Energy Studies Certificate

Certificate director: Michael Oristaglio; earth.yale.edu/energy-studies

The Interdisciplinary Certificate in Energy Studies is designed to provide undergraduates with the knowledge and skills needed for advanced studies, leadership, and success in energy-related fields through a curriculum requiring coursework in three multidisciplinary tracks: Energy Science & Technology, Energy & Environment, Energy & Society. Activities such as field trips, funded on-campus projects, and internships will be available to students interested in hands-on experience and training in the modern world of energy technology, finance, regulation, and policy. More information about the special activities is listed on the Energy Studies website.

Requirements

Students are required to complete two course credits in each of the three tracks of Energy Studies: (1) Energy Science & Technology, (2) Energy & Environment, (3) Energy & Society. ENRG 300, Multidisciplinary Topics in World Energy–which is required as one of the six course credits (exceptions can be granted by the Certificate Director) and counts toward the Energy & Society track-should be taken during the junior or senior year. ENRG 400, Senior Capstone Seminar, is not required, but is offered to students wishing to undertake a special energy-related project. ENRG 400 can count toward the six required course credits in any one of the three tracks, depending on the project's topic.

Approved courses are listed on the Energy Studies website and are searchable in Yale Course Search using the following course attributes.

  • YC ENRG: Energy Science & Tech
  • YC ENRG: Energy & Environment
  • YC ENRG: Energy & Society

Students are invited to present syllabi to the Certificate Director for courses that they think might be suitable for fulfilling the requirements of the Certificate. It is the discretion of the Certificate Director to approve all courses that meet the curated curriculum of the Certificate.

Graduate and professional school courses may count toward the Certificate; language courses and non-Yale courses may not count toward the Certificate.

No more than two course credits fulfilling the requirements of the Energy Studies certificate may overlap with a major, a simultaneous degree, or another certificate. Additionally, no course credit may be applied toward the requirements of more than two curricular programs. For example, the same course credit may not be used to fulfill the requirements of two certificates and a major.

Completion Procedure and Advising

Students should submit a Declaration of Candidacy for a Certificate form, found on the University Registrar’s Office website. The form should be submitted early, but at the latest, before the start of the student’s last semester at Yale. Once submitted, the form goes to both the Certificate Director and the Registrar's Office. Submission of the form, and approval from the Certificate Director, is necessary to ensure that the earned Certificate appears on student transcripts.

Credit/D/Fail Only one course taken Credit/D/Fail or one independent study course graded Pass/Fail may be counted toward the program.

Summary of REQUIREMENTS

Prerequisites None

Number of courses 6 course credits

Required courseENRG 300

Distribution of courses 2 courses in each of the three tracks of Energy Studies listed above