About the Program
The Master's program in Sustainable Energy involves advanced learning across engineering and public policy. Students will specialize in either the engineering or the policy side of the program, graduating with either an engineering degree (M.A.Sc. or M.Eng. in Sustainable Energy) or a public-policy degree (M.A. in Sustainable Energy). While specializing in either side of the program, students will also take courses that engage with the other disciplinary component. Students across the program will learn together, garnering an understanding of sustainable-energy problems in a setting of interdisciplinary collaboration.
Academic Regulations
- See the General Regulations section of this Calendar.
- Academic Standing - a grade of B- or better must be obtained in each course counted towards the master's degree.
- Full-time Continuation - students will be required to withdraw from the program if their weighted grade point average falls below 7.0 (B-) after two terms of full-time study (or equivalent), or if they receive a grade of less than B- in any two courses they have registered in.
- Part- time continuation - students will be required to withdraw from the program if their weighted grade point average falls below 7.0 (B-) after completing 2.0 credits, or if they receive a grade of less than B- in any two courses they have registered in.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must have a bachelor's degree (or equivalent), with an average of B+ or higher. The level of academic performance and potential demonstrated within the degree is more important than the discipline; students may enter the program from a wide variety of academic backgrounds in the social sciences, humanities, sciences and engineering. Mid-career applicants who do not have a bachelor's degree, but who have demonstrated professional excellence over a number of years of work in the public sector will also be considered.
- All applicants must have completed 1.0 credit in university-level micro- and macroeconomic theory (ECON 1000 or the equivalent)
- 0.5 credit in PSCI at the 2000-level or higher, dealing with institutions and processes by which governments legitimize and exercise power, ideally in a Canadian setting (PSCI 2003 or equivalent).
- A working knowledge of algebra is also expected.
- In some cases, applicants may be admitted to the program despite not having completed one of these prerequisite courses in economics or political science, on the condition that the course be completed with a grade of B- or higher in the first year of the program. It is strongly recommended that students complete the prerequisites before starting the program, to ensure that their progress through the core courses is unimpeded.
- Students whose first language is not English or who have not completed a previous degree at an English speaking university must demonstrate an adequate command of English by attaining, at least, a TOEFL score of 237 CBT (computer-based test) or 580 (written); or 86 IBT overall with a minimum score in each component of: writing: 22; speaking: 22; reading: 20; and listening: 20, or a CAEL score of 70, or an IELTS score of 7.0.
Program Requirements
Five (5.0) credits as follows:
- 0.5 credit in SERG 5000 Cross Disciplinary Course in Sustainable Energy
- 0.5 credit in SERG 5002 Sustainable Energy Engineering for Policy Students
- 0.0 credit in SERG 5800 Sustainable Energy Seminar Course
- 0.5 credit in PADM 5510 Energy Economics
- 0.5 credit in PADM 5116 Policy Analysis and Contemporary Governance
- 0.5 credit in PADM 5515 Sustainable Energy Policy or PADM 5615 Politics and Policy of Energy in Canada
- 1.5 credit selected from the Sustainable Energy Policy program field listed below
- 1.0 credit from graduate level courses offered by the School of Public Policy and Administration
Notes:
- Courses must be appropriate to the student's qualifications and selected with the approval of the student's program supervisor.
- Only a selection of courses listed is given in a particular academic year.
Courses - Sustainable Energy Policy Field
PADM 5511 Energy Management
PADM 5512 International Politics of Sustainable Energy
PADM 5572 Policy Seminar (Sustainable Energy)
PADM 5611 Science and Technology Policies
PADM 5612 Industrial Policy, Innovation and Sustainable Development
PADM 5613 Science, Risk and Evaluation
PADM 5614 Natural Resource Management
PADM 5616 Environmental Policy
PADM 5617 Implementing Sustainable Development in Industrialized Countries
PADM 5618 Environmental and Ecological Economics
PADM 5619 Urban Sustainability
PADM 5620 Science, Economics and Politics of Global Climate Change
PADM 5908 MA Research Essay (1.0 credit)
PADM 5909 MA Thesis (2.0 credits)
SERG 5906 Directed Study in Sustainable Energy
Other courses as approved by the MA supervisor
Co-op Option for M.A. in Sustainable Energy Policy
A co-op option is available to full-time students in the M.A. program. Students admitted to this option must satisfactorily complete at least two work terms in order to graduate with a co-op designation on their transcripts and diplomas. These work terms are four months in duration and locate students in government departments or other organizations in order to work at a junior officer level. They provide students with opportunities to integrate the theoretical and practical aspects of public administration. During a work term, students will register in one of the co-op work term courses: PADM 5301, PADM 5302, or PADM 5303. While on a work term, students are limited to an additional 0.5 credit course. It should be noted that most co-op positions in the federal public service are restricted to Canadian citizens.
