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ERE-MS - Energy Resources Engineering (MS)

Overview

Program Overview

The objective is to prepare the student for professional work in the energy industry, or for doctoral studies, through completion of fundamental courses in the major field and in related sciences as well as independent research.

Coterminal M.S. Program in Energy Resources Engineering

The coterminal B.S./M.S. program offers an opportunity for Stanford University students to pursue a graduate experience while completing the B.S. degree in any relevant major. Energy Resources Engineering graduate students generally come from backgrounds such as chemical, civil, or mechanical engineering; geology or other earth sciences; or physics or chemistry.

The two types of M.S. degrees, the course work only degree and the research degree, as well as the courses required to meet degree requirements, are described above in the M.S. section. Both degrees require 45 units and may take from one to two years to complete depending on circumstances unique to each student.

Requirements to enter the program are: three letters of recommendation from faculty members or job supervisors, a statement of purpose, scores from the GRE general test, and a copy of Stanford University transcripts. While the department does not require any specific GPA or GRE score, potential applicants are expected to compete favorably with graduate student applicants.

University Coterminal Requirements

Coterminal master’s degree candidates are expected to complete all master’s degree requirements as described in this bulletin. University requirements for the coterminal master’s degree are described in the “Coterminal Master’s Program” section. University requirements for the master’s degree are described in the "Graduate Degrees" section of this bulletin.

After accepting admission to this coterminal master’s degree program, students may request transfer of courses from the undergraduate to the graduate career to satisfy requirements for the master’s degree. Transfer of courses to the graduate career requires review and approval of both the undergraduate and graduate programs on a case by case basis.

In this master’s program, courses taken during or after the first quarter of the sophomore year are eligible for consideration for transfer to the graduate career; the timing of the first graduate quarter is not a factor. No courses taken prior to the first quarter of the sophomore year may be used to meet master’s degree requirements.

Course transfers are not possible after the bachelor’s degree has been conferred.

The University requires that the graduate advisor be assigned in the student’s first graduate quarter even though the undergraduate career may still be open. The University also requires that the Master’s Degree Program Proposal be completed by the student and approved by the department by the end of the student’s first graduate quarter.

An Energy Resources Engineering master's degree can be used as a terminal degree for obtaining a professional job in the engineering or energy industries, or in any related industry where application of physical principles or computer simulation skills are required. It can also be a stepping stone to a Ph.D. degree that usually leads to a professional research job or an academic position.

Students should apply to the program any time after they have completed 120 undergraduate units. Contact the Department of Energy Resources Engineering to obtain additional information. Students should have a background at least through course Ordinary Differential Equations with Linear Algebra and course Programming Methodology and course Programming Abstractions before beginning graduate work in this program.

Director of Graduate Studies

Roland N. Horne

Program Policies

External Credit Policies

Advising Expectations

The Department of Energy Resources Engineering is committed to providing academic advising in support of our M.S. students’ education and professional development. When most effective, this advising relationship entails collaborative engagement by both the advisor and the advisee. As a best practice, advising expectations should be discussed and reviewed to ensure mutual understanding. Both the advisor and the advisee are expected to maintain professionalism and integrity.

At or before the start of graduate study, normally at the beginning of Autumn Quarter, each student is assigned an advisor: a member of our faculty who provides research advice and guidance in course selection and in exploring academic opportunities and professional pathways. A significant advising milestone is the M.S. Program Proposal that each student completes at the end of their first quarter.  

The department’s graduate handbook provides information and suggested timelines for advising meetings. Typically, research M.S. students meet with their advisor on a twice weekly basis, once individually and once as part of the research group meeting. If a meeting is not possible, the student should send the advisor a brief email highlighting his/her activities for the week. Usually, the same faculty member serves as program advisor for the duration of master’s study, but the handbook does describe a process for formal advisor changes.

In addition, the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) meets with all the master’s students at the start of the first year and is available during the academic year by email and during office hours.

Students are expected to have a discussion with their advisor during or before the first week of each quarter to agree upon the courses that the student plans to take that quarter. Advisors formally approve the study list in person or by email.

The department’s student services office is also an important part of the master’s advising team. The student services office informs students and advisors about University and department requirements, procedures, and opportunities, and it maintains the official records of advising assignments and approvals. 

Finally, graduate students are active contributors to the advising relationship, proactively seeking academic and professional guidance and taking responsibility for informing themselves of policies and degree requirements for their graduate program.

For a statement of University policy on graduate advising, see the "Graduate Advising" section of this bulletin.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

The objective is to prepare students to be technical leaders in the energy industry, academia and research organizations through completion of independent research as well as fundamental courses in the major field and in related sciences. Students are expected to:

  1. apply skills developed in fundamental courses to engineering problems.

  2. research, analyze, and synthesize solutions to an original and contemporary energy problem.

  3. work independently and as part of a team to develop and improve engineering solutions.

  4. apply written, visual, and oral presentation skills to communicate scientific knowledge.

  5. M.S. students are expected to develop in-depth technical understanding of energy problems at an advanced level.

  6. Ph.D. students are expected to complete a scientific investigation that is significant, challenging and original.