Catalog Description: BBE 1201 provides an overview of society’s energy needs, current energy sources, the developing and emerging renewable energy sources, and their economic, environmental, and societal implications.
Course Description: There is a growing sense of national and global urgency regarding carbon and climate change with particular emphasis on our energy system. Unfortunately, the answers are not simple. In this course, students explore our wide range of traditional and renewable energy sources and how these options impact our environment and society. Students are also exposed to the complex and compelling ethical issues raised by global, national and local changes in how we produce and use energy.
This course informs and engages students to be thoughtful, rather than passive, consumers of energy. Students gain the knowledge necessary to be articulate in career, community, and personal arenas regarding renewable energy resources. In addition, students develop the ability to evaluate and respond to present and future technological changes that impact their energy use in the workplace, at home, and in the community.
- Identify and describe present energy use, trends, and impacts.
- Describe the diverse renewable energy technologies that are available to individuals and communities.
- Understand how differing societal perspectives impact individual and community choices regarding renewable energy technologies.
- Analyze the potential challenges and opportunities with various renewable energies.
- Understand the environmental, technical, policy, and economic implications of each of the renewable energy opportunities.
- Develop the ability to make informed personal, career, and public decisions regarding energy use for today’s global world.
Format: This course is completely online, providing student’s flexibility with their schedules. Each lesson is available approximately one week before the lesson due date and closed on the date stated in the lesson. A short introduction to each lesson and its topic is provided by the instructor. Students are then provided with a more in-depth analysis of the topic often by an expert in the field through a recorded lecture. Students further explore the topic through reading assignments and/or videos, and can venture deeper into areas of their interest through suggested additional readings. Each lesson ends with a short quiz related to the lesson as well as a writing assignment. Assignments, content, and delivery methods vary from lesson to lesson depending on the topic.
Credit Hours: 3. This course fulfills the Technology and Society theme of the University of Minnesota Liberal Education requirements.
Prerequisites: None
Offering: Fall, Spring and Summer