Master of Science Program

Students in this program learn about the basics of power grid, the technical challenges of a grid with high penetration of renewable energies, the existing policy, and the pricing of the grid, while also learning the rudiments of project management—a necessary tool in this field. More specifically, through coursework and research activities, the program provides scientific foundations in the following areas:

• Fundamentals of power systems
• Different types of renewable energies
• Storage systems
• Public policy
• Economics of energy

Students interested in this major must satisfy the standard admissions criteria used by the School of Engineering, which include an undergraduate degree in a field of engineering (physics degrees will also be considered), appropriate GRE scores, and (for international students) demonstrated proficiency in English. Both TOEFL and IELTS scores are acceptable for this purpose. All students are expected to maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 while enrolled in the program. They must also develop a Power Systems & Sustainable Energy Program of Study-New Req with the program advisor and file this document with the Graduate Services Office by the end of their first quarter at SCU.

Required Courses

• Foundational courses:

ELEN 280/MECH 287 Introduction to Alternative Energy Systems (2 units)

ELEN 281A Power Systems: Generation and Transmission (2 units)

ELEN 281B Power Systems: Distribution (2 units)

ELEN 285 Introduction to the Smart Grid (2 units)

• Graduate Core courses:

EMGT 380 Introduction to Systems Engineering Management (2 units)

CENG 208 Engineering Economics and Project Finance (3 units) or EMGT 255 Accounting and Cost Control for Project Managers

ENGR 272 Energy Public Policy (2 units)

ENGR 273 Sustainable Energy and Ethics (2 units) or ENGR 344 Artificial Intelligence and Ethics

• Applied Mathematics courses:

AMTH 245 Linear Algebra I (2 units)

AMTH 246 Linear Algebra II (2 units)

• 4 units to be selected in consultation with the student's academic advisor.
• A set of specialized energy-related courses that are appropriate to the area of engineering in which the student is interested. These four areas are:

Mechanical Engineering

• ELEN 231 Power System Stability and Control (4 units)
• MECH 228 Equilibrium Thermodynamics (2 units) or MECH 230 Statistical Thermodynamics (2 units)
• ELEN 287/ENGR 339 Energy Storage Systems (2 units)
• MECH 288 Energy Conversion I (2 units)

Electrical Engineering

• ELEN 231 Power System Stability and Control (4 units)
• ELEN 287/ENGR 339 Energy Storage Systems (2 units)
• ELEN 288 Energy Management Systems (2 units) or ELEN 236 Linear Control Systems (2 units)
• ELEN 353 DC to DC Power Conversion (2 units)

Computer Engineering

• COEN 242 Big Data (4 units) or COEN 240 Machine Learning (4 units)
• COEN 243 Internet of Things (4 units)
• COEN 266 Artificial Intelligence (4 units)

Civil Engineering

• CENG 217 Sustainable Infrastructure for Developing Countries (4 units) and CENG 288 Emerging Decision and Risk Analysis (4 units)
• CENG 219 Designing for Sustainable Construction (4 units)
• CENG 249 Civil Systems Engineering (4 units)

Additional elective courses to complete the 46-unit requirement, which must be approved by the academic advisor. These elective courses may include a thesis, up to 9 units.