Energy Business and Finance, Minor

Program Description

The minor in Energy, Business and Finance is an offering of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. The minor introduces students to financial, investment, and management concepts applied to private sector organizations whose operation emphasizes the Earth and its environment, the energy and mineral industries, or the development of new and enhanced materials. The minor focuses on the leadership and information strategies characteristic of enterprises that are succeeding in a rapidly integrating global economy.

The minor provides science and engineering students an introduction to basic entrepreneurial and business concepts to help prepare them for success in a changing professional environment. It also provides other Penn State students an opportunity to focus on business strategies in the Earth resources, environmental, and materials industries. A minimum of 27 credits is required for the minor. A student enrolled in this minor must receive a grade C or better in all courses in the minor. Advising is available through the EMS Student Center (14 Deike Building) or the professor in charge.

What is Energy Business and Finance?

The solutions to society's existing and emerging energy challenges require interdisciplinary approaches integrating economics and business with the technical knowledge of energy systems and implications for our environment. That's where energy business and finance experts come in. The minor in Energy Business and Finance provides an introduction to the major energy commodity markets, basic energy sciences and the tools for analyzing business decisions that companies in the energy sector make.  It is designed to complement technical training for students interested in working in energy-related fields or for students who just want to learn more about global energy markets.

You Might Like This Program If...

• You want to work in the energy sector.
• You enjoy analytical thinking and complex problem solving.
• You are majoring in a STEM field with an eye on the energy sector, and want to broaden your education to include the study of economics, business and energy markets.

Program Requirements

Requirements for the Minor

A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the minor, as specified by Senate Policy 59-10.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Prescribed Courses
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
EBF 200	Introduction to Energy and Earth Sciences Economics	3
EBF 301	Global Finance for the Earth, Energy, and Materials Industries	3
ECON 102	Introductory Microeconomic Analysis and Policy	3
EME 460	Geo-resource Evaluation and Investment Analysis	3
Additional Courses
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better
Select 3-4 credits from:		3-4
MATH 22	College Algebra II and Analytic Geometry
MATH 110	Techniques of Calculus I
MATH 140	Calculus With Analytic Geometry I
Select 3-4 credits from:		3-4
EBF 472	Quantitative Analysis in Earth Sciences
STAT 200	Elementary Statistics
STAT 401	Experimental Methods
Select 3 credits of the following:		3
EGEE 101	Energy and the Environment
EGEE 102	Energy Conservation for Environmental Protection
EGEE 120	Oil: International Evolution
Supporting Courses and Related Areas
Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better
Select 6 credits from the approved list of EMS courses. Approved courses are:		6
EBF 401	Strategic Corporate Finance for the Earth, Energy, and Materials Industries
EBF 402	Energy Law and Contracts
EBF 473	Risk Management in Energy Industries
EBF 483	Introduction to Electricity Markets
EBF 484	Energy Economics
EGEE 401	Energy in a Changing World
EME 444	Global Energy Enterprise
GEOG 424	Geography of the Global Economy
GEOG 430	Human Use of Environment
GEOG 431	Geography of Water Resources
GEOG 432	Energy Policy
GEOG 444	African Resources and Development
GEOG 469	Energy Industry Applications of GIS
GEOSC 402Y	Natural Disasters
GEOSC 454	Geology of Oil and Gas
METEO 473	Application of Computers to Meteorology

Academic Advising

The objectives of the university’s academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.

Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee’s unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.

READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY

University Park

Zhen Lei
Program Chair, Energy Business and Finance
125 Hosler Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-0810
zxl26@psu.edu

World Campus

Undergraduate Academic Advising
301 Outreach Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-3283
advising@outreach.psu.edu

Contact

University Park

JOHN AND WILLIE LEONE FAMILY DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND MINERAL ENGINEERING
113 Hosler Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-3437
eme@ems.psu.edu

http://www.eme.psu.edu

World Campus

JOHN AND WILLIE LEONE FAMILY DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND MINERAL ENGINEERING
115 Hosler Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-7597
info@ebf.psu.edu

https://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/degrees-and-certificates/energy-business-and-finance-minor/overview