Bachelor of Science in Energy and Environmental Policy

What is the BS degree in Energy and Environmental Policy?
Students in the undergraduate Energy and Environmental Policy (ENEP) degree are welcome to join members of the Center for Energy and Environmental Policy in researching the latest ideas on transforming energy-environment-society relations. CEEP is internationally recognized for its work in this field. Its director, Dr. John Byrne, has contributed to the International Panel on Climate Change since 1992 and was recognized by its Secretariate when IPCC is awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. The major offers an exciting opportunity for students to prepare for academic and professional careers in the high-demand fields of energy, environment, sustainable development and climate change.

Areas of Concentrations
The ENEP degree offers three concentrations:

Energy, Environment and Society (EES)
Energy, Science and Technology (EST)
Energy, Economics and Public Policy (EEP)

[See the Plans of Study section below for details on each concentration.]

A Multi-Disciplinary Approach
The ENEP undergraduate degree provides students with cross-disciplinary knowledge and analytical skills to address local, national and global energy and environmental issues. Students integrate the methods of economics, policy analysis, environmental geography, science and engineering to solve fundamental energy and environmental problems.

What’s Special About the Program?
The University has the distinction of having created the first Ph.D., Master and Undergraduate degrees in the combined field of energy and environmental policy in the United States. CEEP led the efforts to create these graduate programs and has supported research and education since 1980 in the field. An international panel of experts ranked the Center among the three best in the field.

The undergraduate ENEP program builds upon CEEP’s success to provide undergraduate students with rigorous preparation for careers in this rapidly growing field.

Through this unique cross-disciplinary program, students combine courses in policy analysis, economics, the social and natural sciences, and engineering with CEEP’s well-established internship program to learn in the classroom AND in the practical settings of government, industry, think tanks and environmental organizations. In this way, analytical training and experience-based learning enable the student to apply knowledge to real world challenges.

Facilities and Resources
The degree draws on the wide-ranging expertise of faculty from across the University. Advisors are drawn from the Physics, Engineering, Economics, Political Science, Geography, Communications, Public Policy and CEEP’s own faculty.

CEEP’s Computer Lab contains software and analytical tools that enable students to perform statistical, econometric and GIS (geographical information system) research.

Opportunities for Experience-Based Learning
An internship is required for the ENEP degree, and CEEP’s 20 years of placements with government, industry and research organizations help students in the degree to explore their interests in the real world. Intern placements are in a full range of organizations from the World Bank to the U.S Department of Energy and EPA, electric utilities and their regulators, ESCOs, renewable energy companies, think tanks like the Worldwatch Institute, and environmental organizations such as the Natural Resources Defense Council and Greenpeace. For information on project and internship opportunities, follow these links:

Career Paths
Students are prepared for careers in the areas of energy and environmental planning, policy analysis, management and administration, and research in the public, private and non-profit sectors. Graduates of the program will be qualified to assume positions in local and national governments, international agencies, research and policy institutions, consulting firms, energy utilities, and corporate departments with responsibilities in energy and environmental matters. Energy and environmental policy is a burgeoning field with numerous career opportunities.

Plans of Study
To earn a Bachelor of Science degree in each of the concentrations, students must complete 125 credits and meet specific requirements, as outlined in the University of Delaware catalog. Each semester’s courses will vary, depending on a student’s interest, background and academic preparation. Winter and Summer sessions may be used to lighten the loads of regular semesters.

Illustrative plans of study for each concentration can be viewed by clicking on each Concentration name: