GDEV 3259

Energy and Environment

Course Description

Course information provided by the 2026-2027 Catalog.

This course will provide the basic toolkit for students to have an informed discussion on energy systems, and our future energy portfolio. Course material will begin with demand (what forms of energy we use, and how it is embedded into the things we consume) and continue on to supply (principles of energy production, and the energetics + economics of conventional and renewable energy sources). The course will emphasize trade-offs among energy sources of cost, land use, pollution, and climate, and what they imply for new energy development.

Distribution Requirements (DLG-AG, MQL-AG, SCH-AG)

Exploratory Studies (CU-SBY)

Last 4 Terms Offered (None)

Learning Outcomes

• Analyze fundamental principles of thermodynamics and evaluate their application to energy production and renewable energy technologies.
• Synthesize the technical challenges of energy transition with dimensions of social need and justice.
• Design and implement computational experiments in systems dynamics models.
• Communicate technical knowledge in negotiation settings.

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