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Elective Courses

SES Elective Courses

Sustainable Energy Systems Elective Course Options

SES electives are flexible. Students choose three approved elective courses that match their goals, major,and curiosity.


A Gaylord student might focus on communication, public understanding, and energy storytelling.
A Price student might focus on finance, markets, and sustainability strategy.
A Gibbs student might focus on buildings, design, and infrastructure.
A Dodge student might focus on policy, ethics, society, and environmental change.

Many electives may also count toward major or General Education requirements, so students mayalready be closer than they think.

Build a Pathway Around Your Interests

Learn how energy connects to people, policy, business, science, and the environment.

Learn across fields and build a certificate around your interests.

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Students must complete three elective courses from the list of courses provided below. There are no required pathways or tracks- you're free to select the courses that best match your interests and goals. Depending on the student’s degree major and interests, one or more of the SES elective courses may also count for credit toward the degree requirements of the student’s major. Also, note that approximately 25% of the SES elective courses also satisfy OU’s General Education requirements. Each elective course is categorized based on its primary content topic, listed in the rightmost column of the interactive course list table, and one or more of the following course areas.

Elective Course Areas:

  1. Climate/weather and renewable energy
  2. Business, infrastructure, and the built environment
  3. Subsurface, energy storage, and transport 
  4. Communication and education
  5. Energy, society, and the arts
  6. Legal and financial aspects

REACH OUT TO SES@OU.EDU TO DISCUSS ADDING OTHER ELECTIVE COURSES TO THE LIST BELOW!

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Course NumberCourse TitleTopic
ACCT 3033Financial Reporting Issues in EnergyEnergy Business Markets
A HI 4623/5623Contemporary Art &
 the Environment		Historical, Ethical,
Artistic Perspectives
AGSC 1513Where The Land Meets The SkyIntro Course -(1) intro course
allowed for elective credit.
AME 4163Principles of Engineering DesignTechnology & Engineering
AME 4303/5303Designing for Open InnovationTechnology & Engineering
AME 4393/5393Renewable Energy
Systems and Control		Technology & Engineering
AME G4653Air Conditioning SystemsTechnology & Engineering
AME 4970/5970Advanced Energy SystemsTechnology & Engineering
AME 5410Energy efficient and
grid-interactive building design		Technology & Engineering
ARCH 2463Methods IV- Sustainable
and Resilient Systems I		Technology & Engineering
ARCH 4353LEED SeminarSustainability & the Environment
ARCH 5463Adv Sustainable- Resilient SystemsSustainability & the Environment
ARCH 5723Methods VII - Advanced SystemsTechnology & Engineering
ARCH 5863Methods VIII Building
Performance Analytics		Technology & Engineering
ARCH 5970Resilient FuturesHistorical, Ethical,
Artistic Perspectives
B AD 4013Business Strategy and PolicyEnergy Business Markets
BIOL 3463/ENST 3463Water and Ecological
Sustainability		Sustainability & the Environment
CAS 1553Gateway to ScienceIntro Course -(1) intro course
allowed for elective credit.
CEE 1513Towards Just and
Responsible Energy Engineering		Intro Course -(1) intro course
allowed for elective credit.
CEES 2323Environmental Transport
and Fate Process		Technology & Engineering
CEES 2412Earth Systems and ProcessesSystems Perspectives
CEES 3213Water Resources EngineeringSustainability & the Environment
CEES 3243Water and Wastewater
Treatment Design		Sustainability & the Environment
CEES 4114/5114Aquatic ChemistrySustainability & the Environment
CEES G4243Water Technologies
for Emerging Regions		Sustainability & the Environment
CEES 4324/5324Environmental Biology
and Ecology		Sustainability & the Environment
CEES 4363/5363Ecological Engineering ScienceTechnology & Engineering
CEES 4951Contemporary Topics in
Professional Practice		Energy Business Markets
CEES 5123Climate Change and Impacts
on Water-Energy-Food Nexus		Sustainability & the Environment
CEES 5133/CH E 5133Water SustainabilityTechnology & Engineering
CEES 5153Water Innovation: Technology,
Policy, and Organizational Issues		Sustainability & the Environment
CEES 5243Physical-Chemical
Water Treatment		Systems Perspectives
CEES 5883Environmental ModelingSustainability & the Environment
CEES 5933Climate Change and
Water Sustainability		Sustainability & the Environment
CH E 4323Chemical Process
Sustainability		Technology & Engineering
CH E 5033Environmental SeparationsTechnology & Engineering
CH E 5053Carbon Capture & UtilizationCarbon Management
CH E 5063Sustainable Energy
Applications		Technology & Engineering
CH E 5133/CEES 5133Water SustainabilityTechnology & Engineering
CH E 5163Heterogeneous CatalysisTechnology & Engineering
CH E 5223Refining PrinciplesTechnology & Engineering
CH E 5353Emerging Technologies
toward Water Sustainability		Technology & Engineering
CH E 5453Polymer Science
and Engineering		Technology & Engineering
CH E 5533Materials Design for
Energy Application		Technology & Engineering
CNS 5970Constr. Analytics & InnovationTechnology & Engineering
DES 4633Emerging TechnologiesTechnology & Engineering
DSAI 5013Fundamentals of
Energy Statistical Analysis		Technology & Engineering
DSAI 5133Energy AnalyticsTechnology & Engineering
DSAI 5303Financial Engineering AnalyticsTechnology & Engineering
ECE 3113Energy Conversion ITechnology & Engineering
ECE G4113Analysis of Electrical
Transmission		Technology & Engineering
ECE 5423Power System ProtectionTechnology & Engineering
ECE 5973Power Systems and
Market Operations		Technology & Engineering
ECE 5973Power Systems ProtectionTechnology & Engineering
ECE 5973Renewable Energy SystemsTechnology & Engineering
ECE 5973Energy Propagation
in Electrical Systems		Technology & Engineering
ECON 3213Environmental EconomicsEnergy & Environmental Law,
Policy & Economics
ECON 3413Energy and the EconomyEnergy & Environmental Law,
Policy & Economics
ECON 5970Energy EconomicsEnergy & Environmental Law,
Policy & Economics
EDSC 3233Environmental Issues
in the Community		Sustainability & the Environment
EDSC 5970Special TopicsCommunications
EMBA 5012Energy Policy and RegulationsEnergy & Environmental Law,
Policy & Economics
EMBA 5021Energy Technology & InnovationEnergy Business Markets
EMBA 5261Energy and EnvironmentSustainability & the Environment
EMBA 5331Accounting- Renewable EnergyEnergy Business Markets
EMBA 5351Renewable Energy
Law & Regulations		Energy & Environmental Law,
Policy & Economics
EMBA 5381Renewable Energy ForecastingSustainability & the Environment
EMBA 5402Renewable Energy Project
Develop, Implement, Manage		Energy & Environmental Law,
Policy & Economics
EMBA 5462Introduction to Energy SystemsSustainability & the Environment
EMGT 3113Energy Production and MarketsEnergy Business Markets
EMGT 3513Sustainable Policy
and Regulations		Energy & Environmental Law,
Policy & Economics
EMGT 3523Gas Marketing and
Power Trading		Energy Business Markets
EMGT 3533Commercial Applications
in Power Markets		Energy Business Markets
EMGT 3603Energy Law IEnergy & Environmental Law,
Policy & Economics
ENGR 1413Pathways to Engineering
Thinking		Intro Course -(1) intro course
allowed for elective credit.
ENGR 4513Introduction to
Sustainable Engineering		Life Cycle Analyses
ENST 1013Consumption & The
Environment		Sustainability & the Environment
ENST 2003Water Resources AdvocacySustainability & the Environment
ENST 2023American Environmental
Perspectives		Sustainability & the Environment
ENST 2813Environmental Studies
Cornerstone		Sustainability & the Environment
ENST 3213Law and the EnvironmentEnergy & Environmental Law,
Policy & Economics
ENST 3223Environmental JusticeSustainability & the Environment
ENST 3243Introduction to
Water Law		Energy & Environmental Law,
Policy & Economics
ENST 3303*Food, Agriculture,
and Environment		Climate
ENST 3463Water & Ecological
Sustainability		Sustainability & the Environment
ENST 3503*Energy Use, Climate Change,
and the Environment		Climate
ENST 3653Community ConservationSustainability & the Environment
ENST 3800Environmental InternshipSustainability & the Environment
ENST 3893Environmental Studies
Research Project		Sustainability & the Environment
ENST 4883Environmental Studies
Seminar		Sustainability & the Environment
ENT 3193Social EngineeringCommunications
FIN 4443Sustainable FinanceEnergy Business Markets
G E 2013Intro to Energy ResourcesSustainability & the Environment,
Technology & Engineering,
Systems Perspective
G E 3220GeoEnergy InternshipSustainability & the Environment
G E 4613Carbon Capture,
Utilization and Storage		Carbon Management
G E 4623Energy Conversion
and Storage		Technology & Engineering
G E 4633/5633Hydrogen Energy SystemsTechnology & Engineering
G E 5970Special Topics/Seminar
(Hydrogen Energy Systems)		Technology & Engineering
GEOG 1203Global Environmental IssuesSustainability & the Environment
GEOG 1114Physical GeographyIntro Course -(1) intro course
allowed for elective credit.
GEOG 2021Exploring DGESSustainability & the Environment
GEOG 3233Principles of SustainabilitySustainability & the Environment
GEOG 3253Environmental ConservationSustainability & the Environment,
Communication & Education
GEOG 3443Environment and SocietyEnergy & Environmental Law,
Policy & Economics
GEOG 3523/METR 3523Managing for a Changing ClimateClimate
GEOG 4033/5033Human Dimensions of
Global Environmental Change		Climate
GEOG 4043/5043Urban ClimatologyClimate
GEOG 4123/5123Cities and SocietySustainability & the Environment
GEOG 4293/5293Hydrologic ScienceSystems Perspectives
GEOG 4343/5343Climate, History, and SocietyClimate
GEOG 4423/5523Environmental JusticeEnergy & Environmental Law,
Policy & Economics
GEOG 4493/5493Systems Thinking
and Knowledge Integration		Systems Perspectives
GEOG 4513Real-world Applications of
Climate and Weather Information		Climate
GEOG 4523/5523Life Cycle AnalysisLife Cycle Analyses
GEOG 4583/5583Energy Systems and
Sustainability		Systems Perspectives
GEOG 4653/5653Urban SustainabilitySustainability & the Environment
GEOG 4663/5663Water and SocietyEnergy & Environmental Law,
Policy & Economics
GEOG 4970AI, Ethics & SustainabilitySustainability & the Environment
GEOG 4970/5970Climate CO2 Removal StrategiesCarbon Management
GEOG 5433Sustainability: Theory & PracticeSustainability & the Environment
GEOG 6240AI, Ethics & SustainabilitySustainability & the Environment
GEOG 6973Thinking about Geography
and Environmental Sustainability		Sustainability & the Environment
GEOL 1033Earth, Energy, EnvironmentIntro Course -(1) intro course
allowed for elective credit.
GEOL 2014The Earth SystemSystems Perspectives
GEOL 3033Earth Resources and
the Environment		Sustainability & the Environment
GEOL G4233Subsurface MethodsSubsurface, Energy Storage
and Transport
GEOL/METR 4533/5533Earth's Past ClimateClimate
GEOL 5353Carbonates and Sequence
Stratigraphy		Energy & Climate
GEOL 5970Orogenic SystemsSubsurface, Energy Storage
and Transport
GPHY G4874Seismic ExplorationTechnology & Engineering
HIST 3493American Environmental
History		Historical, Ethical,
Artistic Perspectives
HIST 6260Advanced Readings
in American History		Historical, Ethical,
Artistic Perspectives
HIST 6260Energy HistoryHistorical, Ethical,
Artistic Perspectives
HON 2973Energy in U.S. HistoryHistorical, Ethical,
Artistic Perspectives
HON 2973InfrastructureSystems Perspectives
HON 2973What is ScienceSustainability & the Environment
HON 3993Honors Colloquium -
Welcome to the Anthropocene		Economics, Historical, Climate
HON 3993Honors Colloquium -
Economics of Natural Disasters		Economics, Historical, Climate
HSTM 1323History of the GeoscienesIntro Course -(1) intro course
allowed for elective credit.
HSTM 3343/PE 3343Revolution in Power:
The Evolution of Energy
Systems from Fossil
Fuels to Renewables		Historical, Ethical,
Artistic Perspectives
HSTM 3473History of Ecology
and Environmentalism		Historical, Ethical,
Artistic Perspectives
HSTM 3543Hist Weather and
Climate Sci		Historical, Ethical,
Artistic Perspectives
IAS 3000Special Topics :
Democratic Environmentalism		Energy & Environmental Law,
Policy & Economics
IAS 3653Energy, Climate, and SecurityEnergy & Environmental Law,
Policy & Economics
I D 4123/5123Environment and
Human Behavior		Sustainability & the Environment
I D 5970Adv. Topic in Net ZeroLife Cycle Analyses
ISE 4383/5383Systems EvaluationSystems Perspectives
ISE 5013Fundamentals of
Energy Statistical Analysis		Technology & Engineering
ISE 5133Energy AnalyticsTechnology & Engineering
JMC 3453Public Relations & SocietyCommunications
JMC 4213Innovators in JournalismCommunications
JMC 4970/5970Special Topics: Strategic
Communication about Sustainable
Energy Systems		Communications
L A 4970/5970Sustainable Stormwater
Design		Sustainability & the Environment
LAW 5232Introduction to Real Property
Law in Oil, Natural Gas,
and Renewable Energies		Energy & Environmental Law,
Policy & Economics
LAW 5970Energy Law & Electricity
Regulation		Energy & Environmental Law,
Policy & Economics
LAW 6100Wind LawEnergy & Environmental Law,
Policy & Economics
LAW 6510Energy and Natural ResourcesEnergy & Environmental Law,
Policy & Economics
LAW 6523Environmental LawEnergy & Environmental Law,
Policy & Economics
LAW 6573Energy Development
on Public Lands		Energy & Environmental Law,
Policy & Economics
LSTD 4563Weather & ClimateClimate
LSO 5232Introduction to Property
Law and Natural Resources		Energy & Environmental Law,
Policy & Economics
LSO 5970Special Topics/Seminar
(Topic: Energy Law and
Electricity Regulation)		Energy & Environmental Law,
Policy & Economics
LSO 6573Oil & Gas Development
of Public Lands		Energy & Environmental Law,
Policy & Economics
LSO 6581Water Law and
Energy Industry		Energy & Environmental Law,
Policy & Economics
METR 2603Severe and Unusual WeatherClimate
METR 3523Managing for a Changing
Climate		Climate
METR 3543Hist Weather and Climate SciHistorical, Ethical,
Artistic Perspectives
METR 4553/5553Climate and Renewable
Energy		Climate/Weather and Renewable Energy
MIS 3373Systems Analysis/Design
Theory		Systems Perspectives
NAS 4423/5433Issues in Native American
Environment & Sustainability		Historical, Ethical,
Artistic Perspectives
PDC 1003Gateway to Building
Communities		Intro Course -(1) intro course
allowed for elective credit.
P E 3343Evolution of EnergyEnergy & Environmental Law,
Policy & Economics
P E 3712Petroleum EconomicsEnergy Business Markets
P E 4553 / 5553Integrated Reservoir
Management		Subsurface, Energy Business Markets
P E 4711Project EvaluationSubsurface, Energy Storage
and Transport
P E 5243Introduction to Rock MechanicsSubsurface
P E 5433Horizontal Well TechnologySubsurface, Energy Storage
and Transport
P E 5553Integrated Reservoir
Management		Technology & Engineering
P E 5603Intro Natural Gas
Engr & Mgt		Sustainability & the Environment
P E 5723Environmental SustainabilitySustainability & the Environment
P E 5753Low Carbon Energy MarketsCarbon Management
P E 5970Subsurface Energy
Exploitation		Subsurface, Energy,
Technology & Engineering
P SC 3233Environmental Policy
and Administration		Energy & Environmental Law,
Policy & Economics
PHIL 3293Environmental EthicsHistorical, Ethical,
Artistic Perspectives
PHIL 3900Ethics & Energy SystemsHistorical, Ethical,
Artistic Perspectives
RCPL 4263/5263Infrastructure PlanningTechnology & Engineering
RCPL 4753/5753Transportation Geography
and Planning		Technology & Engineering
RCPL 5813Environmental Planning
Methods		Systems Perspectives
SCM 4970/5970SCM Sustainability & EthicsHistorical, Ethical,
Artistic Perspectives
SOC 3893Environment, Ecology,
and Society		Climate
SOC 4373/5373Sociology of Climate ChangeClimate
SOC 5143Program EvaluationEnergy & Environmental Law,
Policy & Economics
   
 * Either ENST 3303 or
ENST 3503 may be counted
as an SES elective, but not both.		 
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Sustainable Energy Systems
Williams Office Suite
Sarkeys Energy Center
Norman, Oklahoma 73019
ses@ou.edu
Updated 7/13/2026 by Sustainable Energy Systems: ses@ou.edu