Program Overview

Director: Assistant Professor Matthew Lackner, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (MIE)

Participating Faculty: Professor Matthew Lackner (MIE), Professor James Manwell (MIE), Professor Jon McGowan (MIE), Professor Yahya Modarres-Sadeghi (MIE)

Purpose: The Graduate Certificate/Concentration 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/Concentration 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 students who are interested in either pursuing further academic studies in wind power or joining the burgeoning wind power industry. This Certificate/Concentration 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/Concentration in Wind Power Engineering is the first-ever wind energy certificate/concentration 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 and Eligibility Requirements: Anyone who successfully completes the 15 credit requirements is eligible to receive the Certificate/Concentration. The Certificate/Concentration requirements are identical: the Concentration is for degree-seeking graduate students and the Certificate is for non-degree students. The Concentration can be obtained concurrently with any ME Graduate degree. Application to the Concentration program is NOT necessary after acceptance into one of the ME Graduate degree programs. Students wishing to pursue a Certificate should apply as a non-degree student.

Completion Requirements: The requirements for the Certificate/Concentration are successful completion of three core courses in the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department (MIE), and two elective courses.

• Core Course I: The one required core course is: MIE 573: "Engineering Wind Power Systems."
• Core Course II: A second required core course must be either MIE 673: "Wind Turbine Design" or MIE 674: "Offshore Wind Energy Engineering."  
• Core Course III: The final core course may be chosen from MIE 607: "Advanced Fluid Mechanics I" or MIE 597F: "Fluid-Structure Interaction." Furthermore, if a student completes both MIE 673 and MIE 674, these two courses may be used as Core Course II and Core Course III.
• 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, as well as other core courses. The core courses listed above can be used as electives if other core courses have satisfied the core requirements. These courses may be taken in other departments if they have a direct relevance to wind energy.
• Any student, whether a degree student or non-degree student, pursuing the Certificate/Concentration will be required to meet the same academic requirements as those defined for degree-seeking students to remain in "good standing."

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

Contact Info: Professor Matthew Lackner, lackner@ecs.umass.edu, 413-545-4713