Brown University’s one year, on-campus master of science in sustainable energy prepares you to tackle global climate change and lead the transition to a decarbonized energy future.
The master’s in sustainable energy program equips you with the interdisciplinary knowledge and skills to deploy sustainable energy systems, positioning you at the forefront of a historic transition toward a decarbonized energy future. Addressing the urgent and growing demand for technically and scientifically literate practitioners, this program prepares you to join cross-disciplinary teams in both the public and private sectors, crafting transition pathways and advancing sustainable energy solutions.
This program offers the following degree:
- Master of Science (Sc.M.)
Designed to provide a foundation for future practitioners, the curriculum integrates a broad range of cross-disciplinary topics, including science, engineering, policy, economics and business. You will gain a forward-thinking framework that not only covers current practices but also explores potential pathways for the energy system’s evolution over the next two to three decades. Through hands-on engagement with energy system analysis and modeling, you will develop expertise in the practical issues of deploying sustainable energy systems, preparing you to lead efforts in electrification and decarbonization.
Course content designed by the School of Engineering specifically for this program includes sustainable energy science and technology, policy and economics of energy transitions, electrification and decarbonization, and energy and climate system modeling. In addition to this core content shared by the entire cohort, you will select a focus area drawing on selected topics from across the Brown curriculum, including courses taught by faculty in the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society (IBES) and the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs. Depending on your background and career goals, you may choose to focus on topics in the science and technology of energy generation and power systems, materials for energy applications, or policy and economic dimensions of energy and the environment, including climate change.
Career Outcomes
Upon completion of this program, you will be prepared for roles in renewable energy, electrification, decarbonization and climate mitigation. Graduates pursue careers as staff scientists, program managers, R&D analysts, policy leads, and more. The program’s practical focus also provides a solid foundation for those considering Ph.D. studies in engineering, physical sciences or environmental studies.
Application Information
If you have any questions regarding the application process for this program, please email masters_admissions@brown.edu.
Application Requirements
GRE Subject:
Not required.
GRE General:
Not required, but encouraged.
TOEFL/IELTS:
Required for any non-native English speaker who does not have a degree from an institution where English is the sole language of instruction or from a University in the following countries: Australia, Bahamas, Botswana, Cameroon, Canada (except Quebec), Ethiopia, Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, New Zealand, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Tanzania, Gambia, Uganda, United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales), West Indies, Zambia).
The TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition and the IELTS Indicator exam are accepted.
Students from mainland China may submit the TOEFL ITP Plus exam.
Official Transcripts:
Required. All applicants may upload unofficial transcripts for application submission. Official transcripts are ONLY required for enrolling students before class start. An international transcript evaluation (WES, ECE, or The Evaluation Company) is required for degrees from non-U.S. institutions before enrollment.
Letters of Recommendations:
Three (3) recommendations required.
Personal Statement:
1000-1500 word personal statement that gives your reasons to pursue graduate work in the field of your study. The statement should include examples of your past work in your chosen field, your plans for study at Brown, issues and problems you'd like to address in your field and your professional goals.
Resume/CV:
Required.
Dates/Deadlines
Application Deadline
Tuition and Funding
Graduate Tuition & Fees: Please visit the Student Financial Services Office for up-to-date tuition rates.
Completion Requirements
The core of the Sc.M. in Sustainable Energy includes three required courses. One of these is structured as two mini-courses, each being a one-half-credit module. Together, these three courses aim to condense a large body of cross-disciplinary material into a cohesive foundation for would-be practitioners.
- Sustainable Energy Science and Technology - Students learn the fundamental thermodynamics of energy conversions, as well as the tools to analyze energy technologies. The course covers the basic science of greenhouse-gas induced climate change, and analysis of energy technologies in terms of the trade-offs involved in emissions, cost, scalability, land use, and resource ability.
- Policy and Economics of Energy Transitions (½-credit course) - provides an intensive overview of the policy and economic processes involved in the clean energy transition, with examples drawn from the U.S. as well as the world.
- Energy and Climate Systems Modeling (½-credit course) - examines global energy systems from a variety of technological and economic perspectives: technological transitions, renewable energy markets, climate science, and the complex relationship between energy consumption and climate change negotiations.
- Electrification and Decarbonization - Students learn the fundamentals of the electrical grid in the U.S., including its history, ownership and regulatory structure, physics, and economics. The emphasis is on how the traditional and risk-averse focus on reliability and low cost can evolve in the decarbonization transition, expanding to target a smarter, more resilient, and more equitable set of societal goods.
There is no capstone or thesis requirement. For their remaining five courses in the 1-year / eight-credit program, students shall select one focus area consisting of at least three related courses, with the remaining courses being free electives. Please note that not all courses are available each semester. Please consult the University Bulletin for the most current offerings and requirements.
Leadership
Contact and Location
School of Engineering
Location Address
Box D, 184 Hope Street
Providence, RI 02912