Degree Requirements
The graduate program in Energy and Geo-Environmental Engineering prepares students for careers in the recovery, conversion, and utilization of energy and fuels, including the suppression and remediation of pollution. Both M.S. and Ph.D. programs are offered. A graduate degree is becoming the de facto qualification to work in this area.
Both M.S. and Ph.D. students are required to demonstrate basic competency in the Earth or atmospheric sciences, to demonstrate competency in core areas, to undertake relevant coursework, and to complete a research thesis. Basic and core competencies are usually established by taking prescribed courses in these areas, but appropriate substitutions may be made.
The sequencing of the course of study is described in the Program Sequence. Further details are available in the Degree Program Statement, included in the Penn State Graduate Degree Programs Bulletin.
Student's Program Committee
The student's program of study will be selected from the course matrix, in concurrence with a faculty program committee. A single program committee advises incoming students, ensuring background core competency in basic engineering and the physical sciences.
Core Competencies
Core competency is required in the areas of 'physical' and 'chemical' fundamentals for energy and geo-environmental systems, and additionally in quantification, as defined in the breadth and quantification components. Core competency refers to a desired competency equivalent to an introductory graduate course.
The four core courses for the M.S. and Ph.D. programs include two courses respectively detailing physical [EGEE 500] and chemical [EGEE 510] principles of importance in geo-environmental engineering systems, a quantification course [EGEE 520] and a final integrative design experience [EGEE 580]. The sequencing and interrelationship of these courses is detailed in the Course Matrix.
Areas of Specialization
Specialization is feasible in the broad areas of energy and of the environment. This is feasible through the broad array of elective courses available to the students. An incomplete course listing describes the range of options available. The course listing is viewed as an incomplete list, as students may wish to supplement with courses from other natural or engineering sciences, environmental law, environmental economics, or social studies.
Final determination of courses comprising the specialization will be strongly prescribed by thesis or project research specifics.
All M.S. and Ph.D. students must complete the 'capstone design experience' by taking GeoEE 580, prior to graduation.
Admission Requirements
Entering students should hold a bachelor's degree in a physical science or engineering discipline, with a minimum 3.00 junior/senior grade-point average on a scale of 4.00. Exceptions to the 3.00 grade-point average may be made for students with special backgrounds, abilities and interests.
M.S. Degree Requirements
The program for the M.S. degree must include a total of at least 30 credits, as outlined in the GENERAL INFORMATION section of the Graduate Bulletin. A total of 24 credits of classes are required, selected in accordance with the recommendations of a faculty advisor and program committee. Required classes include a total of 15 credits representing physical [EGEE 500] and chemical [EGEE 510] interactions, quantitative skills [EGEE 520] and integrative design experience [EGEE 580], or equivalent substitution in these main programmatic areas.
The candidate must write a thesis on independent research and defend that thesis.
Ph.D. Degree Requirements
Acceptance into the Ph.D. degree is based on the student's performance in the Ph.D. candidacy exam, usually taken at the end of the first full year following provisional admittance into the program. The oral candidacy exam is administered by an examination committee of program faculty together with the prospective thesis advisor. The candidate must prepare, present and defend two research proposals, one of which may represent the proposed area of doctoral research. This candidacy examination committee will recommend any courses required to satisfy programmatic deficiencies apparent from performance in the examination. A minimum of 15 credits of 500-level classes is required in the doctoral program.
An oral comprehensive exam is administered for the candidate following completion of coursework. The candidate must write a thesis on independent research and present and defend the thesis in a final oral examination.