Program Overview

Purpose

The Graduate Certificate in Wind Power Engineering offers graduate students the opportunity to have their work and interest in wind energy formally acknowledged as an important part of their graduate training, providing certification of relevant knowledge for those seeking academic positions and careers in industry. Certificate students benefit from advanced study in a growing field, mentored by internationally renowned, award-winning faculty experts at the preeminent academic wind energy program in the U.S. The program of study is designed to meet the needs of student who are interested in either pursuing further academic studies in wind power or joining the burgeoning wind power industry. This certificate program responds to these professional currents, providing a clear but flexible curriculum for graduate students interested in wind energy, and preparing them with in depth skills and knowledge of all aspects of wind energy.

The Program

The Graduate Certificate in Wind Power Engineering is the first ever wind energy certificate program in the U.S. This 15 credit program offers a unique opportunity for students or professionals to obtain in-depth knowledge of all aspects of wind energy including engineering topics (aerodynamics, structures and loads, design, electrical issues, support structures, wind and wave external conditions) as well as critical non-engineering issues (economics, permitting, standards, environmental impacts, policy). Students also have the flexibility to specialize in certain aspects of wind energy that are of particular interest. This program is ideally suited for: undergraduate engineers interested in graduate-level studies in wind energy industry, professionals in other industries interested in transitioning into the wind energy industry, and current industry practitioners interested in additional education and credentials.

Admission Requirements

Enrolled graduate students in the department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (MIE) may complete the certificate as part of their regular course of study, with no additional admissions requirements necessary.

Completion Requirements

The requirements for the certificate are successful completion of three core courses in the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department (MIE), and two elective courses. The core courses are: MIE 573: Engineering Wind Power Systems, MIE 673: Wind Turbine Design, MIE 674: Offshore Wind Energy Engineering.

The elective courses may be any graduate level course that has a direct relevance to wind energy, including: fluid dynamics, controls, fluid structure interaction, and energy economics. The elective courses require approval by the certificate director or the graduate program director. These courses may be taken in other departments if they have a direct relevance to wind energy.

The MIE department now offers both a 30 credit course-only option and a thesis-based option to complete a Master’s of Science (M.S.) degree. It is possible for all M.S. and Ph.D. students to complete the certificate requirements and degree requirements simultaneously, with no additional course work.

Restrictions

Prerequisites for the core courses include undergraduate level calculus and physics, and fluid dynamics.

Website: www.umass.edu/windenergy/study.graduatecertificate.php
Contact Info: Jody Lally, lally@ecs.umass.edu, 413-577-0887