2023-2024 Cal Poly Humboldt Catalog 
    
    Apr 20, 2024  
2023-2024 Cal Poly Humboldt Catalog

Energy Systems Engineering, B.S.


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The Energy Systems Engineering program prepares students for careers in developing, designing, operating, and analyzing clean energy systems. Students start with a solid foundation in the natural and physical sciences, humanities, math, computational science, data analysis, and engineering design. Courses on applied energy systems engineering topics, climate science, justice, and project development build on that base of knowledge to provide well-rounded preparation for solving energy and natural resource engineering challenges. Possible career pathways include: renewable energy generation and supply, electric utility sector work, small-scale or distributed power system development, building energy efficiency and HVAC systems, clean transportation, research and development, energy and environmental policy, and others.  

Requirements for the Bachelor’s Degree


A bachelor’s degree requires a total of 120 units. Students must fulfill residency, unit, and GPA requirements as outlined in the Bachelor’s Degree Requirements . This major includes a Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) certified course.

General Education Modifications for Engineering Majors


The Cal Poly Humboldt engineering programs: Energy Systems Engineering, Environmental Resources Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Software Engineering programs have approval for the following GE requirements to be fulfilled by completion of all major coursework.

Lower Division  A3: Critical Thinking (3 Units), D: Social Science (3 Units), GE Area E: Lifelong Learning (3 Units); and Upper Division GE Area B: Math & Science (3 Units). In addition, the Cal Poly Humboldt engineering programs have approval for courses fulfilling requirements in American Institutions (6 Units) to count as fulfilling Lower Division GE (6 Units). It is recommended that Engineering majors choose NAS 200 to satisfy both GE area F and the U.S. History American Institutions requirements. 

Students who change out of these engineering majors are encouraged to contact the Office of the Registrar or the Academic & Career Advising Center regarding completion of GE requirements.

The following degree requirements must be fulfilled in addition to those listed below for the major:

  • Lower Division GE  Area A2: English Language Communication and Area C: Arts and Humanities (9 Units); 
  • American Institutions: U.S. and California State Government / GE Area D (3 Units) and U.S. History / Lower Division GE Area F / DCG: Domestic with NAS 200 (3 Units)
  • Upper Division GE Area C: Arts and Humanities (3 Units) and Area D: Social Sciences (3 Units)
  • Diversity and Common Ground (0-3 Units)

Requirements for the Major (96 Units)


A minimum grade of C- is required for all courses in the major. Grades of D+, D, F, WU, and NC count as failed attempts. Required courses in the major may not be repeated more than one time. If a student has two failed attempts in a required course, the student will not be able to graduate with an Energy Systems Engineering degree.

Elective Requirement (15 Units)


With advice and approval of a faculty advisor or the department chair, select three engineering design elective courses, one energy and environmental justice elective course and one geoscience and climate science elective course from the following lists to form a coherent elective program.

Geoscience and Climate Science Elective (3 Units)


Complete one course.

Program Learning Outcomes


Students completing this program will be able to:

  1. Identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
  2. Apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
  3. Communicate effectively with a range of audiences
  4. Recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
  5. Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
  6. Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
  7. Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies

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