Energy & Sustainability, Minor

The minor in Energy and Sustainability provides students with broad coverage of technical and societal issues in energy and sustainability. It is designed to help students become leaders in developing technologies for a more sustainable energy future.

Energy and Sustainability Minor

Students participating in the minor are expected to have taken at least one semester of intro chemistry, mathematics and physics.

Fundamental Engineering Science
Select one of the following:1
Material and Energy Balances of Chemical Processes
Thermodynamics of Fluids
Thermodynamics
Energetics of Macro and Nano-scale Materials
Physical Chemistry I
Principles of Physics III: Vibrations and Waves, Special Relativity, and Thermal Physics
Energy and Sustainability Systems and Technology
Select one of the following:1
Energy Systems, Resources and Technology
Energy and Sustainability: Science, Engineering and Technology
Energy and Sustainability Policy, Regulation and Societal Impact
Select one of the following:1
Climate Policy and Technology
Energy and Its Impacts: Technology, Environment, Economics, Sustainability
Renewable Energy and Its Impacts: Technology, Environment, Economics, Sustainability.
Energy Systems and Policy
Introduction to Energy Policy
Energy Grand Challenges at the Interface of Technology and Policy
Energy Justice
Decarbonization & Net Zero
Greenhouse Gas Removals & Net Zero
Developing Environmental Policy
Energy and Sustainability Electives
Select 3 course units of the following:3
Engineering and the Environment
Sustainability of Materials
Carbon Capture
Electrochemistry Fundamentals, Practices, and Analysis
Computational Science of Energy and Chemical Transformations
Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage
The Physics of Solid State Energy Devices
Energy Engineering in Power Plants and Transportation Systems
Direct Energy Conversion: from Macro to Nano
Water Treatment Engineering
Electrochemical Engineering of Materials
Materials for Energy and Environmental Sustainability
Sustainable Development of Water Resource Systems
Total Course Units6

SEAS Minor Option

Students interested in declaring a minor with SEAS should check the website of the department overseeing the minor for the requirements. Students are encouraged to reach out to the department staff if they have any questions or would like to discuss the requirements and/or their plan of completion. Students then must submit the Declare/Update Field of Study PATH form, which will go through multiple approval steps before the minor is added to the student's record. 

For more information: please visit https://academics.seas.upenn.edu/ugrad/student-handbook/programs-options/minors/


The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2026 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.