Part-time & Graduate Enrollment Services
Sustainable Engineering ME
Program overview
Sustainable engineering refers to the integration of social, environmental, and economic considerations into product, process, and energy system design methods. Additionally, sustainable engineering encourages the consideration of the complete product and process lifecycle during the design effort. The intent is to minimize environmental impacts across the entire lifecycle while simultaneously maximizing the benefits to social and economic stakeholders. The master of engineering program in sustainable engineering is multidisciplinary and managed by the industrial and systems engineering department.
The major builds on RIT’s work in sustainability research and education, and offers students the flexibility to develop tracks in areas such as renewable energy systems, systems modeling and analysis, product design, and engineering policy and management. The program is offered on campus, and available on a full- or part-time basis.
Educational objectives
The major is designed to accomplish the following educational objectives:
- Heightened awareness of issues in areas of sustainability (e.g., global warming, ozone layer depletion, deforestation, pollution, ethical issues, fair trade, gender equity, etc.).
- Clear understanding of the role and impacts of various aspects of engineering (design, technology, etc.) and engineering decisions on environmental, societal, and economic problems. Particular emphasis is placed on the potential trade-offs between environmental, social, and economic objectives.
- Strong ability to apply engineering and decision-making tools and methodologies to sustainability-related problems.
- Demonstrated capacity to distinguish professional and ethical responsibilities associated with the practice of engineering.
Curriculum
Technical in nature, the major will equip engineers with the tools they need to meet the challenges associated with delivering goods, energy, and services through sustainable means. In addition to basic course work in engineering and classes in public policy and environmental management, students are required to complete a capstone project or thesis directly related to sustainable design challenges impacting society. Many of these projects can be incorporated into sustainable research by RIT faculty in the areas of fuel-cell development, life-cycle engineering, and sustainable process implementation.
Students must successfully complete a total of 36 semester credit hours through course work, participate in two semesters of graduate seminar, and a capstone project. This major is designed to be completed in two years.
Sustainable engineering, ME degree, typical course sequence (semesters), effective fall 2013
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| ISEE-785 | Fundamentals of Sustainable Engineering | 3 |
| ISEE-771 | Engineering of Systems I | 3 |
| MECE-729 | Renewable Energy Systems | 3 |
| ISEE-795 | Graduate Seminar I | 0 |
| ISEE-786 | Lifecycle Assessment | 3 |
| ISEE-787 | Design for the Environment | 3 |
| Engineering Elective | 3 | |
| ISEE-795 | Graduate Seminar II | 0 |
| Second Year | ||
| Engineering Electives | 9 | |
| Social Context Elective | 3 | |
| Technology Elective | 3 | |
| ISEE-792 | Engineering Capstone | 3 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 36 | |
Admission requirements
To be considered for admission to the ME program in sustainable engineering, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:
- Hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university in engineering, mathematics, or science,
- Submit official transcripts (in English) from all previously completed undergraduate and graduate course work,
- Have a GPA of 3.0 or higher,
- Submit scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE),
- Submit a statement of purpose,
- Submit three letters of reference from individuals well qualified to judge the candidate's ability for graduate study, and
- Complete a graduate application.
- International applicants whose native language is not English must submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
Applicants who have a bachelor's degree in a field outside of engineering may be considered for admission; however, additional bridge course work may be required before full admission into the major.