This fall, Northeastern University’s College of Engineering will launch a new Master of Science in Energy Systems (MSES) program that gives students cross-disciplinary grounding in an arena increasingly in high demand: developing greener ways to produce and utilize energy in ways that are both sustainable and marketable in today’s global economy.

“The MSES program joins our suite of successful professional graduate programs that are enabling technology-savvy professionals to assume technical business and engineering leadership positions,” says David Luzzi, dean of the College of Engineering.

“The goal of the MSES program is to create a high-level signature interdisciplinary graduate program for the engineer or technical business major pursuing a career in leadership in industry or the public sector,” adds Yaman Yener, associate dean for Northeastern’s College of Engineering.

Built around a blend of classroom learning and Northeastern’s award-winning cooperative education program, the MSES program spans the engineering disciplines and capital projects financing, which are essential to the successful development of integrated energy technologies. Students will learn how to integrate proven energy solutions with alternative systems, such as solar, wind, hydro, and photovoltaic technologies. They’ll master financially viable conservation techniques, new developments in high-efficiency combustion and alternative fuels, trigeneration systems, and other modern energy technologies.

What makes this program unique is that students also learn the financial and political side to implementing these technologies. “Tremendous importance surrounds the development of energy sources,” says Gregory Kowalski, associate professor in the mechanical and industrial engineering department, and the director of the MSES program. “But, in the field, there is often not enough focus on how to implement these technologies in a timely, cost-effective way. This program will give students a unique experience by asking them to focus on more than just the technology, to consider the economic and political aspects of implementing renewable energy technology systems.”

Students in this two-year program will take six core courses in engineering and finance and four elective courses taught by university faculty and industry leaders. Northeastern’s College of Engineering, College of Business Administration, College of Arts and Sciences, and School of Technological Entrepreneurship will all participate in the program.

Students will also have the opportunity to apply for co-op positions, where they will gain firsthand experience working in industry, collaborating with engineering, business, and other industry professionals on developing and rolling out modern energy technologies.

Graduates of the program will have a rare blend of academic and hands-on experience—a valuable asset to employers in both the corporate and civic arenas and the foundation for the future leaders of this growing field.

“Northeastern graduates will be ready to lead efforts within companies to plan and implement new energy generation investments, realize energy efficiency improvements, and participate in environmental markets,” says Kowalski.

For more information, visit www.coe.neu.edu/professional.