Renewable Energy Technology, A.A.S.
Major Code: 2098The Renewable Energy Technology Associate in Applied Science (RET A.A.S.) degree provides students with a broad and comprehensive technical education in the rapidly growing field of renewable energy. The RET A.A.S. program focuses on developing skilled technicians who are prepared to enter the job market as entry-level installers, operators, or maintenance technicians for renewable energy technologies including grid-tied solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, wind, heat pump, micro hydroelectric and bioenergy systems. The degree program has the flexibility to train students directly out of high school, as well as displaced workers who already possess a mechanical or electrical technical background.
The Renewable Energy Technology A.A.S. is a demanding curriculum for incoming students as there are strong math, biology, chemistry, physics, and electrical components to the program. Graduates from the RET A.A.S. are successfully employed as entry-level installers or maintenance technicians for renewable energy technologies including grid-tied solar photovoltaic, wind, heat pump/geothermal, and bioenergy systems. Graduates are currently working in several states across the country and abroad within their chosen renewable energy field.
Required tools/equipment: Laptop, Klein Tool Kit (available through the bookstore), clipboard, safety glasses, work gloves, work boots (steel/safety toe), waterproof rubber boots (recommended), rain gear (coat and pants/ bibs), and cold weather gear (insulated clothing).
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Describe basic social, political and economic driving forces impacting renewable energy resources and systems regionally, nationally and abroad
- Interpret system schematics and designs to safely connect renewable energy mechanical and electrical components
- Install, maintain, and troubleshoot renewable energy systems by developing problem-solving skills through critical thinking in both hands-on and written technical environments
- Work safely and responsibly in diverse groups
SUNY General Education Requirements: All SUNY Morrisville AAS degree programs require completion of at least 20 credits of SUNY GE, a minimum of four (out of ten) knowledge and skills areas (including the four required knowledge and skills areas as indicated below), and completion of the two core competencies. The specific courses required within each knowledge and skills area/core competency for this degree program are outlined below.
Knowledge and Skills Areas:
| Field Name | Field Value |
|---|---|
| Communication Written & Oral (required) | as advised |
| Diversity: Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice (required) | as advised |
| Mathematics (and Quantitative Reasoning) (required) | as advised |
| Natural Sciences (and Scientific Reasoning) (required) | as advised |
| Humanities | as advised |
| Social Sciences | as advised |
| The Arts | as advised |
| US History and Civic Engagement | as advised |
| World History and Global Awareness | as advised |
| World Languages | as advised |
Core Competencies:
| Field Name | Field Value |
|---|---|
| Information Literacy (required) | as advised |
| Critical Thinking and Reasoning (required) | as advised |
Curriculum Requirements
A minimum of 60 credits is required for degree completion.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Major Field Requirements | ||
| RENG 101 | Basic Elec Renewable Energy | 4 |
| RENG 102 | Renewable Energy Resources | 3 |
| RENG 103 | Renewable Energy Seminar | 1 |
| RENG 150 | Analysis Techniques for Renewable Energy | 3 |
| NATR 113 | Intro toGlobal Positioning Sys | 1 |
| RENG 310 | Biomass Energy Resources | 3 |
| RENG 221 | Introduction to Wind Systems | 3 |
| RENG 231 | Solar Photovoltaic Installation | 3 |
| RESC 125 | Residential Electrification | 3 |
| NATR 213 | Basics Geospatial Technology | 1 |
| or CAD 181 | Intro To Computer-Aided Drftng | |
| CITA 101 | Principles Computer Apps | 3 |
| Technical Electives as advised | 13-14 | |
| Required SUNY General Education Coursework | ||
| SUNY General Education Mathematics (and Quantitative Reasoning) as Advised | 3 | |
| SUNY General Education Natural Sciences (and Scientific Reasoning) as Advised | 8 | |
| SUNY General Education Communication Written and Oral as Advised | 3-6 | |
| SUNY General Education Diversity: Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice as Advised | 3 | |
| Additional SUNY General Education credits as advised | 3 | |
Select from the following categories: Humanities, Social Science, The Arts, US History & Civic Engagement, World History & Global Awareness, World Languages | ||
| Total Credits | 61-65 | |
Recommended Technical Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AGRO 110 | Soil Science | 3 |
| AGRO 210 | Field Crops | 3 |
| AUTO 102 | Metals (welding) | 3 |
| AGEN 131 | Fundamentals of Hydraulics | 3 |
| AGEN 161 | Basic Hydraulics | 3 |
| BSAD 116 | Business Organization & Mgmt | 3 |
| CAD 181 | Intro To Computer-Aided Drftng | 1 |
| CITA 120 | Computer Concepts & Op Sys | 3 |
| CITA 140 | Introduction to Programming | 3 |
| CITA 200 | Data Communications Networking | 3 |
| DTEC 150 | Diesel Systems | 3 |
| DTEC 225 | Diesel Electronics | 4 |
| ENSC 101 | Agricultural Science | 3 |
| ENSC 106 | Pesticide Use and Handling | 2 |
| ENSC 107 | Integrated Pest Management | 1 |
| MECH 211 | Analytical Mechanics (Statics) | 3 |
| NATR 103 | Natural Resources Equipment Op | 2 |
| NATR 213 | Basics Geospatial Technology | 2 |
| RENG 225 | Tower Climbing and Rescue | 2 |
| RENG 240 | Introduction to Heat Pumps | 3 |
| RESC 130 | Light Framing | 3 |
| RESC 221 | Plumbing | 3 |
| RESC 260 | Heating And Energy Systems | 3 |
Sample Course Sequence
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| RENG 101 | Basic Elec Renewable Energy | 4 |
| RENG 102 | Renewable Energy Resources | 3 |
| RENG 103 | Renewable Energy Seminar | 1 |
| SUNY General Education Mathematics (and Quantitative Reasoning) as Advised | 3 | |
| SUNY General Education Communication Written and Oral as Advised (ex. COMM 105) | 3 | |
| NATR 113 | Intro toGlobal Positioning Sys | 1 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| RENG 150 | Analysis Techniques for Renewable Energy | 3 |
| NATR 213 | Basics Geospatial Technology | 2 |
| RESC 125 | Residential Electrification | 3 |
| SUNY General Education Natural Sciences (and Scientific Reasoning) as Advised (ex. BIOL 101) | 4 | |
| CITA 101 | Principles Computer Apps | 3 |
| SUNY General Education as advised | 3 | |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| RENG 231 | Solar Photovoltaic Installation | 3 |
| RENG 310 | Biomass Energy Resources | 3 |
| PHYS 107 | Introductory Physics I | 4 |
| SUNY General Education Diversity: Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice as Advised (ex. ENSC 261) | 3 | |
| 100-200 Lower Division Elective as advised (ex. RESC 221) | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| CAD 181 | Intro To Computer-Aided Drftng | 1 |
| RENG 221 | Introduction to Wind Systems | 3 |
| 100-200 Lower Division Elective as advised (ex. AUTO 102) | 3 | |
| 100-200 Lower Division Elective as advised (ex. RESC 260) | 3 | |
| 100-200 Lower Division Elective as advised (ex. RESC 221) | 3 | |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Total Credits | 62 | |