Renewable Energy, B.TECH., Major #2398
Renewable Energy is a ThinkPad University curriculum in which the use of laptop computers is integrated into courses.
The Renewable Energy Bachelor of Technology (RE B.Tech.) degree provides students with advanced technical education in the rapidly growing field of renewable energy. The RE B.Tech. program focuses on developing skilled graduates who are prepared to enter the job market as system designers, project managers, installation crew leaders, and operations and maintenance technicians for renewable energy systems including grid-tied solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, small wind, heat pump, micro hydroelectric and multiple renewable bioenergy systems.
Students have the flexibility to customize their area of focus for the RE B.Tech. degree by selecting core and technical electives to suit their personal interests and career objectives through consultation with their academic advisor.
An internship is a recommended course option (3-15 credit hours) in the program that places students in a supervised work environment with a cooperating employer. This provides students with opportunities to gain valuable experience, make professional contacts and build their resumes in preparation for future employment and career decisions. Many placement sites are available in New York State, but students who wish to travel can find opportunities in other parts of the country or abroad. Successful internships have included experiences in solar and wind energy, cellular communications, geothermal/HVAC, bioethanol production, and bioenergy systems.
Required tools/equipment: Laptop, clipboard, safety glasses, work gloves, work boots (steel/safety toe), waterproof rubber boots (recommended), hard hat, rain gear (coat and pants/bibs), and cold weather gear (insulated clothing).
Graduates from the RE B.Tech. have been successfully employed in the wind, solar, geothermal, and bioenergy fields as system designers, installation and maintenance technicians, quality control supervisors, and project managers. Graduates are currently working within their chosen renewable energy field in several states across the country and abroad.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
Describe basic social, political, economic and ecological factors impacting renewable energy resources and systems regionally, nationally and abroad.
Demonstrate problem-solving skills and critical thinking in both hands-on and written technical environments.
Assess renewable energy resources for residential, commercial, and industrial renewable energy systems in wind, solar PV, solar thermal, heat pumps, geothermal, micro hydroelectricity and/ or bioenergy for a wide range of sites and client objectives.
Design renewable energy systems, including wind, solar PV, solar thermal, micro hydroelectricity, heat pumps and/or bioenergy, based on thorough resource assessment and client requirements.
Install, maintain, and troubleshoot renewable energy systems. Perform an energy site assessment and develop a comprehensive energy system proposal for a prospective client and defend the proposal rationale in written and verbal discussion.
Work safely and responsibility in groups with diverse individuals
Curriculum Requirements - 120 Credits
Major Field Requirements - 31 credits
course | credits |
|---|---|
RENG 101 Electrical Theory for Renewable Energy | 4 |
RENG 102 Renewable Energy Resources | 3 |
RENG 103 Renewable Energy Seminar | 1 |
RENG 150 Analysis Techniques for Renewable Energy | 1 |
RENG 221 Intro to Small Wind Systems | 3 |
RENG 231 Intro to Solar Photovoltaics | 3 |
RENG 310 Biomass Energy Resources | 3 |
RENG 460 Systems Integration | 3 |
AGEN 125 Residential Electrification | 3 |
AGEN 151 Applied Hydraulics for Hydropower Generation | 3 |
NATR 213 Basics of Geospatial Technology OR CAD 181 Intro to Computer-Aided Drafting | 1 |
CITA 101 Principles of Computers and App | 3 |
Upper-Division Major Electives - 24 Credits from the following courses | |
DTEC 325 - Electrical Power Generation | 3 |
RENG 306 - Alternative Fuel Vehicles | 2 |
RENG 311 -Biofuels | 3 |
RENG 321 - Intro to Micro Hydroelectricity | 3 |
RENG 331 - Intro to Solar Thermal Systems | 3 |
RENG 340 - Renewable Heating and Cooling | 3 |
RENG 420 - Small Wind Systems | 3 |
RENG 430 - Solar Photovoltaics Systems | 3 |
RENG 435 - Advanced Topics in Solar Photovoltaics | 3 |
RENG 450 - Advanced Grid Technologies | 3 |
RREN 450 - Internship Orientation | 1 |
RENG 490 - Renewable Energy Internship | 3-15 |
Liberal Arts & Sciences - 30 Credits from the following: | |
Natural Sciences (as advised) | 12 |
COMP 101 Composition and Research | 3 |
MATH 123 or 141 Statistics | 3 |
Additional General Education as Advised | 12 |
Recommended Technical Electives - 35 credits required | |
Lower Division | |
AGRO 110 Soil Science | 3 |
AGRO 210 Field Crops | 3 |
AUTO 102 Metals (welding) | 3 |
AGEN 161 Basic Hydraulics | 3 |
BSAD 116 Business and Organization Mgt | 3 |
CAD 181 Intro to CAD | 1 |
CAD 183 Architectural CAD | 3 |
CITA 120 Computer Concepts & Operating Systems | 3 |
CITA 140 Introduction to Programming | 3 |
CITA 200 Data Communications and Networking | 3 |
DTEC 150 Diesel Systems | 3 |
ENSC 101 Agricultural Science | 3 |
ENSC 106 Pesticide Use and Handling | 2 |
ENSC 107 Integrated Pest Management | 1 |
MECH 101 Machine Tools | 3 |
MECH 211 Analytical Mechanics (Statics) | 3 |
NATR 103 Natural Resources Equipment Operation | 2 |
NATR 213 Basics of Geospatial Technology | 1 |
RENG 225 Tower Climbing and Rescue | 2 |
RENG 240 - Introduction to Heat Pumps | 3 |
RESC 130 Light Framing | 3 |
RESC 221 Plumbing | 3 |
RESC 260 Heating and Energy Systems | 3 |
Upper Division | |
AGRO 310 Pasture Management and Forage Production | 3 |
BSAD 300 Management Communications | 3 |
BSAD 310 Human Resources Management | 3 |
BSAD 320 Accounting for Entrepreneurs | 3 |
BSAD 400 Production and Operations Mgt | 3 |
CITA 405 Project Management | 3 |
RREN 303 Fundamentals of GPS/GIS | 3 |
RREN 305 Renewable Resources Laws & Regulations | 3 |
RREN 332 Environ. Planning and Natural Resource Management | 3 |
STS 301 Humans vs. Nature | 3 |
Suggested Course Sequencing
Course | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
Year 1/Fall - 17 Credits | ||
RENG 101 - Electrical Theory for Renewable Energy | 4 | |
RENG 102 - Renewable Energy Resources | 3 | |
RENG 103 - Renewable Energy Seminar | 1 | |
MATH 123 - Statistics or as Advised | 3 | |
COMP 101 - Composition and Research | 3 | |
CITA 101 - Principles of Computers and Applications | 3 | |
Year 1/Spring - 14 Credits | ||
RENG 150 - Analysis Techniques for Renewable Energy | 1 | |
AGEN 151 - Applied Hydraulics for Hydropower Generation | 3 | |
AGEN 125 - Residential Electrification | 3 | |
Natural Science - General Education as Advised (e.g. CHEM 110) | 4 | |
Elective as Advised (e.g. HUMN) | 3 | |
Year 2/Fall - 16 Credits | ||
RENG 310 - Biomass Energy Resources | 3 | |
RENG 231 - Introduction to Solar Photovoltaics | 3 | |
Natural Science - General Education as Advised (e.g. PHYS 107) | 4 | |
ELECTIVE - As Advised (e.g. Social Science) | 3 | |
ELECTIVE - Lower Division As advised (e.g. NATR 103) | 3 | |
Year 2/Spring - 17 Credits | ||
CAD 181 - Intro to Computer – Aided Drafting | 1 | |
RENG 221 - Introduction to Small Wind Systems | 3 | |
NAT. SCIE - GenEd –Natural Science As Advised (e.g. BIOL 120) | 4 | |
ELECTIVE - Lower Division As Advised (e.g. RENG 240) | 3 | |
ELECTIVE - GenEd As Advised (e.g. HIST) | 3 | |
ELECTIVE - Lower Division As Advised (e.g. RESC 260) | 3 | |
Year 3/Fall- 15 Credits | ||
RENG 430 - Solar Photovoltaics Systems | 3 | |
DTEC 325 - Electrical Power Generation | 3 | |
ELECTIVE - GenEd – As Advised (e.g. Western Civ) | 3 | |
RENG 311 - Biofuels | 3 | |
Elective - Lower or Upper Division as Advised (e.g. RESC 211) | 3 | |
Year 3/Spring - 14 Credits | ||
RENG 340 - Renewable Heating & Cooling | 3 | |
RENG 435 - Advanced Topics in Solar Photovoltaics | 3 | |
RENG 306 - Alternative Fuel Vehicles | 2 | |
RENG 420 - Small Wind Systems | 3 | |
RENG 331 - Intro to Solar Thermal Systems | 3 | |
Year 4/Fall - 16 Credits | ||
RENG 321 - Intro to Micro Hydroelectricity | 3 | |
RENG 460 - Systems Integration | 3 | |
RREN 450 - Internship Orientation | 1 | |
Elective -General Education as Advised (e.g. Art or Other World Civ) | 3 | |
RENG 450 - Advanced Grid Technologies | 3 | |
Elective - Upper Division as Advised (e.g. CITA 405) | 3 | |
Year 4/Spring - 12 Credits | ||
RENG 490 - Renewable Energy Internship | 12 | |
OR | ||
Elective as Advised (e.g. RREN 303) | 3 | |
Elective - Upper Division as Advised (e.g. RREN 332) | 3 | |
Elective as Advised (e.g. AUTO 102) | 3 | |
Elective as Advised (e.g. BSAD 400) | 3 |