Energy Environments

The Energy Environments graduate program (M.S.) is designed to prepare students with the advanced coursework, practical work and research experience needed to succeed in professions that are rapidly developing at the intersections of energy and environment.

The program offers a mix of foundational coursework in science, ethics, project management and natural resource economics with specialized coursework tailored to the students' interests, including the following areas of emphasis: project management, drones systems intelligence and water.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet the minimum graduate admission requirements of West Virginia University. The students must have earned a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university and must have had a grade point average of 2.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Applicants to this degree program are asked to identify an advisor from the College faculty and provide a 500-word Statement of Academic and Professional Goals and Objectives.

International students must submit a minimum score of 550 on the paper TOEFL examination or 213 on the electronic TOEFL examination if their native language is not English.

A standardized graduate examination score (GRE or MCAT) is not required for admission to this degree, however, it is strongly encouraged.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates who earn a Master of Science in energy environments will gain a competitive edge as they enter the workforce prepared for careers in biotechnology, energy, power, engineering, software development manufacturing, service industries and healthcare, as well as non-government organizations and government related agencies.

Upon graduation, graduates will be able to:

• Articulate the relationships between energy extraction and use, environmental quality and public policy within the broad context of sustainable development.
• Develop technical solutions to energy and environmental problems that include the impact of human dimensions such as economics, law and public policy.
• Manage local and regional scale research and development projects at the interface of energy and environmental industries.
• Exhibit professional communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively to technical audiences, general public, media and policymakers.
• Adhere to codes of responsible conduct of research, negotiation and professional interaction.

Graduate Advisory Committee

To help each individual achieve success, all graduate students in this program are required to have a graduate advisory committee consisting of no fewer than three members. At least one person may be a non-member of the graduate faculty (please note: the non-member cannot chair the committee). The committee chair may be an associate member of the graduate faculty.

Degree Requirements

• Total credit hour requirement: 30
• ENLM 500 - Negotiation and Ethics for Energy Land Management
• ENVP 525 - Principles of Water Resources
• RESM 560 - Energy Project and Program Management
• DSGN 650 - Creative Economics

• Capstone Experience (3-6 credit hours)
  
  Students must complete a capstone experience and present this work in an open-forum setting. Students will select from the following courses for the capstone:
• ANRD 695 - Independent Study (3 hours)
• ANRD 697 - Research (3 hours)
• Restricted Electives (15 credit hours)
  
  Students will select additional restricted electives across a range of topics in consultation with their Graduate Advisory Committee.

Program Contact