
  • ENRG/ESCI 464 - Sustainable Building Analysis and Design Credits: 4

Requirements

Energy Science (19 credits)


  • ❑  ENRG 320 - Science of Energy Resources Credits: 4
  • ❑  ENRG 330 - Energy from the Earth Credits: 4
  • or  GEOL 330 - Energy from the Earth Credits: 4
  • ❑  ENRG 360 - Energy Efficient and Carbon Neutral Design Credits: 4
  • or  ESCI 360 - Energy Efficient and Carbon Neutral Design Credits: 4
  • ❑  ENRG 380 - Energy and Environment Credits: 4
  • or  ESCI 380 - Energy and Environment Credits: 4
  • ❑  ENRG 420 - Advanced Energy Science Credits: 3

Math and Science Fundamentals (40-44 credits)


  • ❑  CHEM 161 - General Chemistry I Credits: 5
  • ❑  GEOL 211 - Physical Geology Credits: 5
  • ❑  MATH 124 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry I Credits: 5
  • ❑  MATH 125 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry II Credits: 5
  • ❑  PHYS 161 - Physics with Calculus I Credits: 5
  • ❑  PHYS 162 - Physics with Calculus II Credits: 5
  • ❑ Choose one course from:

  • ENGR 351 - Electronics for Engineering Credits: 4
  • or  ENRG 310 - Thermal Energy Systems Credits: 4
  • or  PHYS 220 - Physics with Calculus IV Credits: 4
  • or  PHYS 350 - Engineering Thermodynamics Credits: 3
  • ❑ Choose two courses from:

  • CHEM 162 - General Chemistry II Credits: 5
  • CHEM 163 - General Chemistry III Credits: 5
  • CHEM 251 - Elementary Organic Chemistry Credits: 5
  • CSCI 140 - Programming Fundamentals in C++ Credits: 4
  • or  CSCI 141 - Computer Programming I Credits: 4
  • CSCI 145 - Computer Programming and Linear Data Structures Credits: 4
  • ENGR 104 - Introduction to Engineering and Design Credits: 3
  • ENGR 170 - Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering Credits: 4
  • or  MSCI 201 - Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering Credits: 4
  • MATH 204 - Elementary Linear Algebra Credits: 4
  • MATH 224 - Multivariable Calculus and Geometry I Credits: 5
  • PHYS 163 - Physics with Calculus III Credits: 5

Economics and Policy Fundamentals (16-17 credits)


  • ❑  ECON 206 - Introduction to Microeconomics Credits: 4
  • ❑  PLSC 250 - The American Political System Credits: 5
  • or  MGMT 271 - Law and the Business Environment Credits: 4
  • ❑  ENRG 350 - Energy Policy and Politics Credits: 4
  • or  UEPP 350 - Energy Policy and Politics Credits: 4
  • ❑  ECON 384 - Energy Economics Credits: 4
  • or  ECON 386 - The Economics of Electricity Markets Credits: 4
  • or  ENRG 384 - Energy Economics Credits: 4
  • or  ENRG 386 - The Economics of Electricity Markets Credits: 4

Advanced Energy Technology Courses (16-17 credits)


Students must take at least four courses from this list.

  • ❑ Complete a minimum of four of the following:

  • ENRG 430 - Energy Materials and Waste Credits: 4
  • ENRG 461 - Mechanical and Environmental Systems in Buildings Credits: 5
  • or  ESCI 461 - Mechanical and Environmental Systems in Buildings Credits: 5
  • ENRG 464 - Sustainable Building Analysis and Design Credits: 4
  • or  ESCI 464 - Sustainable Building Analysis and Design Credits: 4
  • ENRG 466 - Life Cycle Analysis Credits: 4
  • or  ESCI 466 - Life Cycle Analysis Credits: 4
  • ENRG 475 - Renewable Electric Power Systems Credits: 4
  • or  ESCI 475 - Renewable Electric Power Systems Credits: 4
  • ENRG 482 - Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Credits: 4
  • or  ESCI 482 - Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Credits: 4
  • ENRG 486 - Electric Utility Resource Planning Credits: 4
  • ENRG 488 - Energy Management in Organizations Credits: 4
  • GEOL 485 - Geothermal Energy Credits: 4

Electives (16 credits minimum)


Students must take at least 16 credits from this list.

  • ❑ Complete a minimum of 16 credits from the following courses:

  • CHEM 351 - Organic Chemistry Credits: 4
  • CSCI 241 - Data Structures Credits: 4
  • CSCI 301 - Formal Languages and Functional Programming Credits: 5
  • ENGR 351 - Electronics for Engineering Credits: 4
  • ENRG 322 - Energy Data Analysis Credits: 4
  • ENRG 342 - Quantitative Methods in Environmental Science Credits: 5
  • or  ESCI 342 - Quantitative Methods in Environmental Science Credits: 5
  • ENRG 344 - Community Solutions to Climate Change Credits: 4
  • or  UEPP 344 - Community Solutions to Climate Change Credits: 4
  • or  ENRG 352 - Climate Change Policy Tools Credits: 4
  • or  UEPP 352 - Climate Change Policy Tools Credits: 4
  • ANTH 345 - Energy in the Global South Credits: 5
  • or  ENRG 345 - Energy in the Global South Credits: 5
  • or  ENRG 340 - Energy and Climate in Rural Development Credits: 4
  • ENRG 372 - Electrical Power and Electromechanical Devices Credits: 4
  • or  EECE 372 - Electrical Power and Electromechanical Devices Credits: 4
  • ENRG 381 - Biofuels Credits: 3
  • or  CHEM 381 - Biofuels Credits: 3
  • ENRG 388 - Campus Energy System Analysis Credits: 2-3
  • ENRG 391 - Energy Speaker Series Credits: 1
  • ENRG 392 - Energy Symposium Credits: 1
  • ENRG 400 - Directed Independent Study Credits: 1-15
  • ENRG 421 - Energy Science Laboratory Credits: 2
  • ENRG 449 - Northwest Energy Systems Transitions Credits: 4
  • or  UEPP 449 - Northwest Energy Systems Transitions Credits: 4
  • or  ENRG 459 - Advanced Energy Policy Credits: 4
  • or  UEPP 459 - Advanced Energy Policy Credits: 4
  • ENRG 480 - Applications in Energy Production Credits: 4
  • or  ESCI 480 - Applications in Energy Production Credits: 4
  • ENRG 484 - Economics of Alternative Energy Credits: 4
  • or  ECON 484 - Economics of Alternative Energy Credits: 4
  • ENRG 490 - Energy Capstone: Energy System Synthesis Credits: 4
  • ENRG 495 - Internship Credits: 1-4
  • ENRG 498 - Directed Research Credits: 1-12
  • ENVS 203 - Physical Geography Credits: 4
  • ENVS 320 - GIS I: Introduction to Geographic Information Science Credits: 4
  • ENVS 326 - Climatology Credits: 4
  • ENVS 392 - Introduction to Climate Change Credits: 4
  • or  ESCI 392 - Introduction to Climate Change Credits: 4
  • or  ESCI 492 - Climate Change Credits: 4
  • ENVS 419 - Applications in GIS Credits: 3
  • or  ENVS 420 - GIS III: Analysis and Modeling Credits: 5
  • ENVS 471 - Campus Sustainability Planning Studio Credits: 3
  • or  SUST 471 - Campus Sustainability Planning Studio Credits: 3
  • or  UEPP 471 - Campus Sustainability Planning Studio Credits: 3
  • GEOL 306 - Mineralogy Credits: 4
  • or  GEOL 311 - Earth Materials Credits: 5
  • MATH 307 - Mathematical Computing Credits: 4
  • MATH 331 - Ordinary Differential Equations Credits: 4
  • MATH 341 - Probability and Statistical Inference Credits: 4
  • or  MATH 345 - Statistics for Engineering Credits: 4
  • UEPP 261 - Planning the American City Credits: 3