The comprehensive set of AET degree programs was launched last year in an initiative supported by NextEnergy of Michigan, which is advancing the use of alternative energy technologies by supporting AET education, as well as research, design, manufacturing, commercialization and marketing in the state and nation.
The university has officially approved the College of Engineering's 12-credit Graduate Certificate Program in AET, while the graduate degree program and undergraduate specialty wait for approval. The Certificate program is open to students with a bachelor's degree in engineering, and in other mathematics-based sciences. Admission to this program is contingent upon admission to the Graduate School.
Some of the credits earned in the Graduate Certificate Program can be transferred to a future master's degree in AET. The six courses offered are: Fundamentals of Fuel Cell Systems, AET Design Projects, Smart Sensors and Fuel Cells, Dynamics and Control of Fuel Cell Systems, Hydrogen Infrastructure and Alternative Fuel Transportation, and Fuel Cell Product Realization System: Business and Technical Integration Issues.
Fundamentals of Fuel Cell Systems addresses the process and materials aspect of fuel cell technology, and the reforming of hydrocarbon fuels to hydrogen and the application of reforming technology to stationary and vehicle fuel cells. AET Design Projects will include both classroom lectures and design proposals for fuel cell vehicles, providing an opportunity for a team to design, assemble and test a fuel cell vehicle and to enter a national competition. Smart Sensors and Fuel Cells will address the development of smart fuel cell technology. Utilizing advances in sensors and VLSI, students will develop smart sensors that will monitor H2, O2, and others gases to regulate their production for optimum performance. Dynamics and Control of Fuel Cell Systems allows students the opportunity to develop hands-on experience in the process of modeling, control design and optimization in fuel cell systems.
Hydrogen Infrastructure and Alternative Fuel Transportation addresses three main areas, including the design, maintenance, and operation of the facilities to be used for power generation using fuel cells, the handling of waste materials in solid, liquid, and gaseous forms, and the design, construction, and operation of the infrastructure needed to transport hydrogen fuel to the refueling stations and delivering it to the vehicles. Fuel Cell Product Realization System introduces students to the production of alternate energy systems and fuels, and demonstrates their use in vehicle design, manufacturing and service on a global level. It provides an in-depth understanding of the product realization life cycle, and business and process issues necessary for making good business and technical decisions.
The College of Engineering, with more than 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students, offers a wide range of fully accredited engineering disciplines. Its well-respected graduates represent a large force in Michigan industry and the engineering field.
For more information on the WSU AET Program, visit www.eng.wayne.edu/aet For registration questions, contact Andrea Eisenberg: aeisen@eng.wayne.edu For general inquiry, go to aet@wayne.edu