The Penn State RESS program, presented by EME and delivered online by Penn State World Campus, provides a world-class interdisciplinary education to empower professionals in diverse fields to lead the transformation of the world's energy economy to a sustainable basis of operation.
The graduate certificate in Sustainability Management and Policy is designed specifically for aspiring practitioners seeking advanced skills for advancing sustainability practice.
Courses taken in the certificate program may be applied toward the Master of Professional Studies in Renewable Energy and Sustainability Systems (RESS) if the student has earned a B- or better in each course, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit. Certificate students who wish to have certificate courses applied towards the M.P.S. in RESS must apply and be admitted to that degree program. Admission to the RESS graduate degree program is a separate step and is not guaranteed.
Stackable Credentials
Students who earn multiple RESS certificates can “stack” them to build their master’s degree. While the above certificates can serve as a stand-alone credentials, they are part of the stackable model for the Master of Professional Studies in Renewable Energy and Sustainability Systems. Stackable credentials recognize skills and knowledge in a certain area or specialization and allow students to earn multiple certificates within their degree program without incurring multiple application fees.
There are two stackable models currently available in RESS:
- Sustainable Energy Development
- Energy Transition Strategies
- Solar Energy OR Sustainable Management and Policy
- EME 589
Certificate Programs
The graduate certificate in Solar Energy requires completion of 12 credits from the following list of courses:
Required courses:
- EME 810: Solar Resource Assessment and Economics (Fall and Spring)
- AE 878: Solar Project Development and Finance (Fall and Spring)
Elective courses: - EME 812: Utility Solar Power and Concentration (Summer)
- AE 868: Commercial Solar Electric Systems (Fall and Spring)
- EME 897: Solar Energy Integration and Economics (Summer)
Students who are considering applying to the RESS Master's program can count these certificate course credits toward their Master's degree. Students who are accepted and have completed those courses with grades B- or higher as part of the RESS Master's program can also request the Certificate.
The Graduate Certificate in Solar Energy can be completed over two to four semesters, depending on your pace.
If you have questions about the Solar Energy Graduate Certificate, please contact us at info@ress.psu.edu.
Ready to enroll?
Visit the World Campus Solar Energy program page and click 'How to Apply' to start your application today!
The graduate certificate in Sustainability Management and Policy (12 credits) requires completion of the following four courses:
- EME 803: Applied Energy Policy (Fall) or GEOG 432: Energy Policy (Spring)
- EME 805: Sustainability and Nonmarket Enterprise (Summer)
- EME 807: Technologies for Sustainability Systems (Spring or Summer)
- BA 850: Sustainability Driven Innovation (Fall or Spring)
Students who consider applying for the RESS Master's program can count those certificate course credits towards their Master's degree. Students who have accepted and completed those courses with grades B- or higher as part of the RESS Master's program can also request the Certificate.
The Graduate Certificate in Sustainability Management and Policy can be completed over 2 or 3 semesters.
If you have questions about the Sustainability Management and Policy Graduate Certificate, please contact us at info@ress.psu.edu.
Ready to enroll?
Visit the World Campus Sustainability Management page and click 'How to Apply' to start your application today.
The graduate certificate in Energy Transition Strategies (9 credits) requires completion of the following four courses:
- EME 802: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems (Fall or Spring)
- EME 504: Foundations of Sustainability Systems (Summer or Fall)
- EGEE 401: Energy in a Changing World (Spring or Summer)
Students who consider applying for the RESS Master's program can count those certificate course credits towards their Master's degree. Students who have accepted and completed those courses with grades B- or higher as part of the RESS Master's program can also request the Certificate.
The Graduate Certificate in Energy Transition Strategies can be completed over 2 or 3 semesters. If you have questions about this Certificate, please contact us at info@ress.psu.edu.
Ready to enroll?
Visit the Penn State World Campus' Energy Transition Strategies' page and click 'How to Apply' to start your application today!
The graduate certificate in Sustainable Energy Development (9 credits) requires completion of the following four courses:
- EME 801: Energy Markets, Policy, and Regulation (Fall or Spring)
- BIOET 533: Ethical Dimensions of Renewable Energy and Sustainability Systems (Spring or Summer)
- EME 444: Global Energy Enterprise (Fall)
Students who consider applying for the RESS Master's program can count those certificate course credits towards their Master's degree. Students who have accepted and completed those courses with grades B- or higher as part of the RESS Master's program can also request the Certificate.
The Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Energy Development can be completed over 2 or 3 semesters. If you have questions about this Certificate, please contact us at info@ress.psu.edu'
Ready to enroll?
Visit the World Campus' Sustainable Energy Development page to get more information and click 'How to Apply' to start your application today!