Master’s program · Rossin College of Engineering
Master of Engineering in Energy Systems Engineering
The Master of Engineering in Energy Systems Engineering at Lehigh University prepares engineers to lead in the electric power industry, from generation and the smart grid to energy’s effects on the environment.
- Credits30
- Typical length1.5–2 years
- DeliveryOn campus, hybrid or fully online
- Degree awardedMaster of Engineering
- GRENeither accepted nor reviewed
On this page
Overview
What the Master of Engineering in Energy Systems Engineering is
The curriculum follows electricity from where it is produced to where it is used. You study how power is generated, how it travels through the transmission and distribution network, and what energy choices mean for the environment, then learn to manage the projects that build and operate such systems.
Seminars and field trips put you in front of current energy technologies, and the project course lets you apply what you have learned to an energy systems problem. The aim is a graduate who combines technical depth with the leadership the industry looks for.
A 30-credit degree, typically 1.5–2 years of full-time study, delivered on campus, hybrid or fully online.
Disciplines
An interdisciplinary program
This degree is not owned by a single department. It draws faculty and coursework from 8 departments across the Rossin College.
- Department of Bioengineering
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics
Curriculum
What you study
The degree requires 30 graduate credits: a 12-credit required core, 6 credits of current energy technologies, 6 credits of technical electives and a 6-credit project.
- Required core, 12 credits. Energy Generation (ESE 401), Transmission and Distribution: Smart Grid (ESE 402), Energy and the Environment (ESE 403) and Energy Systems Project Management (ESE 405).
- Current energy technologies, 6 credits. Energy Seminars and Field Trips (ESE 461), a repeatable course.
- Technical electives, 6 credits. Courses at the 300 or 400 level. At least one must come from within the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science, and at least one must be at the 400 level.
- Energy systems engineering project, 6 credits. Energy Systems Engineering Project (ESE 460), a repeatable course.
- Thesis and exam. Neither a thesis nor a comprehensive exam is required.
- Course-level rules. At least 24 credits must be at the 300 and 400 level, with at least 18 of them at the 400 level. At least 18 credits must be in the major field, with at least 15 of them at the 400 level. You need a B- or better in at least 18 credits of your program and in all 300-level courses in the major field, and no course graded below C- counts toward the degree.
- Courses that do not count. Courses with an ESLP or EAPC subject code, doctoral-only 400-level courses (ENGR 441 and ENGR 499), ENGR 492 and ENGR 496 Summer Work Experience cannot be applied to the degree.
| Code | Course | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| ESE 401 | Energy Generation | Electricity generation: fossil, nuclear, and renewables. |
| ESE 402 | Transmission and Distribution: Smart Grid | Power transmission, distribution, and smart grid systems. |
| ESE 403 | Energy and the Environment | Environmental impacts of energy generation and transmission. |
The Lehigh University Course Catalog is the official source for degree requirements, and requirements can change from year to year. Confirm your own plan against the catalog listing below and with your academic advisor.
Careers
Where graduates work
Energy systems alumni work wherever electric power is produced, moved and managed.
Many of our alumni work in utilities and the wider energy sector, and others work in consulting, information technology, research, government and education. Typical roles include engineer, research engineer, project manager, energy analyst, energy manager, grid integration manager and transmission system operator. Many alumni later move into senior leadership, from vice president of engineering to president, and some start companies of their own.
Employers where our alumni most often work include:
- PJM Interconnection
- PPL
- DERNetSoft
- Baltimore Gas and Electric
- DEPCOM Power
- Los Alamos National Laboratory
- Clearway Energy Group
- Aspen Technology
Alumni also work at Paul Hastings, Rochester Institute of Technology, Equans, AM Energy Resources, Baltimore Gas & Electric, aplus home inspections and The George Washington University.
Based on current employers of Lehigh energy systems engineering alumni who graduated between 2010 and 2025. Class of 2025 master’s graduates across the Rossin College averaged $100,000 in starting salary.
Tuition and funding
What it costs, and what help is available
Base tuition for this 30-credit degree is $75,635, reflecting the summer-start accelerated cycle.
- Qualified applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships as high as 20% of tuition, with no separate application required.
- International students are considered on the same basis as domestic applicants.
How to apply
What a complete application needs
- Academic record
A bachelor’s degree, or the equivalent from a foreign institution, by the time you enroll. A GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale is preferred, and international GPAs are evaluated against that standard. A trend of strengthening grades in your final semesters is taken into account. You will also submit official transcripts, a personal statement, a resume, and letters of recommendation.
- GRE
GRE scores are neither accepted nor reviewed.
- English proficiency
International applicants submit a TOEFL iBT, IELTS, Duolingo, Cambridge English or Pearson Test of English score that meets the minimums in the table below.
- Application fee
$50, non-refundable.
- Deadlines
December 15 for a spring start, May 15 for a summer start, and July 15 for a fall start.
| Test | Overall | Speaking | Writing | Reading | Listening |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | 81 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 16 |
| IELTS | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.0 | 6.5 | 6.0 |
| Duolingo | 125 | 125 | 120 | 125 | 110 |
| Cambridge English | 176 | 176 | 169 | 176 | 169 |
| Pearson Test of English | 68 | 53 or above on each band | |||
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the Master of Engineering in Energy Systems Engineering at Lehigh?
It is a 30-credit master’s degree for engineers who want to lead in the electric power industry. It covers power generation, transmission and distribution including the smart grid, and the environmental side of energy, and it includes a project in energy systems engineering.
How many credits is the Master of Engineering in Energy Systems Engineering?
30 credits: a 12-credit required core, 6 credits of current energy technologies, 6 credits of technical electives and a 6-credit project.
How long does the Master of Engineering in Energy Systems Engineering take to complete?
The program typically takes 1.5 to 2 years.
Do I have to write a thesis or take a comprehensive exam?
No. Neither is required. The degree includes an energy systems engineering project instead.
What courses make up the required core?
Four courses worth 12 credits: Energy Generation, Transmission and Distribution: Smart Grid, Energy and the Environment, and Energy Systems Project Management.
What are the energy seminars and field trips?
Energy Seminars and Field Trips (ESE 461) is the course that covers current energy technologies. It is repeatable, and the degree includes 6 credits of it.
What technical electives can I take?
Six credits of courses at the 300 or 400 level. At least one course must be from within the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science, and at least one must be at the 400 level.
What are the admission requirements?
A bachelor’s degree, or the equivalent from a foreign institution, by the time you enroll. A GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale is preferred, with consideration for a trend of strengthening grades in your final semesters.
Is the GRE required for the Master of Engineering in Energy Systems Engineering?
GRE scores are neither accepted nor reviewed for any Rossin College graduate program.
What English proficiency scores do international applicants need?
Minimum overall scores are 81 on the TOEFL iBT, 6.5 on the IELTS, 125 on Duolingo, 176 on Cambridge English, and 68 on the Pearson Test of English. Each test also has minimum speaking, writing, reading and listening scores, listed in the application requirements section above.
When are applications due?
December 15 for a spring start, May 15 for a summer start, and July 15 for a fall start.
How is the program delivered?
On campus, hybrid or fully online. Consult the program contact for the current term-by-term format.
What does it cost, and is funding available?
Base tuition is $75,635 for the 30-credit degree, reflecting the accelerated summer-start cycle. Qualified applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships as high as 20% of tuition, with no separate application required. International students are considered on the same basis as domestic applicants.
Which department offers this program?
It is interdisciplinary, drawing on 8 departments across the Rossin College rather than sitting in one: Bioengineering, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics.
What do graduates earn?
Class of 2025 master’s graduates across the Rossin College averaged $100,000 in starting salary.
How do I apply?
Apply through Lehigh’s graduate application. A complete application includes transcripts, a personal statement, a resume, letters of recommendation, English-proficiency scores where applicable, and a $50 application fee. Deadlines are December 15 for a spring start, May 15 for a summer start, and July 15 for a fall start.
What elective courses can I choose from?
Electives are chosen with your advisor. Courses students can choose from include Energy Systems Project Management, Energy Systems Engineering Project, and Energy Seminars and Field Trips. The Lehigh course catalog carries the full list.
Contact
Talk to the program
P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science
The Energy Systems Engineering program site »
General inquiries go to engineering@lehigh.edu.