Rice University to offer new master’s in energy transition and sustainability

Rice University's Professional Science Master's Program office has been actively involved in developing the Master of Energy Transition and Sustainability (METS) program and will be managing enrollment and administration for the new program.

Rice President Reginald DesRoches commented, "We believe that METS graduates will emerge as leaders and innovators in the energy industry, equipped with the skills and knowledge to drive sustainable solutions. Together we can shape a brighter, more resilient and cleaner future for generations to come.”

"The degree will cross-train students across disciplines to tackle the complex challenges of the energy transition, allowing them to thrive in their careers and solve one of the most perplexing problems of our time," said Amy Dittmar, Howard R. Hughes Provost and executive vice president for academic affairs.

Rice University New Program Details

The 31-credit-hour METS program will train graduates to face emergent challenges in the energy sector and drive innovation in sustainability across a wide range of domains from technology to economics and policy.

The program offers an opportunity for energy sector professionals at all stages of their professional journey as well as college graduates with a science or engineering background to position themselves as leaders and experts on the energy transition.

It is hosted by the Rice Departments of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Earth, environmental and Planetary Sciences. METS will offer an intentional framework for exploring burgeoning areas of interest like geothermal, hydrogen and critical minerals recovery as well as opportunities for the traditional oil and gas industry to support new energy and carbon management applications such as carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) and subsurface storage.

With US President Biden administration's investments of around $370 billion in programs targeting energy security and climate through the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, and goals to eliminate carbon pollution in the power sector by 2035 and achieve a net zero emissions economy by 2050, the nation’s energy sector is poised to undergo changes that will impact workforce readiness and availability. METS is designed to allow graduates to tackle these changes and play a leading role in advancing sustainability goals, said the university statement.

The needed coursework covers subsurface geological systems and techniques for energy generation and storage; unconventional and renewable energy resources, materials and technologies; and economics, policy and environmental issues. The program has a flexible structure that allows the student to complete the course at their own pace within two to four semesters, accommodating both full-time and part-time schedules, added the university.

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