Energy/Environment/Economics (E3)

Faculty Directors

Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Engineering

Carrie Hall
John T. Rettaliata Engineering Center, Room 252-D
10 W. 32nd St.
Chicago, IL 60616
312.567.3195
chall9@iit.edu

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Alexander J. Flueck
Siegel Hall, Room 319
3301 S. Dearborn St.
Chicago, IL 60616
312.567.3625
flueck@iit.edu

The ongoing evolution of the energy system and related global, environmental, and economic issues make necessary a new interdisciplinary approach to the education of energy-industry engineers and management professionals, as well as to the planning and performance of energy research and development. The petroleum, coal, natural gas, nuclear, renewable, and electric utility industries and associated resource and raw material extraction, equipment design and manufacturing, and construction industries, are facing not only technological change and environmental constraints, but also drastic changes in the economic, institutional, and trade environments in which they operate.

The university's Energy/Environment/Economics (E³) program was developed to respond to the rapidly changing needs of the energy industry by providing the interdisciplinary research and training required to produce a new breed of engineer—one who specializes in energy technologies and who understands the associated environmental issues and economic forces that drive technology choice.

The E³ specialization requires an interdisciplinary thesis in an E³ area of research for M.S. and Ph.D. degrees, and an interdisciplinary graduate project for professional master’s degrees. Graduate students in E³ should also be enrolled in fundamental courses related to the topics of energy, environment, and economics. E³ is designed primarily for students majoring in chemical and environmental, mechanical and aerospace, or electrical engineering who are planning careers in energy-related fields. This interdisciplinary training prepares students to be not only creative and expert in a specialized area of energy extraction, conversion, or utilization, but also to possess a broad knowledge base of different energy sources, environmental issues related to energy extraction, conversion and utilization, and of the impact of industrial ecology principles on the design and operation of energy systems. Furthermore, students will gain sufficient knowledge of economic and regulatory issues to enable them to make more viable technology choices.

Research Centers, Facilities, and Areas

Students should consult descriptions in the respective departments:

• Electrical and Computer Engineering

General Degree Requirements

Students pursuing a master’s degree are required to take 30-32 credit hours beyond the requirements of a B.S. degree program. The Ph.D. program requires 84 credit hours beyond the bachelor of science. The curriculum consists of two components: department core courses that provide a strong background in basic principles of the chosen engineering field and E³ specialization courses. The following section details the E³ course requirements for the professional master's, M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in environmental engineering, mechanical and aerospace engineering, and electrical engineering. Selected E³ undergraduate courses may be substituted for graduate courses with the approval of the designated adviser, if the total undergraduate credit hours for the professional master’s or M.S. degree do not exceed departmental constraints.

Students are also required to attend interdisciplinary seminars during their first and/or second semesters, which are offered as part of the regular graduate seminars by the Department of Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Engineering and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. A student completing a M.S. or Ph.D. thesis or professional master’s project will be a member of an interdisciplinary research team consisting of professors and students from environmental, electrical, and mechanical engineering backgrounds, working in a cross-disciplinary group project. Each interdisciplinary team must include professors from different departments.

Policies and procedures regarding admission, advising, financial aid, and comprehensive examinations are established by the individual departments offering this program.

Admission Requirements

Students should consult listings in the respective departments:

• Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Engineering

Degrees Offered

Professional Master's/Master of Engineering

• Master of Electrical and Computer Engineering with E3 Specialization
• Master of Engineering in Environmental Engineering with E3 Specialization

Master of Science

• Master of Science in Electrical Engineering with E3 Specialization

Doctor of Philosophy

• Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering with E3 Specialization

E3 Courses

See descriptions under the respective department’s course listings.

Group A

Group B