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Renewable and Clean Energy Engineering (M.S.)

Master of Science in Renewable and Clean Energy Engineering - In-Person or Remote Learning

Climate change represents an existential threat to civilization. When you join our renewable and clean energy engineering master's program (RCL), you’ll be committing to developing solutions for this challenge, which affects every person and all life on our planet, to help create a world with a sustainable future.

RCL attracts the best and brightest from around the globe, with students coming from over 30 countries, including Fulbright scholars from places like Afghanistan, Indonesia, Brazil, Haiti, and Upper Mongolia. Our program has developed clean energy and sustainability professionals serving as leaders in their profession, communities, regions and nations.

Our program is available for both on-campus and remote students.

Join us to be part of the solution the world needs.

Career Outlook and Highlights 

Our graduates are working with energy service companies, energy utilities in energy reduction and renewable energy roles, renewable energy development and installation companies, local governmental or national energy and/or sustainability management roles.


Program Details

Our program will help you to grow your passion for clean energy and sustainability, develop your skills to design, optimize, and manage renewable energy systems, and assess and improve the energy efficiency of existing systems. You will also grow in your ability to be agents of change in your local, regional, and national communities. In-depth courses in solar engineering, geothermal engineering, wind engineering, biofuels, building and industrial energy efficiency develop, and energy data analytics. Project-based experiences linked to industrial and governmental partners are included in nearly every course. Whether you are on-campus or remote, you will be able to become involved in clean energy and sustainability research with our faculty.


Clean Energy and Sustainability Research

  • Sustainable design and manufacturing, Energy and resource efficiency, Life cycle management, Circular economy, and Macroeconomic modeling for energy/environmental policies: Jun-Ki Choi
  • Clean energy and sustainability data analytics; Clean energy and sustainability equity; Regenerative agriculture: Kevin Hallinan 
  • Geothermal energy, geothermal heat pumps and seasonal energy storage; Solar energy utilization; Energy efficient buildings; District/community energy systems: Andrew Chiasson
  • Climate analytics on sustainable energy access and system transformation in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS): Robert Brecha
  • Intersection of personal behavior and sustainability (See his writing at joulethieves.com)’ Thermal radiation optimized design in solar energy systems; regenerative agriculture: Rydge Mulford
  • Concentrated solar-thermal resources to produce process heat for power cycles, Propulsion systems; Thermochemical systems; Desalination and materials production: Andrew Schraeder

Plan of Study

To learn more about the available courses and to view a sample plan of study, please reference our Academic Catalog.

A minimum of 30 semester hours:

  • Thesis option: 24 semester hours of course work (8 classes) and 6 semester hours of research credit

Non-thesis option: 30 semester hours of course work (10 classes). (Suggested for International Students.)


Admission Requirements

In addition to the online application, you should submit the following:

  1. Official academic records of all previously attended colleges or universities must be submitted directly from the colleges or universities to the Office of Graduate Admission Processing. Hand-carried transcripts, official copies marked Issued to Student and unofficial copies are not acceptable.
  2. Three letters of recommendation from professors or employers.
  3. A personal statement or résumé.
  4. Results from the GRE are not required. However, candidates are welcome to submit a score in support of their application.

Applicants must have an undergraduate degree from an accredited program in engineering, physics, chemistry, applied mathematics or other appropriate program of study. Applicants with a different undergraduate degree may be required to complete prerequisites. Applicants should have at least a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average on a 4.0 scale. Some programs require higher GPAs for admission. In some cases, applicants with a GPA below 3.0 may be admitted on a conditional basis.

Additional requirements apply for international students.


Application Deadlines

Applications accepted on a rolling basis with the following approximate general deadlines:

  • Fall Term: June 15th
  • Spring Term: November 15th
  • Summer Term: March 15th

Questions

Should you have questions about our program, please contact the program director, Dr. Kevin Hallinan, khallinan1@udayton.edu.

International students: Because of the magnitude of inquiries we receive, we regret that we have to say that presently we do not offer assistance for tuition or research. It is possible for international students to work into research funding through excellence in classes and demonstration of research potential. Such funding is very competitive. 

It is a fact, however, that international students, after graduation, have been able to find employment as 'clean energy' engineers in the U.S. We have a strong linkage to employers throughout the U.S.

Bachelor's Plus Master's Program

The School of Engineering Bachelor's Plus Master's (BPM) Program encourages high-performing UD undergraduate students to continue their studies and complete a Master's Degree at UD. Earn your Master's degree in an accelerated program and enjoy a deeply discounted graduate tuition rate!

Faculty Activities

Selected publications, presentations, invited lectures and sponsored research.

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Assistantship Opportunities for You

Annual, renewable assistantships with tuition and a monthly stipend are available in all engineering departments. Master’s and doctoral students may apply, but current University of Dayton undergraduate and graduate students are not eligible.

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CONTACT

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Dr. Jamie Ervin, Department Chair

Kettering Laboratories
300 College Park
Dayton, Ohio 45469 - 0238
937-229-2835
Email