Carnegie Mellon University

Foundational Degree Comparisons

All EST&P degrees require students to take 24 units (in 4, 6-unit mini courses) of Energy Core coursework, 36 units of Engineering Concentration coursework, and 36 units of Breadth Electives, for a minimum of 96 total units, which is the exact distribution for the base, two-semester EST&P degree. The other 3 degree variants build up from the base EST&P degree.

The EST&P degree offers you an intensive interdisciplinary experience of programmatic core, engineering depth, and customizable breadth in energy that is completed in a single academic year. The EST&P - Advanced Study degree extends your experience through customizable advanced study involving 36 units* of further engineering depth or project work in energy, integrated over three semesters. 

A side-by-side comparison of the Foundational Degrees are given in this Table, which highlights how the Advanced Study degree is built off the EST&P degree to its left in the number of units and semesters required, as well as in degree customizability:

Foundational Degrees

Energy Science,
Technology & Policy
(EST&P)

EST&P
Advanced Study
(EST&P-ADS)

Master of Science (M.S.)

Master of Science (M.S.)

2 semesters of full-time study

3 semesters of full-time study

96 total units

120 total units

Energy Core:
     24 units
     39-610, -611, -612, -613 (6 each)

Engineering Concentration:
     36 units
     Choose 1 concentration 
          CEE, CHE, ECE, 
          EPP, MEG, MSE
     Courses approved by departments

Breadth Electives:
     
36 units
     Advisor Approval Needed
     
Graduate level engineering courses,
          and limited pre-approved
          non-engineering graduate
          classes related to energy

Energy Core:
     24 units
     39-610, -611, -612, -613 (6 each)

Engineering Concentration:
     36 units
     Choose 1 concentration 
          CEE, CHE, ECE, 
          EPP, MEG, MSE
     Courses approved by departments

Breadth Electives:
     
36 units*
     Advisor Approval Needed
     
Graduate level engineering courses,
          and limited pre-approved
          non-engineering graduate
          classes related to energy

 

Advanced Study:
     36 units*
     Choose 1 of Following:
          I.  2nd Engineering Concentration
          II. Energy Projects

*    12 appropriate units may be counted towards both Breadth Electives and Advanced Study