Energy Technology Certificate

Offered every term. Nature of business enterprise; role of business in society; problems confronting business management; career opportunities in business. Open to non-business majors and business majors of freshman or sophomore standing only. Business majors are advised to register for the course their freshman year. Credit allowed for only one of BGEN 105S, MIS 100S, IS 100S, BADM 100S and BUS 103S.

Offered autumn and spring. Problem solving and data modeling using computer productivity software. Emphasis using spreadsheets and database for data analysis. Credit not allowed for CSCI 172, CRT 172, and CS 172.

Offered autumn and spring. M 090 or ALEKS score >2 recommended prior to taking course. An introduction to direct current (DC) and analysis of series, parallel, and series-parallel circuits. Topics include electrical quantities, units of measurement, measurement instruments, resistors, current, voltage, power, energy, network theorems, equivalent circuits, magnetism, and electromagnetism. Laboratory experiments include circuit analysis; the proper use of measurement equipment and techniques; and troubleshooting.

Offered autumn and spring. Analysis of alternating current (AC) circuits and the behavior of capacitors, inductors, reactance, impedance, transformers, and signal filters. Laboratory experiments include circuit analysis, the use of proper measurement equipment, and troubleshooting.

Offered autumn. Prereq/Co-req., ETEC 105. Covers proper techniques of soldering and tool usage. Electronic technical language, hands on troubleshooting skills and basic electronic measurements are involved.

Offered spring. Prereq., ETEC 106, M 121, Prereq/Co-req., M 122. A review of the principles of electricity, magnetism, and transformer action; the application of these principles in the operation of single-phase and three-phase ac/de motors, alternators, and generators; and the control methods for these electrical devices.

Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., M 095 or ALEKS placement >= 4. Intended to strengthen algebra skills. The study of functions and their inverses; polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions. Credit not allowed for both M 121, and M 151.

Offered autumn. A survey of traditional energy systems and technologies. Introduces conventional primary energy sources--coal, oil, gas, nuclear--and examines the technologies used to capture, convert, distribute, store, and utilize these energy sources. Consideration is given to physical and engineering aspects, as well as economic, social environmental, and political factors that determine the sustainability of these sources.

Offered summer only. Prereq., NRGY 101, M 121 or consent of instructor. Same as CCS 191. The practicum provides students with a supervised field experience. Students will gain hands-on experience with energy specific technologies in a fast-paced creative environment. This course increases students' occupational awareness and professionalism.

Offered Spring. Prereq., NRGY 101. Provides an overview of energy efficiency opportunities in residential buildings with an emphasis on the Passivhaus standard. Prepares the student to take the National RESNET Home Energy Rater Exam, which is a required final exam. Local home and industry tours, and hands-on exposure to HVAC controls and maintenance are also offered. Study of the analysis techniques used for reduction of energy consumption and energy management, including energy accounting and energy auditing. Residential and commercial building energy efficiency opportunities will be covered. Other topics addressed include motors, pumps, green building, and purchasing energy supplies. Career opportunities in energy efficiency will be discussed. Several local tours of energy-efficient homes will occur throughout the semester.

UM: Offered every term. Prereq., WRIT 095 or proof of passing score on writing diagnostic examination, referral by WRIT 095 instructor-SAT writing score at or above 440, MUSWA at or above 3.5, SAT/ACT essay score at or above 7, or ACT Combined English/Writing score at or above 18. Expository prose and research paper; emphasis on structure, argument, development of ideas, clarity, style, and diction. Students expected to write without major faults in grammar or usage. Credit not allowed for both WRIT 101 and COM 101. Grading A-F, or NC (no credit). MC: Offered every term. Prereq., WRIT 095 or proof of appropriate SAT/ACT essay, English/Writing, writing section scores, appropriate MUSWA scores, or proof of passing scores on Writing Placement Exam). Expository prose and research paper; emphasis on structure, argument, development of ideas, clarity, style, and diction. Students expected to write without major faults in grammar or usage. Grading A-F, or NC (no credit).

Offered autumn. Prereq., NRGY 101, M 121. Identifies alternative fuel sources; explores fuel characteristics; identifies and evaluates the infrastructure required to produce, store, distribute, and use them; discusses emission and conversion efficiencies; assesses social, environmental, and economic impacts.

Offered autumn. Prereq., NRGY 101, M 121, Prereq., or Co-req., M 122. Same as CCS 242. Introduction to the fundamentals of solar and wind energy for the design and installation of solar thermal and wind systems. Includes an overview of the physics and chemistry of the resource and the technology, and will prepare students for a career in renewable energy or for installing a renewable energy system on their own home. Credit given for NRG 242 or CCS 242, not both.

Offered spring. Prereq., M 121, Prereq./Co-req., ETEC 105. An introduction to the fundamental principles and technologies of solar photovoltaic energy systems. Emphasis on system design and installation, including site and resource assessment, load analysis, troubleshooting, and cost analysis. The material covered prepares students for a career in renewable energy or for installing a renewable energy system on their own home.

Offered spring. Prereqs., SCN 175N, M 121 and NRGY 102, or consent of instructor. Investigates the physical nature of various biorenewable resources and the technologies currently employed to produce, harvest, refine and convert these into useable energy, feedstocks and products.

Offered spring. Prereq., NRGY 101, M 121. An introduction to the different types of fuel cells (hydrogen, biological, metal/air, proton exchange membrane, etc.) accompanied by a critical examination of their applications, operation, efficiencies, advantages and disadvantages. Students must purchase a fuel cell kit for a laboratory component.

Offered Autumn. Prereqs., NRGY 101 and 102 and M 121. An introduction to the physical and technical aspects of geothermal energy systems. Topics covered include the fundamental principles of geology and hydrology, heat flow mechanisms, and a consideration of heat exchange systems including: dry steam, flash, binary systems, heat pumps, passive systems. The course also surveys political, economic, ecological, and social aspects of geothermal energy development.

Offered summer. An introduction to the terminology, policies, and mathematical models for financing energy technology projects. Concepts covered include time value of money, tax code, triple bottom line, and cost-benefit analysis. Microsoft Excel will be used.

Prereq., Familiarity with general materials and their properties is assumed. Students must possess basic word processing skills, be able to download and open relatively large PDF files, and perform functions such as loading software and navigating between folders and files. Familiarity with basic computing skills is a must for online courses and will significantly influence your course experience. Provides an overview of recycling opportunities at both the residential and industrial scale. Prepares the student to work with a variety of materials including cellulosic, plastic, metal, glass and electronics waste. Students will be exposed to ANSI-IREC standards as well as LEED standards for repurposing and “upcycling” materials. Local home and industry tours, and hands-on exposure to materials processors such as glass pulverizer, cardboard grinders and plastics extruders will be part of the course. Study of efficiency techniques used for reduction of virgin material consumption and waste management, including materials auditing and accessing international materials reclamation will be included. Career opportunities in a variety of industries related to materials reclamation will be discussed. Possible projects include the building of a solar thermal forge.

Offered every term. Preq., consent of instr. Independent research under the direction of a faculty member.

(R-6) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of Energy Technology faculty and visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

(R-6) Offered intermittently. Course material appropriate to the needs and objectives of the individual student.

(R-9) Offered spring and autumn. Students participate in an energy technology design, building, testing, and competition. Previous examples include participation in the Shell EcoMarathon and the American Society of Mechanical Engineering Human Powered Vehicle Challenge. This course is very time intensive and will require meetings outside of regularly scheduled class times. Travel to competition is strongly encouraged, but not required.