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
Course evaluations
- Course rating
- 4.50 / 5 · Excellent
- Instructor rating
- 4.68 / 5 · Excellent
- Terms evaluated
- 3
| Term | Instructor | Course overall | Instructor overall | Well organized | Clear learning objectives | Intellectually challenging | Helpful assignments | Applicable beyond course | Attendance necessary | Weekly effort | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | Jesse Swann-Quinn | 4.5 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 1–3 hrs/week | 22 of 24 |
| Spring 2025 | Jesse Swann-Quinn | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.2 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 1–3 hrs/week | 27 of 27 |
| Fall 2021 | Jonathan Krones | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 4.2 | 4–6 hrs/week | 17 of 28 |