New master’s degree program in energy engineering prepares students for high demand, innovation driven careers

Oakland University's new Master of Science in Energy Engineering degree program will prepare students for advanced-level energy engineering roles in areas including power generation, energy generation, conversion, distribution and storage, fuels, transportation, energy efficiency, and sustainable energy solutions.
Since energy engineering is a multidisciplinary field, the new master's degree program is being offered by the Department of Mechanical Engineering in collaboration with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, both within Oakland University's School of Engineering and Computer Science (SECS).

"Putting this new program together has really been a collaborative effort. We have faculty from many different departments at OU that do cutting-edge research on different aspects of energy," said Professor Xia Wang, chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. "This new program will provide students with access to all these different expertise, courses, and knowledge."

Energy is among the nation's fastest-growing fields, employing 8.1 million people across the U.S. and almost 400,000 in Michigan. From 2020 to 2021, Michigan added more than 35,000 energy jobs, the largest increase of any state, fueled by innovation and research in areas including renewable energies, battery technologies, and hybrid and electric vehicles.

This trend is expected to continue in light of the nation's goal to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. In Michigan, energy employers currently report difficulty recruiting and hiring qualified personnel for more than 50% of their job openings related to energy.

"We consulted with industry about the curriculum to ensure that students will develop the skills needed to set them apart from the competition," said Professor Jonathan Maisonneuve, coordinator for the new program. "There are many great companies in Michigan and throughout the U.S. that are recruiting engineers with a specialized knowledge of energy systems."

The 32-credit curriculum consists of foundation, depth, capstone and elective courses. To make the program accessible to students from a wide range of undergraduate backgrounds, foundation courses include two new courses designed to equip students with fundamental theory from both mechanical and electrical engineering. Depth courses allow students to specialize in an area of energy engineering, including renewable energy, battery technology, vehicle electrification, energy use efficiency, or thermo-fluid science and engineering. Capstone courses provide students with opportunities for experiential experience related to an applied industry or research project. Elective courses allow students to explore broader complementary skillsets or additional depth and specialization, including from non-SECS courses in the area of sustainability.

OU's master's degree program in energy engineering will start in Winter 2025. For more information, or to apply to the program, visit the web page.