Undergraduate Minor

The Minor in Energy, administered by the College of Engineering, provides students with a foundation in energy science that focuses on topics of fundamental physical principles guiding energy generation, utilization, conservation, engineering applications and the impact of energy within a societal and geological context. Students gain a perspective in energy science that is applicable to many disciplines and highly interdisciplinary. It offers opportunities for students to prepare to work in industry, research, or government, as well as preparation for graduate studies in energy science.

The minor is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs in the College of Engineering. With the approval of the department and college that administer the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree. At least 9 credits counted towards the requirements for this minor must be unique. Unique credits must not be used to fulfill another university, college, or major requirement in the student’s program.

Students who plan to complete the requirements of the minor should consult the undergraduate advisor in the College of Engineering. Students accepted into the minor must be admitted to the College of Engineering and have completed items 1. and 2. of the requirements stated below. Enrollment for some courses may not be available and may be limited. Application forms are available at https://www.egr.msu.edu/forms/forms/undergraduate-studies/application-form-minor-energy.

Requirements for the Minor in Energy

Complete a minimum of 21 credits from the following. 

1.	One of the following course (3 credits):
	BE	230	Engineering Analysis of Biological Systems						3
	CHE	201	Material and Energy Balances						3
	MSE	250	Materials Science and Engineering						3
2.	One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
	BE	351	Thermodynamics for Biological Engineering						3
	CHE	321	Thermodynamics for Chemical Engineering						4
	ECE	320	Energy Conversion and Power Electronics						3
	ME	201	Thermodynamics						3
	MSE	310	Phase Equilibria in Materials						3
3.	One of the following courses (3 credits):
	BE	456	Electric Power and Control						3
	ECE	302	Electronic Circuits						3
	ECE	345	Electronic Instrumentation and Systems						3
4.	One of the following courses (3 credits):
	CE	473	Smart and Sustainable Building Design and Operations						3
	ENE	472	Life Cycle Assessment of Energy Technologies						3
	ME	417	Design of Alternative Energy Systems						3
	MSE	410	Materials Foundations for Energy Applications						3
5.	One of the following courses (3 credits):
	AESC	310	Sustainable Systems Analysis						3
	AFRE	265	Ecological Economics						3
	CE	371	Sustainable Civil and Environmental Engineering Systems						3
	CSUS	200	Introduction to Sustainability						3
6.	Two of the following courses (6 to 8 credits):
	AFRE	360	Environmental Economics						3
	AFRE	829	Economics of Environmental Resources						3
	BE	469	Sustainable Bioenergy Systems						3
	CE	473	Smart and Sustainable Building Design and Operations						3
	CEM	485	Modern Nuclear Chemistry						3
	CHE	468	Biomass Conversion Engineering						3
	CSS	467	BioEnergy Feedstock Production						3
	CSUS	200	Introduction Sustainability						3
	CSUS	259	Sustainable Energy and Society						3
	CSUS	491	Special Topics in Community Sustainability						1 to 3
	ECE	423	Power System Analysis						3
	ECE	425	Solid State Power Conversion						3
	ECE	476	Electro-Optics						4
	ECE	821	Advanced Power Electronics and Applications						3
	ENE	472	Life Cycle Assessment of Energy Technologies						3
	ENE	489	Air Pollution: Science and Engineering						3
	FOR	414	Renewable Wood Products						3
	GLG	201	Introduction to Earth and Planetary Sciences						4
	GLG	203	Geology of the Great Lakes						3
	GLG	471	Applied Geophysics						4
	MC	450	International Environmental Law and Policy						3
	ME	417	Design of Alternative Energy Systems						3
	ME	422	Introduction to Combustion						3
	ME	442	Turbomachinery						3
	ME	444	Automotive Engines						3
	MSE	410	Materials Foundations for Energy Applications						3
	MSE	460	Electronic Structure and Bonding in Materials and Devices						3
	TSM	130	Energy Efficiency and Conservation in Agricultural Systems						3
	A course used to fulfill requirement 4. or 5. above may not be used to fulfill requirement 6. Not all courses will be available to all majors and students must meet all course prerequisites and restrictions.