The Bachelor of Arts in Energy and Sustainability Policy is designed for students with various education and professional experiences. The program course work will cover a variety of topics including the energy industry and the domestic and global impact it has on the environment, and foreign and domestic policy, as well as corporate and community sustainability initiatives. Because of this, our graduates are able to pursue careers in both corporate and governmental organizations. Others may continue their education and work toward a master’s or doctoral degree.
Students must complete 120 credits in the following areas to earn the Bachelor of Arts in ESP:
- 68 requirements for the major credits
- 24 bachelor of arts degree requirement credits
- 45 General Education credits (25 of the 45 credits are included in the requirements for the major)
- 8 electives credits
On the Course Schedule page, you may find a list of the courses offered each semester, as well as a syllabus and sample lesson for each course, if available.
Please note that some courses in the ESP program require students to maintain a web presence, which may include creating a webpage, blog posting, video sharing and other Internet participation. ESP students may be required to participate in online activities that are widely accessible to the public, including audiences outside of the Penn State community.
Engaged Scholarship: Internships and Foreign Studies
Penn State was selected by the Carnegie Foundation for its 2015 Community Engagement Classification, an honor resulting from our commitment to providing students with at least one outside-the-classroom engagement opportunity that impacts our community. Every student in the ESP program takes part in this type of international study experience (EGEE 299) or domestic internship (EGEE 495). You will work with faculty to design a meaningful opportunity that complements your professional aspirations and busy schedule.
Course List - Bachelor of Arts in Energy and Sustainability Policy
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Effective Speech | CAS 100 | Introduction to speech communication: formal speaking, group discussion, analysis and evaluation of messages. | 3 credits |
| Introduction to Energy and Earth Sciences Economics* | E B F 200 | Resource use decisions and their effect on local, national, and global development. | 3 credits |
| Introductory Microeconomic Analysis and Policy | ECON 102 | Methods of economic analysis and their use; price determination; theory of the firm; distribution. | 3 credits |
| Introductory Macroeconomic Analysis and Policy | ECON 104 | National income measurement; aggregate economic models; money and income; policy problems. | 3 credits |
| Energy Conservation for Environmental Protection* | EGEE 102 | Exposure to energy efficiency in day-to-day life to save money and energy, and thereby protect the environment. | 3 credits |
| Oil: International Evolution | EGEE 120 | Survey of the commercial development of the world petroleum industry from various international, historical, business, and cultural perspectives. | 3 credits |
| Energy in a Changing World | EGEE 401 | Energy is in transition, with increased international energy demand and increasing environmental pressures. Energy transitions, approaches, and outcomes are addressed. Prerequisites: EGEE 101 or EGEE 102 or CHEM 112 |
3 credits |
| Global Energy Enterprise* | EME 444 | Industry perspective on the resources, technologies, engineering approaches and externalities involved in satisfying worldwide energy demand profitably and sustainably. Prerequisites: EGEE 102, EGEE 120, ECON 004 |
3 credits |
| Energy and Sustainability in Society | EME 466 | Capstone course in energy technology and policy options for reduced-carbon communities. Covering agent/stakeholder relations, sustainability, communication, and public engagement. Prerequisites: To be taken only after all other courses have been successfully completed |
3 credits |
| Energy and Sustainability in Contemporary Culture | EM SC 240 | Critical evaluation of selected media (e.g., books, film) in contemporary culture on topics related to energy and sustainability. | 3 credits |
| Orientation to Energy and Sustainability Policy | EM SC 302 | Orientation to goals of the Energy and Sustainability Policy program and resources available to help students succeed. | 1 credit |
| Rhetoric and Composition | ENGL 015 | Instruction and practice in writing expository prose that shows sensitivity to audience and purpose. Prerequisites: ENGL 004 or satisfactory performance on the English proficiency exam |
3 credits |
| Effective Writing: Business Writing | ENGL 202D | Writing reports and other common forms of business communication. Prerequisites: ENGL 015 or ENGL 030; fourth-semester standing |
3 credits |
| Geographic Perspectives on Sustainability and Human-Environment Systems* | GEOG 030 | Introduction to theory, methods, history and contemporary issues in global and regional relationships between human activity and the physical environment. | 3 credits |
| Energy Policy* | GEOG/EME 432 | Analysis, formulation, implementation, and impacts of energy-related policies, regulations, and initiatives. Prerequisites: E B F 200, EGEE 120, PL SC 490 |
3 credits |
| Human Dimensions of Global Warming* | GEOG 438 | Human dimensions of global environmental change: human causes; human adaptations; and policy implications of global warming. Prerequisites: EARTH 002, GEOG 010, or METEO 003, GEOG 030 |
3 credits |
| Energy Industry Applications of GIS* | GEOG 469 | Roles of geographic information systems in energy-siting decisions focusing on electric energy transmission networks. Prerequisites: GEOG 030, EGEE 102, EME 444 |
3 credits |
| From Meteorology to Mitigation: Understanding Global Warming* | METEO 469 | Introduction to global warming and climate change: the basic science, projected impacts, and approaches to mitigation. Prerequisites: MATH 110 or STAT 200 |
3 credits |
| Introduction to American National Government | PL SC 001 | Introduction to development and nature of American political culture, constitutional/structural arrangements, electoral/policy processes; sources of conflict and consensus. | 3 credits |
| Policy Making and Evaluation* | PL SC 490 | Advanced analysis of public policy, emphasizing policy evaluation and the factors that determine policy success and failure. Prerequisites: PL SC 001, PL SC 002, or PUBPL 304W |
3 credits |
| Elementary Statistics* | STAT 200 | Descriptive statistics, frequency distributions, probability, binomial and normal distributions, statistical inference, linear regression, and correlation. | 4 credits |
*Course requires a C or higher letter grade.
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introductory Meteorology or Understanding Weather Forecasting |
METEO 003 or METEO 101 |
Nontechnical treatment of fundamentals of modern meteorology and the effects of weather and climate. or Fundamental principles of synoptic and physical meteorology, satellite and radar imagery, and data analysis in the setting of mid-latitude weather forecasting |
3 credits |
| Foreign Studies or Internship |
EGEE 299 or EGEE 495 |
Courses offered in foreign countries by individual or group instruction. or Supervised off-campus, nongroup instruction including field experiences, practica, or internships. Written and oral critique of activity required. |
3 credits |
| Description | Credits |
|---|---|
| Foreign Language | 12 credits |
| Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Arts, Natural Sciences, Quantification | 9 credits |
| Other Cultures | 3 credits |
| Description | Credits |
|---|---|
| Arts – GA | 6 credits |
| Humanities – GH | 6 credits |
| Health and Physical Activity – GHA | 3 credits |
| Natural Sciences – GN | 9 credits |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences – GS | 6 credits |
| Writing and Speaking – GWS | 9 credits |
| Quantification – GQ | 6 credits |
| Description | Credits |
|---|---|
| Courses chosen in consultation with an adviser. | 8 credits |
Please note: The above course list includes only courses offered by World Campus. An official degree audit or the recommended academic plan for this program may include additional course options and detailed requirements. All students are expected to complete at least 36 credits at Penn State to earn this degree. Please consult an academic adviser for details.
Course Schedule
See course start and end periods and semesters offered on the Penn State World Campus student resources website.