Engineering Courses
Only want to take one class with a focus on sustainability rather than a minor or major? You can still take a variety of courses within the curriculum that also count towards General Education Credit, Issues credit, or may be required within your major.
For updated information of course listings and descriptions visit the Course Catalog
Engineering
EGR 302 - Engineering Decision-Making in Society
Engineering decisions affect almost everyone in the modern world. This course studies the potential broad impacts of these decisions within social, economic, environmental, and global contexts. This course, through case studies, places engineering in a wider context, emphasizing the application of ethical models to recognize professional responsibilities in engineering situations. Part of the Information, Innovation, or Technology Issue. Offered fall and winter semesters. Prerequisites: Junior standing and fulfillment of general education Foundations - Writing.
EGR 306 - Urban Sustainability
Social, environmental, economic points of view engaged to study how successful cities work. Study approached using assigned reading compared to direct observation and immersion into urban environments. Focus: interaction of built environment with
social, natural environment. How engineering decisions about materials used in buildings impact structural integrity, energy use, economics. Offered fall and winter semesters. Part of the Sustainability Issue. Prerequisites: Junior standing, MTH 110
EGR 329 - Introduction to Finite Element Analysis
Main topics: Modeling techniques, element technology, materials, loading, constraints, and results post-processing using commercial software. Emphasis: Element behavior, planning of analyses, errors, critique of FE results. The course project is design oriented. Applications: Mainly structural analyses and elementary treatment of heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and dynamics. Offered summer semester. Prerequisites: EGR 309 and admitted to biomedical, interdisciplinary, or mechanical engineering major.
EGR 406 - Renewable Energy Systems: Structure, Policy, and Analysis
A survey of the technological as well as economic, societal, and public policy issues associated with renewable energy systems. Topics include generation using renewable resources such as solar, wind, hydropower, and biomass as well as advanced
energy storage systems and distribution. Energy research and analysis techniques are introduced.
EGR 413 - Materials for Energy Storage
Study of the materials for advanced energy storage. Topics include electrochemical reactions, anode and cathode materials, electrolyte materials, electrochemical testing of materials, typical responses of common materials, and life testing. In addition, tradeoffs in material performance are discussed.
EGR 463 - Alternative Energy Systems and Applications
Introduction to the current issues of energy for sustainability. Principles of alternative and renewable energy sources including solar thermal, solar photovoltaic, wind, hydropower, biomass, geothermal, hydrogen and nuclear energy. Fundamentals of combustion of hydrocarbon fuels and alternative fuels such as biofuels. Fuel cells and electrochemical energy storage units. Offered fall semester. Prerequisites: EGR 360 or PHY 360 or permission of instructor. 4 cr
EGR 513 - Materials for Energy Storage
Study of the materials for advanced energy storage. Topics include electrochemical reactions, anode and cathode materials, electrolyte materials, electrochemical testing of materials, typical responses of common materials, and life testing. In addition, tradeoffs in material performance are discussed. Offered fall semester. Prerequisites: EGR 250 or EGR 257 or by permit. 3 cr
EGR 563 - Alternative Energy Systems and Applications
Introduction to the current issues of energy for sustainability. Principles of alternative and renewable energy sources including solar thermal, solar photovoltaic, wind, hydropower, biomass, geothermal, hydrogen, and nuclear energy. Fundamentals of combustion of hydrocarbon fuels and alternative fuels such as biofuels. Fuel cells and electrochemical energy storage units. Offered fall semester. Cross-listed with EGR 463. Prerequisites: EGR 360 or EGR 362, or permission of instructor. Admitted to mechanical, interdisciplinary, or product design and manufacturing engineering major.