REQUIREMENTS FOR ENERGY ENGINEERING AS A MINOR FIELD
The Energy Engineering Minor curriculum is designed to prepare students to enter directly into a wide variety of careers in the energy sector serving the greater Houston area, national and the international communities. Students of all majors are encouraged to enroll in the courses offered through the program. The curriculum is designed to work within the structure of the students’ majors.
Center for Energy and Environmental Sustainability (CEES) is instrumental in developing the Energy Engineering Minor. The goal of this center is to establish research and education focused on energy engineering. The three research themes of the center are biofuels, wind energy and energy and environment.
The Energy Engineering Minor has four focus areas:
Students shall complete the Energy Engineering Minor through satisfactory completion of 18 SCH from the following courses:
Three Required Energy courses ........................................................................................9 SCH
CHEG 3113 - Introduction to Energy Systems
CVEG 4113 - Energy and Environment
MCEG 3123 - Renewable Energy and Energy Sustainability
Three Elective courses from the following.........................................................................9 SCH
CHEG 4103 Special Topics - Intro to Nuclear
CHEG 4103 Special Topics - Biofuels and Biomass
CHEG 4103 Special Topics - Fossil Fuels
CVEG 4103 Special Topics - Nuclear Waste Management
CVEG 4103 Special Topics - Energy and Waste Management
ELEG 4013 Electromechanical Energy Conversion
ELEG 4023 Power Systems Engineering
ELEG 4223 Photonics and Electronic Materials & Devices
MCEG 4123 Energy System Design
MCEG 4163 Special Topics – Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning
MCEG 4163 Special Topics - Power Plants
Other Energy related courses approved by the College
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
CHEG 3113. Introduction to Energy Systems. (3-0) Credit 3 semester hours. This course introduces fundamental physical and engineering principles associated with various energy systems. Basic energy concepts will be introduced describing the magnitudes and patterns of human energy needs. Historical evolution and present status of the conventional fossil and nuclear-fueled energy will be investigated along with others such as hydropower, biofuels, and the developing renewable energy systems.
Prerequisite: MATH 2024, PHYS 2523, and CHEM 1034 or equivalent.
CVEG 4113. Energy and Environment. (3-0) Credit 3 semester hours. Introduction to climate and climate change, the carbon cycle, air and water pollution from energy systems, impacts and implications of energy use for human health, current energy and energy-related environmental policies to foster the development of sustainable energy technologies, fuels, and practices, energy alternatives for the future and their impact on the local and global environment.
Prerequisite: CHEG 3113.
MCEG 3123. Renewable Energy and Energy Sustainability. (3-0) Credit 3 semester hours. The topics of various types of renewable energies, energy conversion, utilization and storage technologies, such as wind, solar, biomass, fuel cells and hybrid systems. For each source, the physical and technological principles are explained and the economics, environmental impacts and future prospects are examined. The course explores the main factors likely to influence the long-term evolution of the world’s energy systems and the technologies and policies that could be adopted to create more sustainable energy systems.
Prerequisite: CHEG 3113.
CHEG 4103. Special Topics in Chemical Engineering. (3-0) Credit 3 semester hours. This course presents selected current and emerging topics in chemical engineering depending on need as determined by the department faculty.
Prerequisite: Consent of advisor.
CVEG 4103. Special Topics. (3-0) Credit 3 semester hours. Selected current and emerging topics in Civil Engineering depending on need determined by the department. Prerequisites: Senior Standing and Approval by the Department Head.
ELEG 4013. Electromechanical Energy Conversion. (3-0) Credit 3 semester hours. Electric and magnetic devices, force and torque measurements, iron core transformers, single phase and poly phase power circuit analysis. Introduction to per unit system.
Prerequisites: MATH 3685 and ELEG 3013.
ELEG 4023. Power Systems Engineering. (3-0) Credit 3 semester hours. Elementary synchronous machines. General considerations of power generation, transmission, distribution and utilization, survey of load flow, faults, transient stability and economic power dispatch. Prerequisite: ELEG 4013.
ELEG 4223. Electronic and Photonic Materials and Devices. (3-0) Credit 3 semester hours. Properties of insulators, conductors, semiconductors, electro-optical and magnetic materials. Basic operation of opto-electronic devices and systems.
Prerequisite: ELEG 3033
MCEG 4123. Energy System Design. (3-0) Credit 3 semester hours. A design course emphasizing heat exchangers, heat pipes, heat reclamation devices, piping systems, and solar heating and cooling systems.
Prerequisites: MCEG 3013 and MCEG 3023.
MCEG 4163. Special Topics. (3-0) Credit 3 semester hours. Selected current and emerging topics in mechanical engineering depending on need determined by the department.
Prerequisite: Consent of advisor.
