Sustainable Energy Engineering DRAFT

Course Content and Projects

The Sustainable Energy Engineering (SEE) course introduces you to the challenges and opportunities of building a sustainable energy future. In this three-credit Johns Hopkins course, you’ll gain the fundamental knowledge to evaluate whether this field is right for you while exploring the latest technologies shaping tomorrow’s energy landscape.

Fossil fuels will eventually run out, and before they do, burning them for energy production will continue to contribute to our warming planet.  How do we use less energy, and what happens to the energy we already consume?

Recognizing that even if we reduce our energy use, we will still need to make changes to energy production, can we design and implement new sustainable energy technologies that are resilient, economical, and can be incorporated into the existing power grid?

To answer these questions, you’ll investigate how energy is currently produced and distributed, examine the science and engineering concepts behind it, and consider the role policy plays in enabling change.

Want a closer look at everything you’ll experience?
You can review past syllabi for detailed information about what is covered in the course, objectives, schedule, labs, grading deliverables, and more.

Eligibility

Academic Prerequisites

• As and Bs in your high school math and science classes
• Completed Algebra II
• Completed a high school science course with a lab

Grade Level Eligibility

You must be a current high school student or recent high school graduate. Our typical student is a rising junior (~35%) or senior (~65%) in high school. Talented ninth-graders (rising sophomores) may be considered; however, when space is limited, priority will be given to older students. Graduated seniors are also eligible to participate during the summer before they begin their college career. 

Residential Program Age Requirements

For 2026, students participating in a residential program must have been born between July 25, 2008, and June 28, 2011; they must be at least 15 years of age on move-in day and no older than 17 years of age on the last day of the program. We cannot accept students who turn 18 before the final day of the course to a residential program. You must be under 18 years of age to live in the residence hall.

Compare Program Formats

 Note: Costs vary by program format and location. Please visit our Cost & Aid page for full details and information about financial aid.

Program Type	dates	location	class times
In-Person Commuter	June 29 – July 24, 2026	Offered in multiple U.S. cities (locations vary by year)	9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., in the time zone of the program location, M–F
In-Person Residential	June 29 – July 24, 2026 Move-in: June 28	Two residential campuses	9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET, M–F
Online Only	Coming Soon! Summer 2026 dates to be announced.	Online only	Coming Soon! Summer 2026 times to be announced.

Program Modalities

Now that you’ve seen the overview, take a closer look at each option:

• In-Person Commuter
• In-Person Residential
• Online

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In-Person Commuter

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In-Person Residential

Cost & Aid
Find full tuition details and information about financial aid on our Cost & Aid page.

Course Content
Curious about what’s covered? Explore past syllabi for detailed information on course objectives, schedule, labs, grading, and more.

Time Commitment
SEE is a college-level course requiring you to commit approximately 38 hours per week. Therefore, we strongly discourage you from taking online courses while enrolled in SEE. If you choose the commuter version of the course, you will have more flexibility with your time, but you should still consider any other commitments you have (such as jobs, internships, other courses, sports, etc.) when deciding whether to enroll.

Homework
Expect up to two hours of homework each evening after class.

Health Requirements
All in-person students, residential and commuter, must have health insurance. For more details, see our Policies & Services page.

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Online

PLACE HOLDER BELOW IS EEI Online Info~~~

Synchronous Class Options
EEI Online is a live (synchronous) course. Students must attend a three-hour virtual class every weekday (Monday to Friday). When you enroll, you’ll choose one of these time slots (Eastern Time):

• 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET

• 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET

• 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET

Cost & Aid
Visit our Cost & Aid page for complete tuition details and information about financial aid.

Course Content
Curious about what’s covered? Explore past syllabi for detailed information on course objectives, schedule, labs, grading, and more.

Time Commitment for EEI Online Students
EEI is a college-level course requiring you to commit approximately 28 hours per week in the online format. It is offered to first-year engineering students at Johns Hopkins University over a 16-week fall semester, while pre-college students complete the same material in just five weeks online. We strongly discourage students from taking other courses while enrolled in EEI. While commuter and online formats offer more flexibility than residential, you should still carefully consider other commitments—such as jobs, internships, other courses, or sports—before enrolling.

Weekly Breakdown

• 1 hour – Independent Study: Watch pre-recorded lectures or review brief reading assignments introducing new content.

• 15 hours – Virtual Class Meetings: Participate in a three-hour live video class each weekday (Monday through Friday).

• 7.5 hours – Homework: Complete individual assignments to demonstrate your understanding of the material.

Computer Requirements
As an EEI Online student, you will need a computer to access course materials in MS Teams and on the Canvas learning management system. Canvas works best with Firefox or Chrome, and enabling third-party cookies may improve your experience. MS Teams is a cloud-based application accessed with JHU login credentials you will receive after accepting admission.

Your computer should also have:

• The ability to record video of course projects and upload footage to Canvas or MS Teams

• A USB port to connect with an Adafruit Circuit Playground Express microcontroller

• Reliable internet access

Required Lab Supplies
Information on ordering the required lab supplies from our official vendor will be provided when you receive your offer of admission. Please see the Cost & Aid page for lab kit fees. Shipping fees and U.S. sales tax will be added at checkout.

International Students
Students outside the United States are responsible for any taxes, tariffs, or duties charged by customs, in addition to international shipping fees. Expect international shipping to take two weeks, though it may be longer if delayed in customs. Use the tracking information provided by the vendor to determine if you need to pick up your package from customs or the shipping company.