This course discusses energy issues from a number of perspectives, including its physical and biological basis, heat transformation and space heating, energy audits, history, policy, economics, and presentation in the fine arts. The benefits and drawbacks of each type of fossil fuel and major form of alternative energy will be discussed, along with transmission and utilization patterns.

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This course will understand the often-complex environmental issues associated with development, transport, and utilization of different forms of energy. The primary focus will be on impacts to land, water, and air caused by individual energy sources. Students will understand the scientific basis behind those impacts, procedures for measuring them, and attempts for amelioration / reclamation.

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This course will encompass a “hands-on” approach to data mining, geospatial analysis, and remote sensing data on land use and land cover relative to assessing the ecological footprint and impact of several energy technologies and related operations in our region.

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This course aims to improve literacy about earth’s energy and mineral resources—the materials that form much of the foundation of modern life. As the demand for energy and mineral resources continues to increase, so does the need for informed decision-making in the search, extraction, use and management of these critical resources. Achievement of a deeper understanding of where these resources come from and how they are used will help students navigate the resource challenges in their future.

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This course is a survey of energy policy that focuses mainly on the US with occasional references to global or international policies where appropriate. Energy, as used in this course, encompasses all forms: renewable and fossil fuels. We will examine how energy policies emerge, and the forces that both support and oppose efforts to generate energy or extract different types of fossil fuels. This requires some basic knowledge of the American political system and the policy making process. As important as the formal governmental system is to the policy process, the informal or extra-governmental actors, systems, and processes are equally critical. We will review the history of energy development internationally and domestically to understand how technological changes affect energy production, policy and the public’s perception and use of energy.

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The development and transformation of the international oil industry is one of the great vehicles for studying the intertwining web of empire, business, international rivalry and environmental concern.  Spreading from its roots in the United States, the oil industry circled the globe in search of the petroleum with which to power the economies of the developed world. But what initially began as a story of Western dominance over the developing world was transformed through the growth of political and resource nationalism. This occurred as the developed economies became increasingly ‘addicted to oil’ and made the quest for secure sources of supply a political and diplomatic necessity. This course will trace this evolution and study the impact it had on decolonization, Cold War politics, consumer culture and the globalization of business.

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This course offers a skills-focused and theoretical approach to communicating energy issues from rhetorical, journalistic and public relations standpoints. Through a variety of readings, discussions and practical workshops, students will learn how to access energy information, critically analyze its content and convey that information to the public. Students will also explore, through case studies, past energy campaign success and failures and learn the basics to creating their own messages.

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This is a survey course that examines the business side of the much broader field of energy studies. Topics include the economics and economic impact of energy; the regulatory landscape for the energy industry; energy markets and managing the energy value chain and industry structure; and marketing and serving energy customers. Students will engage these topics through readings, research, interviews, and team projects.

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Students taking this course will work as an interdisciplinary team to address a specific energy-related issue that has scientific, policy, business, and communications dimensions. Students will be expected to conduct background research on the topic, and then perform appropriate analyses leading to deliverable product (e.g., report, design process) that will incorporate multiple perspectives.

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