ENVS 3340 Alternative Energy

Modern society relies upon energy to support nearly all aspects of social and economic activity. Historically, this energy has come from fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas). Important questions concerning these energy sources' availability, along with their social and environmental impacts, contribute to increasing interest in developing alternative energy technologies (e.g., solar, wind, geothermal, tidal, etc.) Through interdisciplinary lenses, this course explores the dynamics and tensions of our current energy transitions, giving particular focus to sustainable energy resources. Students will investigate the social and environmental relationships, processes, and impacts comprising these challenges, and their possible solutions.

Course overview

Department
Environmental Studies
School
MCAS
Credits
3
Level
Undergraduate
Offered
Every Fall

Requirements fulfilled

  • Environmental Studies: Concentration — Climate Change and Societal Adaptation: Two Upper-Level Social Sciences or Humanities Courses (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)

Requirement eligibility can vary by school, cohort, and section. Confirm the selected section in EagleApps or with an advisor.

Official evaluation summary

4.50 / 5

Based on 66 aggregate responses from BC Avalanche/Blue evaluations.

Data freshness

Course and evaluation data last updated 2026-08-02. Source details and limitations are documented in Data Sources and Methodology.

Instructors

  • Jesse Swann-Quinn
    Fall 2026, Spring 2026, Spring 2025 · Official rating 4.75/5
  • Jonathan Krones
    Fall 2021 · Official rating 4.47/5

Sections

  • Section 01
    Fall 2026 · Jesse Swann-Quinn · Stokes Hall 209S MWF 12:00 Noon-12:50PM · Offered