Master of Science in Green Technologies
Application Deadlines
Spring 2024:
September 15, 2023
Fall 2024:
January 15, 2024
- Program Overview
- Application Criteria
- Tuition & Fees
- Meet Our Students
- Career Outcomes
- DEN@Viterbi - Online Delivery
- Request Information
Green Technologies is a highly interdisciplinary degree program that emphasizes green systems and the environment, energy technology and efficiency, and sustainability and society. The discipline seeks opportunities for alternative sourcing, conservation, efficiency, and repurposing through an understanding of product life cycles from origins to recycling or inevitable disposal. Green technologists will design products, processes, and complex infrastructure systems to promote sustainable attributes of importance to the environment and the global community.
Unlike other schools, the Viterbi School of Engineering sponsors the Green Technologies degree program without exclusive ties to any particular department. This allows students to form plans-of-study that accommodate diverse engineering perspectives in support of unique and challenging career opportunities. Students also benefit from numerous green and sustainable projects throughout the Los Angeles region.
- This program requires completion of 27 units of coursework
- Eligible for the OPT STEM extension
- USC Catalogue
- USC Schedule of Classes
| SEMESTER | DEADLINE |
|---|---|
| Spring 2024 | September 15, 2023 |
| Fall 2024 (Civil & Environmental Eng. only) | January 15, 2024 |
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Applicants to the master's of science programs in Green Technologies are required to have a bachelor’s degree or be in the process of completing a bachelor's degree. Degrees in any engineering or engineering-related disciplines are frequently represented among our program applicants, including but not limited to the following:
- Civil Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Energy Science
- Mechanical Engineering
Applicants without a Bachelor’s degree in the preferred majors listed above will only be considered with coursework and demonstrated proficiency in the acceptable courses listed below (or equivalent).
| Calculus 1-3 |
Applications are reviewed holistically; simply taking these courses does not guarantee admission.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
The following materials are required to be included with your online application:
- Transcripts
- Resume/CV
- Personal Statement
- Letter of Recommendation (2 required)
NOTE: The GRE is not required for 2024 applications.
For tips on completing your application visit
Ready to Apply
The following link will take you to an overview of the tuition & fees for graduate engineering students, including payment information. Both on-campus and DEN@Viterbi students pay the same tuition
Estimated Cost of Attendance - 27 Unit Program
Download the Cost of Attendance to see a summary of tuition and fees by semester. The document is a typical example and the number of courses, and time to complete the program, will vary by student.
AYTEN KAHYA
How has living in Los Angeles impacted your experience as a Green Technologies student?
It is great to be in L.A. as California pioneers the country in sustainability. So, it is a great opportunity to follow up with recent technologies, implementations, and progress. In my experience, I have seen and learned about great green tech solutions here and have been able to follow up with some of the efforts for sustainability. I have also seen that there are a lot of improvements to be done as green tech and sustainability approaches are not broadly adopted.
As a Green Technologies student, what do you see as two of the most pressing changes our businesses and society must make in the coming years?
I believe that the most important thing that needs to change is the awareness of climate change threat; society and business have to realize how serious the problem is. Businesses that are focused on short term returns should stop viewing it as an external issue that needs a few adjustments to handle. Instead, they should include it in their strategy for long term viability. The most difficult one but probably one of the most important things that can aid the situation is changing consumer behavior.
Why did you choose to enroll at USC?
I had visited before as a tourist and really liked the campus. Also, the program content of Green Tech met my interests.
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ALEXANDER HENDRICKS
How has living in Los Angeles impacted your experience as a Green Technologies student?
Living in LA has greatly impacted my experience as a Green Technologies student. Los Angeles is one of the most innovative cities in terms of Green Technologies and there are countless companies and groups that are moving towards more sustainable energy in the city. Being able to see these different companies and their work firsthand has really inspired me in my classes. In addition, a lot of the professors draw on data and events in the LA area, which really makes the classes much more interactive and applicable.
Why did you choose to enroll at USC?
I chose to enroll at USC as it had a program that uniquely fit my interests. After finishing undergrad, I knew I wanted to go into the renewable energy field and USC's Green Technology program precisely prepares students for work in the field while also allowing for flexibility in pursuing other interests, such as environmental policy or green buildings.
Looking back, what is an experience at USC that you'll never forget?
An experience during my time at USC that I won't forget was going to a USC Women's soccer game with my dad in the Fall. My dad is a high school soccer coach and had two players playing in the game, so it was fun to both cheer on my school and share a fun experience at USC with my dad.
What are some personal achievements or experiences you'd like to share?
While at USC, there are a couple of personal achievements that I have made. First, I have become accredited as a LEED Green Associate and earned my engineer-in-training certification, thanks to the education I have gotten through my graduate program thus far. In addition, I recently accepted an internship with ENGIE, the 6th largest energy company in the world, to work on renewable energy projects in Southern California.
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PRISCILA OLIVEIRA
What has been your favorite Green Technologies project that you worked on at USC and why?
My favorite Green Technologies project was the one I worked on in my Renewable Energy in Power Systems course for a few reasons. This was the first course I've taken on renewable energy and on electric power systems and I really enjoyed all the topics that I learned there. I am also very curious about the development and deployment of clean energy technologies toward a sustainable future, which I was able to learn throughout this course. I worked on a team of six students of diverse backgrounds which was an enjoyable experience and a great opportunity to learn from my teammates and exchange ideas with them.
How has living in Los Angeles impacted your experience as a Green Technologies student?
Green Technologies is a highly interdisciplinary degree program that emphasizes green systems and the environment, energy technologies and efficiency, and sustainability and society. I benefit from multiple green energy and sustainable projects throughout the Los Angeles region. I have either studied some of them in my classes at USC or learned about them during my previous internship experience at the Los Angeles Water Quality Control Board. In addition, many of the engineering consulting and energy firms that I would like to work for after I graduate have offices in Los Angeles, and I have had the opportunity to meet and network with some of them at professional events on campus.
Looking back, what is an experience at USC that you'll never forget?
An unforgettable experience at USC was being a student delegate at the 2019 Climate Forward Conference, which brought together international experts to discuss productive paths for action. I heard from state senators, a former governor, a UN Ambassador, CEOs, journalists and more. Former Secretary of State John Kerry, who led the U.S. in global Paris Agreement negotiations, delivered the keynote speech, and Mayor Eric Garcetti delivered a powerful lunch address on city-level action. Student delegates then went to the post-conference retreat at the USC Wrigley Marine Science Center on Catalina Island, where we distilled key takeaways from the panel discussions and participated in workshops. Ultimately, we came away with a resolution outlining actions that are key for seizing our individual climate power.
This program is also available online to professional engineers through DEN@Viterbi. Because the DEN@Viterbi program provides a fully equivalent academic experience, the degree a USC engineering student earns is the same whether they are on-campus or online.
If you are interested in beginning classes as a DEN@Viterbi student next semester, explore the requirements and steps to enrolling as a Limited Status Student.
Detailed Program Curriculum and RequirementsSchedule of Classes
DEN@VITERBI ONLINE COURSE OFFERINGS
The following courses and program requirements serve as program planning for DEN@Viterbi students. Course offerings and availability are subject to change. Please consult with advisor if you have any questions.
| Green Systems and the Environment |
| Both courses are required - 6 units total. |
| SAE 515 | Sustainable Infrastructure Systems (3 units) |
| ISE 576 | Industrial Ecology: Technology-Environment Interaction (3 units) |
| Energy Technology and Efficiency |
| Two courses required, Either CHE 510 or AME 577 and one of ENE 505, EE 513, or EE 526. |
| CHE 510 | Energy and Process Efficiency (3 units) or AME 577 |
| AME 577 | Survey of Energy and Power for a Sustainable Future (3 units) or CHE 510 |
| ENE 505 | Energy and the Environment (4 units) |
| EE 513 | Solid State Energy Devices (3 units) |
| EE 526 | Renewable Energy in Power Systems (4 units) |
| Sustainability and Society |
| Both courses are required - 6 units total. |
| CE 469 | Sustainable Design and Construction (2 units) |
| ENE 502 | Environmental and Regulatory Compliance (4 units) |
| Electives |
| Electives shall be chosen in consultation with an advisor to develop technical specialization in an area of interest to the student. - 9 units total. |
