Certificate in Wind Energy
Wind energy has become a major source of clean energy. Wind energy is expected to grow over the next decades and create new jobs. Professionals with diverse backgrounds and knowledge of wind energy fundamentals are needed to fill these jobs. A new interdisciplinary undergraduate certificate in wind energy has been developed to meet the emerging market needs. The Certificate in Wind Energy integrates course work and faculty expertise from the departments of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Geography.
Certificate Course Requirements
The wind energy certificate requires 18 sh of course work in energy, environment, and information science.
Required courses:
- 56:155, IE:4550 Wind Power Management (3 sh)
- 44:130, GEOG:3560 Spatial Analyses of Wind Energy (3 sh)
Students select from the following courses for the remaining 12 sh
| 58:142, ME:4142 Wind Turbine Aerodynamics (3 sh) (prerequisite 57:020) | 44:105, GEOG:3500 Intro to Environmental Remote Sensing (3 sh) |
| 56:129, IE:5129 (cross listed as 58:129, ME:5129; 044:129, GEOG:1529; 53:129; CEE:5129; 55:129, ECE:5129) Information Systems for Resource Management (3 sh) | 44:109, GEOG:3540 Introduction to Geographic Visualization (3 sh) (prerequisite 44:005) |
| 58:164, ME:4164 Fundamentals of Wind Turbines (arr.) | 44:110, GEOG:3520 GIS for Environmental Studies: Introduction (3 sh) (prerequisite 44:005) |
| 52:107, CBE:4410 Sustainable Systems (3 sh) | 44:120, GEOG:3780 U. S. Energy Policy in Global Context (3 sh) |
| 52:030, CBE:2030 Energy and Society (3 sh) | 44:125, GEOG:4750 Environmental Impact Analysis (4 sh) (prerequisite 44:019) |
| 52:133, CBE:3160 Eng Analysis of Alternative Energy Systems (3 sh) (prerequsite 59:009) | 44:127, GEOG:3750 Environmental Quality: Science, Technology, and Policy (3 sh) (prerequisite 22S:025) |
| 55:143, ECE:5620 Electric Power Systems (3 sh) | 44:128, GEOG:4520 GIS for Environmental Studies: Applications (3 sh) (prerequisite 44:110) |
| 55:163, ECE:5630 Sustainable Energy Conversion (3 sh) (prerequisites 29:081, 59:008) | 44:141, GEOG:4580 Introduction to Geographic Databases (3 sh) (prerequisite 44:005) |
| 44:145, GEOG:4500 Apps in Environmental Remote Sensing (4 sh) | |
| 44:150, GEOG:4030 Senior Project Seminar (3 sh) (together with wind energy project) | |
| 44:180, GEOG:4010 Field Methods in Physical Geography (2-4 sh) |
Prerequisite classes (in parentheses above)
- 22S:025 Elementary Statistics and Inference
- 29:081 Introductory Physics I
- 57:020 Fluid Mechanics
- 59:008 Electrical Circuits
- 59:009 Thermodynamics
- 44:005 Foundations of Geographic Information Science
- 44:019 Contemporary Environmental Issues
- 44:019 Contemporary Environmental Issues
- 44:110 GIS for Environmental Studies: Introduction
Note: Mechanical Engineering students can use this certificate as a tailored EFA with the addition of an approved math/science elective.
Student Major Eligibility
The certificate is open to all students meeting eligible to take courses required for the certificate.
Student Advising
Two advisors will serve the certificate, one in the Department of Geography and one from the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering.
For additional information please contact:
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering indeng@engineering.uiowa.edu
- Pablo Carrica (pablo-carrica@uiowa.edu) or call at 319-335-6381
- Andrew Kusiak (andrew-kusiak@uiowa.edu) or call at 319-335-5934
- Marian Muste (marian-muste@uiowa.edu) or call at 319-384-0624
- Department of Geography geography@uiowa.edu
- David Bennett (david-bennett@uiowa.edu) or call 319-335-0158
- Marc Linderman (marc-linderman@uiowa.edu) or call 319 335-1451
Apply here
Wind Energy Research at the University of Iowa
Graduate Students in Wind Power Managment
Examples of Undergraduate Student Projects: Poster 1, Poster 2, Poster 3, Poster 4
