Master's or above in Renewable Energy

I was having a discussion with my wife the other night and we were both curious about the above topic. First, are these types of degrees available through DL? I've been watching the green channel way too much lately and it has some very interesting shows on green energy, sustainable agriculture, and renewable resources, etc.

I've seen a thread here and there address environemtnal science degrees but never specifically these types. Is it that you take courses in these and apply it toward enviro degrees?

Lastly, I'm curious what the potential job market for a degree like this would be? Being that we are still so reliant upon fossil fuels it seems like there will be a time when this type of degree would be very popular, but currently there doesn't seem to be a huge market.

What got me thinking about it was that on this site I saw an ad for an associates in renewable energy and I just became a bit curious. I can't imagine an associates in this field to have that much utility since it seems to be tied into engineering but who knows.

Anyway, I thought this might make for an interesting discussion.

 

Just to get things started I noticed Stanford has a few courses but not a full program via DL.--> Sustainable Energy Courses | Stanford University

Oh and here is the one I saw linked on this site through ads--> Environmental Training Courses | Ecotech Institute

 

You may want to take a look at

Master Programme in Energy Engineering, Energy Online 60 credits

It has a substantial portion of renewal and sustainable energy syllabus. Had wanted to take it this Autumn but fall for a Communications Masters instead. Used to be free. Not sure how much the Swedes will be charging now.

 

jackrussell went where I was going but I was going to address the issue as a question: if renewable energy is the field of interest, is the degree an engineering degree? an environmental sciences degree? a business degree? conceivably it could even be a biology degree if you want to consider bio-energy. Soupbone - what area are you considering?

 

I happen to live in an area where a lot of electicity is generated by wind, solar, and geothermal. Degrees used in these fields are engineering (mechanical, electrical, aerodynamic, chemical angineering), geology, meteorology, and surveying. A masters degree in renewable or sustainable energy might be a useful add on to one of these degrees but is not the primary degree requirement.

Incidentally we have a hydrogen powered bus running around our area. The bus company obtains the hydrogen both from natural gas and from water using solar power.
http://www.nrel.gov/hydrogen/pdfs/41001.pdf

 

This industry must employs a lot of technicians (to maintain more than 13,000 wind turbines just in California) - I would guess such a degree would help them understand their service sector and related sectors.

 

I ran across this yesterday while reading through the "Best MBA" sticky thread -

Anaheim University
MBA in Sustainable Management (the online Green MBA)
Anaheim University - Online MBA, Online Green MBA, and Online TESOL programs - Kisho Kurokawa Green Institute Main

 

Or these:
And to give credit where it due, I found these on through the amazing research and posting Ted Heiks did on the MBA sticky.

Hawaii Pacific University
MBA - Global Leadership & Sustainable Development
Master of Arts in Global Leadership and Sustainable Development

Walden University
MBA-Sustainable Futures
MBA Online in Sustainable Futures - Walden University

Antioch University
MBA-Organizational and Environmental Sustainability
MBA in Organizational and Environmental Sustainability - MBA in Organizational and Environmental Sustainability - Antioch University New England

Marylhurst University offers
MBA-Sustainable Business with 2 paths; Renewable Energy or Green Development
Marylhurst University - MBA in Sustainable Business

City University of Seattle
MBA-Sustainable Business
Master of Business Administration MBA Degree - City University of Seattle

Bainbridge Graduate Institute
MBA-Sustainable Business
MBA in Sustainable Business

There was also an MBA-Sustainability from South University listed, but I don't see it on their site anymore.

 

Wow thanks for all of those links. I have too much on my plate to even consider doing something like this but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't interested. I just thought since I didn't see much about it here on the forum I'd start a thread to compile a list. It makes it easier to find when someone is looking for it. Thanks!

 

Several universities in the UK offer DL masters degrees that are related to renewable energy:

Heriot-Watt has an MSc in Renewable Energy Management that can be done by DL
Renewable Energy Development (RED) MSc/Diploma | What can I study? | Heriot-Watt University

and also an MSc in Energy
Energy MSc/Diploma | What can I study? | Heriot-Watt University

The University of Ulster has a DL MSc in Renewable Energy and Energy Management
Online Prospectus :: University of Ulster :: PgDip/MSc Renewable Energy and Energy Management

 

Correct. Just as it has always been, the "heavy lifting" in any energy field is done by engineers and/or the physical sciences.

Moreover, it's appearing that technician-level work will eventually be absorbed by the union trade system; the IBEW is already fielding certifications in this discipline.

This is not to say that there won't be positions for non-engineers in energy-related enterprises; for these, perhaps one should pursue an MBA with energy-related coursework.

 

Not realistically open to non-scientists/engineers:

Prerequisites
Applicants shall hold Bachelor of Science (BSc), or Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) degrees or documented equivalents thereof. The applicant should have a minimum of Thermodynamics and Fluid Dynamics at 18 ECTS credits – or documented thereof.

Just to take Thermodynamics or Fluid Dynamics at the baccalaureate level probably requires a year of calculus and a semester or two of physics.