The Doctor of Renewable Energy program helps students develop practical skills and knowledge required to critically evaluate alternative energy sources, and provide applied solutions to the energy demand. The major is decidedly interdisciplinary in nature, focusing on the underlying natural processes relating to renewable energy and employing the scientific method. The Doctor of Renewable Energy program is offered online via distance learning. After evaluating both academic record and life experience, AIU staff working in conjunction with Faculty and Academic Advisors will assist students in setting up a custom-made program, designed on an individual basis. This flexibility to meet student needs is seldom found in other distance learning programs. Our online program does not require all students to take the same subjects/courses, use the same books, or learning materials. Instead, the online Doctor of Renewable Energy curriculum is designed individually by the student and academic advisor. It specifically addresses strengths and weaknesses with respect to market opportunities in the student’s major and intended field of work. Understanding that industry and geographic factors should influence the content of the curriculum instead of a standardized one-fits-all design is the hallmark of AIU’s unique approach to adult education. This philosophy addresses the dynamic and constantly changing environment of working professionals by helping adult students in reaching their professional and personal goals within the scope of the degree program.
Important: Below is an example of the topics or areas you may develop and work on during your studies. By no means is it a complete or required list as AIU programs do not follow a standardized curriculum. It is meant solely as a reference point and example. Want to learn more about the curriculum design at AIU?
Course and Curriculum
AIU has developed a protocol to quantify and qualify an individual's professional background, as well as, their academic credentials, and grant academic credit to qualified students commensurate with their true level of knowledge. Although AIU's criteria for granting a particular degree is generally the same as the broad majority of institutions, our practice of granting academic credit for "Life Experience" is just recently gaining acceptance in the academic community.
Development of Course & Curricula
At AIU the development of course and curricula is a collaborative activity, conducted between the student and the Academic Advisor. Each student's curricula is unique, and developed as a result of the mutual efforts of the student, the academic staff and the academic advisor.
The supervising dean of academic advisors holds a doctorate degree in education with specialty in course and curricula design. The student's academic advisor works directly with the supervising dean in establishing the students curriculum.
Review & Evaluation
After initial review and evaluation of the student's academic and life/professional background, by the Academic Committee, the student's academic status is defined. This definition establishes the approximate number of academic credit hours the university will grant the student toward the student's designated degree program. The student academic status is subject to change based upon the results of the student's course and curriculum research (C&C), which is the objective of one of the required orientation courses.
Course Selection Process, Course and Curriculum Orientations Course (C&C)
To fulfill the requirements of the C&C Course, the student performs research, (using the Internet or other approved resources), to investigate and select courses from at least 2, AIU approved colleges or universities, offering the same degree level and discipline as the Student's designated degree program.
The student will select courses based upon the student's need to acquire the knowledge and master the objectives defined, in the course descriptions and objectives, as itemized in the course catalogs of such approved institutions. The student will be the initial arbiter of the courses selected. The student will compile a list of such subjects, sufficient to fulfill the credit hour requirement, as defined in the student's academic status report above.
The culmination of the C&C research course is the class session with the academic advisor. During this class, the student's courses and curricula will be established, and approved.
Course Modification
In the event the Student discovers, while conducting C&C research a need for additional courses above the number defined by the Academic Committee in the student academic status report, the student will inform the academic advisor and the additional courses will be included in the student's curriculum.
Conversely, should the student fail to discover a sufficient number of courses to fulfill the number defined above, (in effect, the Student's level of knowledge includes all, or most, of the course objectives, of the courses generally required for the degree program), the student will select courses, sufficient to fulfill the number defined, and be permitted to challenge these courses. In this event, the challenged courses will appear on the student's official transcript, with the grade earned in the challenge.
By employing this paradigm, AIU facilitates the development of curricula uniquely matched to each student, and designed to accomplish the achievement of the designated degree in a most efficient and effective manner.
Core Courses and Topics in Renewable Energy
Introduction to Renewable Energy
Solar Thermal Energy
Solar Photovoltaics
Global Change
Bioenergy
Geothermal Energy
Hydroelectricity
Tidal Power
Natural Resource Management
Wind Energy
Wave Energy
Orientation Courses
Communication & Investigation
Organization Theory
Experiential Learning
Academic Evaluation
Fundament of Knowledge
Fundamental Principles I
Professional Evaluation
Development of Graduate Study
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Renewable energy promises to transform our energy needs to a sustainable and environmentally responsible mix of sources that reduce our need and use of fossil fuels. The move to renewable has been stimulated by recent technology developments and growing concerns over the sustainability and impact of conventional fuel usage on our environment, the prospect of producing clean,
sustainable power in substantial quantities from renewable energy sources arouses interest world-wide. Jobs in the Renewable Energy field vary according to the technology being used; for example wind power, solar power, and bio-energy. But by far the fastest growing sector for renewable energy jobs is in the area of wind energy.
