The rapid growth of clean energy technologies and increased environmental concerns are driving innovation. With new energy sources emerging in recent years, the technology field is teeming with opportunity. Experts reveal that bachelor’s degrees are the most important degrees in the field, and provide a starting point for an entry-level job or to pursue post-secondary education.

Graduates who complete a four-year program at a technical school or who focus specifically on energy technology can help create a healthier, more sustainable planet for future generations. Here are eight tech-related bachelor’s degrees in clean energy to consider.

1. Vermont Technical College

Bachelor of Science in Renewable of Energy

Program Overview

The School of Engineering and Computing at Vermont Technical College offers students an opportunity to broaden their knowledge in the field of alternative energy. Along with a complete Renewable Energy Lab, students have access to a variety of renewable energy installations that provide power to the Randolph Center campus like the Anaerobic Biodigester, 10kW wind turbine and 500kW solar array. Undergraduates will learn about a variety of technologies including solar photovoltaics (PV), sustainable heating, biomass and wind energy.

What You’ll Learn

Graduates of Vermont Technical College will be able to apply their knowledge, techniques, skills, and modern tools of mathematics, science, engineering, and technology to solve broadly-defined problems appropriate to renewable energy. They’ll know how to design systems and system components that tackle specific environmental issues. Students in the bachelor’s program will be able to conduct standard tests, measurements, and experiments, then analyze and interpret results to improve processes.

Career Opportunities

Solar Energy Systems Designer
Field Operations Technologists
Sales Technician at a Wind Turbine Manufacturer
Hydropower Plant Developer

2. Stanford University

Bachelor of Science in Energy Technologies

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science degree in Energy Technologies at Stanford University is a prestigious degree that provides a foundation for careers in many facets of the energy industry. The program represents an evolution toward a broader forward-looking energy curriculum, while still providing an earth-sciences-based engineering approach to energy resources. One of the goals of this program is to teach students how to apply the skills developed in individual courses to address a significant design issue.

What You’ll Learn

Students in the program will learn the fundamentals of renewable energy, how energy is used in modern society and the consequences of current and future energy use patterns. They’ll tour geothermal, bioenergy and natural gas field sites in Northern California, and develop a strong understanding of the various renewable energy technologies. In their senior year, Stanford students will complete a Senior Capstone Project and Seminar in Energy Resources. During this project, student teams will identify and propose technical solutions for an energy-resource related problem of current interest.

Career Opportunities

Energy Storage Technology Development Supervisor
Solar Energy Field Superintendent
Power & Renewable Energy Project Manager
Wind Energy Technology Process Engineer

3. Arizona State University

Bachelor of Science in Alternative Energy Technologies

Program Overview

At Arizona State University, students can pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Alternative Energy Technologies. The curriculum is designed for students interested in applied aspects of electronics technology. With its practice-based approach, this B.S. degree and uses laboratories to make electronics technology tangible for students. The program teaches students about solar, wind, ocean, geothermal and biomass while providing hands-on experience in storage technologies, including photovoltaics, fuel cells, batteries, electrolyzers and supercapacitors.

What You’ll Learn

Accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET, the Alternative Energy Technology program explores the demands of energy resources in the new economy. Graduates will leave Arizona State University with an understanding of energy and power technology, how materials and components contribute to the performance of electronic systems, and how to exploit the power of integrated electronics to enhance productivity and technology solutions.

Career Opportunities

Environmental and Reliability Analysis Specialist
Policy Analyst
Wind Energy Systems Designer
Solar Technology Analyst

4. South Seattle College

Bachelor of Applied Science in Sustainable Building Science Technology (SBST)

Program Overview

South Seattle College offers a Bachelor of Applied Science in Sustainable Building Science Technology (SBST). This unique program prepares students to apply their expertise and systems knowledge to support highly technical building operations. The four-year degree enables students to launch a career where they understand building functions and finance, and can manage structures that are more energy-efficient, healthier, and more economical. The SBST program offers students a pathway to becoming a skilled building science professional. Emphasizing upper-division coursework, the SBST degree program focuses on the complexities of building science, energy codes, building codes, and facility management.

What You’ll Learn

Graduates of the SBST program will have a comprehensive understanding of all operations and systems unique to sustainable buildings – both old and new. They’ll be able to analyze, define and validate solutions, and be able to analyze building profiles and identify opportunities for improved performance. Those who successfully complete the program will have the skills to prepare a project budget, cost estimate and cost-benefit analysis. They’ll be able to use computer programs to make fact-based decisions on ways to improve efficiency and make buildings more sustainable.

Career Opportunities

Sustainable Building Engineer
Energy Auditor
Facilities Manager
Sustainability Specialist

5. Appalachian State University

Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Technology

Program Overview

Appalachian State University’s Bachelor of Science degree in Sustainable Technology helps students develop the skills needed to design, build and maintain technological systems that will help create a more sustainable world. Students will study renewable energy, biofuels, green building, computer modeling, sustainable transportation, sustainable resource management, and sustainable water and wastewater technology. These are among the world’s fastest-growing technological areas, and hold a number of exciting career opportunities.

What You’ll Learn

With a reputation for innovative research, Appalachian State University’s B.S. in Sustainable Technology develops students’ expertise in construction and building science, renewable energy, and other sustainable technologies. Students will graduate with knowledge that blends theory with application, and problem seeking with problem-solving to enhance technological progress and environmental stewardship.

Career Opportunities

Renewable Energy Management
Sustainability Educator
Energy System Designer and Installer
Recycling Coordinator

6. SUNY Canton

Bachelor of Technology Degree in Sustainable Energy Systems

Program Overview

The State University of New York - Canton offers a Bachelor’s of Technology in Sustainable Energy Systems that focuses on resource management in the field of engineering and technology. An interdisciplinary program, this degree involves hands-on training in wind, solar, biofuels, fuel cells, HVAC and geothermal technologies in the broader perspective of life cycle assessment, natural resource management, and social acceptance of these
expanding energy sources.

What You’ll Learn

Students at SUNY Canton will become experts in the global transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. The changing workforce requires professionals who can apply engineering and resource management principles to wind, solar, biofuel, fuel cell and geothermal technologies – and graduates will walk away with these skills. Through this hands-on program, students will gain in-depth technical knowledge about sustainable energy systems, in addition to ancillary skills like effective project management and communication. They will also have a clear understanding of the intricacies of government policy and big-picture thinking as it relates to sustainable energy.

Career Opportunities

Fuel Cell Systems Technical Specialist
Sustainable Design Engineer
Manufacturer Sales Representative
Head of Sustainable Product Design

7. Virginia Tech

Bachelor of Science Degree in Sustainable Biomaterials Science

Program Overview

The Sustainable Biomaterials major at Virginia Tech focuses on creating better-performing materials with a minimal environmental impact. Today, there’s a growing need to make products “greener.” Renewable resources such as wood and other biomaterials provide a natural way to design and build innovative and sustainable products for our future. This four-year degree teaches students about the use of natural, renewable resources to produce innovative materials and bioenergy in a low-impact manner. A unique program for eco-minded individuals, this degree blends together science, engineering, and business enterprises.

What You’ll Learn

The Sustainable Biomaterials Science program will teach students about the science and chemistry involved in making new renewable products and bioenergy from sustainable materials. With a concrete understanding of the basic principles regarding how sustainable biomaterials are produced, students will have skills to make a variety of advanced products. Virginia Tech undergraduates will apply basic science principals in areas ranging from nanotechnology applications to the production of biofuels and energy-storage devices made from natural polymers.

Career Opportunities

Biofuels Researcher
Biodegradable Materials Program Director
Sustainable Supply Chain Manager
Quality Assurance Analyst

8. Texas Tech University

Bachelor of Science in Wind Energy

Program Overview

Rapid growth in the wind energy industry has increased the demand for a well-educated workforce. Already a pioneer in wind energy education, Texas Tech University has developed instructional programs to meet these expanding needs and educate our leaders of tomorrow on the evolving wind industry. The Bachelor of Science in Wind Energy at Texas Tech is offered through the university’s College of Arts and Sciences in conjunction with the National Wind Institute. This program prepares students for all segments of the industry by offering courses on multiple aspects of wind energy, from education on the characteristics of wind to instruction on project development and management.

What You’ll Learn

The versatile multidisciplinary nature of the degree plan makes Texas Tech’s wind energy program truly unique. Students will learn about turbine placement and construction, operations and maintenance, monitoring and communications, tower safety, power generation, mechanical systems, and more. Classes range from algebra and atmospheric science to Texas politics, societal impacts of wind energy, wind energy economics, wind modeling and design, along with work in a wind energy laboratory.

Career Opportunities

Wind Energy Engineer
Wind Turbine Design Manager
Director of Wind Farm Development
Wind Turbine Technician