Credits and costs
Enhance Your Penn State Degree
Add a minor to get even more value out of your education.
Gain Specialized Knowledge
Earning a minor enables you to complement your major, pursue a personal interest, or explore a different field of study.
Recent market dynamics in the energy and resource industries are leading to new employment opportunities for graduates with a background in energy business and finance. To help you gain knowledge in this growing field, Penn State World Campus has partnered with the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences to offer an Undergraduate Minor in Energy Business and Finance (EBF).
The solutions to society's existing and emerging energy challenges require interdisciplinary approaches integrating economics and business with the technical knowledge of energy systems and implications for our environment. That's where energy business and finance experts come in. The Minor in Energy Business and Finance provides an introduction to the major energy commodity markets, basic energy sciences, and the tools for analyzing business decisions that companies in the energy sector make. It is designed to complement technical training for students interested in working in energy-related fields or for students who just want to learn more about global energy markets.
The knowledge and skills that you gain with an EBF minor can help prepare you to work in a variety of fields, including:
- energy and resource industries
- financial institutions
- nonprofit groups
- international organizations focused on energy and environmental issues
This minor is open to all interested undergraduate Penn State World Campus students who meet the prerequisites. Students of business or energy and sustainability policy may find this minor particularly useful.
Courses
The minor in energy business and finance is composed of 28–29 credits. Your required courses are in energy, business, and finance; energy and mineral engineering; and energy and geo-environmental engineering.
Your elective courses will be selected from a list of available courses in energy, business, and finance; energy and mineral engineering; energy and geo-environmental engineering; geography; geosciences; and meteorology.
A grade of "C" or better is required in all courses that you take to fulfill requirements for the minor.
Prescribed Courses (16 credits)
Additional Math Courses (select 3–4 credits)
Additional Energy Courses (select 3 credits)
Supporting Courses and Related Areas (select 6 credits)
Course Availability
If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.
Costs and Financial Aid
Undergraduate Tuition
Undergraduate tuition is calculated based on the number of credits for which you register and the number of total credits you have accrued at or transferred to Penn State. Tuition is due shortly after each semester begins and rates are assessed every semester of enrollment.
| How many credits do you plan to take per semester? | If you have 59 or fewer credits | If you have 60 or more credits |
|---|---|---|
| 11 or fewer | $620 per credit | $664 per credit |
| 12 or more | $7,527 per semester | $8,125 per semester |
Financial Aid and Military Benefits
Some students may qualify for financial aid. Take the time to research financial aid, scholarships, and payment options as you prepare to apply. Military service members, veterans, and their spouses or dependents should explore these potential military education benefits and financial aid opportunities, as well.
How to Apply
Admissions Help
Please work with your adviser if you have questions about adding a minor. You can find your adviser's contact information in your student portal or by calling advising at 814-863-3283.
Admission Requirements
To be eligible for admittance into the energy business and finance minor, you must:
- be a current Penn State undergraduate student in your fifth semester and be in a bachelor's degree major
- maintain a grade of C or better in all courses for the minor
- the minor code and major code cannot match
Adding a Minor
If you have achieved fifth-semester standing (60 credits completed), you can apply for admission to the minor. To begin, please follow these steps:
- Talk with your academic adviser about incorporating the minor into your major and to develop a semester-by-semester plan for meeting requirements.
- You can apply for the minor by adding it in LionPATH. You should do this as early as possible, but you can apply up to the late drop deadline of your graduating semester.
- You will receive a confirmation email once you declare the minor in LionPATH.
Technical Requirements
Review the technical requirements for this program.
Contact Us
To learn more about the Minor in Energy Business and Finance, offered in partnership with the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, please contact:
Susan Spaugh
Program Assistant
2217 Earth & Engineering Sciences Building
University Park PA 16802
Email: [email protected]
Phone (toll-free): 877-713-7778
Phone: 814-863-2502
Fax: 814-863-1564