Graduate Courses
The Institute on Energy, Economics and the Environment: a STEM course
Each year since 2013, South Carolina’s electric cooperatives have sponsored this accredited graduate-level course — free of charge to the state’s K-12 science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teachers. Through four weeks of in-class sessions, field trips and independent work, participants learn the basics of how electric power is created and distributed, and examine the tensions between reliability, technology, clean energy, and affordable electricity rates for consumers. Guest speakers include industry, policy and environmental experts who identify both current challenges and solutions that may lead to a brighter and cleaner energy future for South Carolina and the world.
Register now for the Winter 2022 course
Participants who successfully complete the course receive 3 graduate credit hours from the University of South Carolina. Housing and meals are provided free of charge during the week of on-campus classes at USC.
The course accommodates a maximum of 25 students. If accepted, a $100 registration fee (refundable after completion of the course) is required.
Participants will be notified of their acceptance status by email.
Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this course students will be able to do the following:
- Identify and describe the different energy sources available and utilized across South Carolina and the world.
- Understand trends and changing patterns in energy consumption and use in South Carolina and the world.
- Classify and compare the costs and benefits of different energy sources related to their reliability, affordability and environmental stewardship.
- Apply economic decision-making concepts, like scarcity, costs/benefits, supply and demand, and others to the field of energy and related environmental issues.
- Develop project-based lessons that support both STEM and Common Core Standards integrating economics, energy and environmental issues.