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Credits and costs
Enhance Your Penn State Degree
Add a minor to get even more value out of your education.
Gain Specialized Energy Business and Finance Knowledge
Gain Specialized Energy Business and Finance Knowledge
Recent market dynamics in the energy and resource industries are leading to new employment opportunities for graduates with a background in energy business and finance. To help you gain knowledge in this growing field, Penn State World Campus has partnered with the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences to offer an Undergraduate Minor in Energy Business and Finance (EBF).
The solutions to society's existing and emerging energy challenges require interdisciplinary approaches integrating economics and business with the technical knowledge of energy systems and implications for our environment. That's where energy business and finance experts come in. The Minor in Energy Business and Finance provides an introduction to the major energy commodity markets, basic energy sciences, and the tools for analyzing business decisions that companies in the energy sector make. It is designed to complement technical training for students interested in working in energy-related fields or for students who just want to learn more about global energy markets.
The knowledge and skills that you gain with an EBF minor can help prepare you to work in a variety of fields, including:
- energy and resource industries
- financial institutions
- nonprofit groups
- international organizations focused on energy and environmental issues
This minor is open to all interested undergraduate Penn State World Campus students who meet the prerequisites. Students of business or energy and sustainability policy may find this minor particularly useful.
Online Energy Business and Finance Courses
Online Energy Business and Finance Courses
The minor in energy business and finance is composed of 28–29 credits. Your required courses are in energy, business, and finance; energy and mineral engineering; and energy and geo-environmental engineering.
Your elective courses will be selected from a list of available courses in energy, business, and finance; energy and mineral engineering; energy and geo-environmental engineering; geography; geosciences; and meteorology.
A grade of C or better is required in all courses that you take to fulfill requirements for the minor.
Prescribed Courses (16 credits)
- 3credits
Resource use decisions and their effect on local, national, and global development.
- 3credits
The aim of this course is to introduce fundamental concepts of financial management and illustrate their global applications.
- 3credits
Methods of economic analysis and their use; price determination; theory of the firm; distribution.
- 3credits
The course covers engineering evaluation of geo-resources, present value and rate of return analysis, mineral property and reserve estimation, and cost estimation and engineering economy concepts applied to geo-resources including energy and minerals.
- 4credits
Descriptive Statistics, frequency distributions, probability and normal distributions, statistical inference, linear regression, and correlation.
- Prerequisite
Placement into MATH 21 or higher.
Additional Math Courses (select 3–4 credits)
- 3credits
Relations, functions, graphs; polynomial, rational functions, graphs; word problems; nonlinear inequalities; inverse functions; exponential, logarithmic functions; conic sections; simultaneous equations.
- 4credits
Introduces and develops the mathematical skills required for analyzing change, and the underlying mathematical behaviors that model real-life economics and financial applications. Develops student knowledge of calculus techniques, and how to use a calculus framework to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Prerequisite
MATH 022 or satisfactory performance on the mathematics placement examination
- 4credits
Introduces and develops the mathematical skills required for analyzing change and creating mathematical models that replicate real-life phenomena. Develops student knowledge of calculus techniques and how to use the calculus environment to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Prerequisite
MATH 22 and MATH 26 or MATH 26 and satisfactory performance on the mathematics placement examination or MATH 40 or MATH 41 or satisfactory performance on the mathematics placement examination.
Additional Energy Courses (select 3 credits)
- 3credits
Energy utilization and technological development, energy resources, conversion and consequences on the local and global environment, and future energy alternatives.
- 3credits
Exposure to energy efficiency in day-to-day life to save money and energy, and thereby protect the environment.
- GN
The credits earned in this course may be applied toward the Natural Sciences (GN) requirement.
- 3credits
Survey of the commercial development of the world petroleum industry from various international, historical, business, and cultural perspectives.
Supporting Courses and Related Areas (select 6 credits)
- 3credits
Energy is in transition, with increased international energy demand and increasing environmental pressures. Energy transitions, approaches, and outcomes are addressed.
- 3credits
Industry perspective on the resources, technologies, engineering approaches, and externalities involved in satisfying worldwide energy demand profitably and sustainably.
- 3credits
The human use of resources and ecosystems and social causes and consequences of environmental degradation in different parts of the world; development of environmental policy and management strategies.
- Prerequisite
GEOG 010 or GEOG 020 or GEOG 030 or GEOG 040 or GEOG 130 or permission of the program
- 3credits
Designed for students to understand the natural processes of aquatic ecosystems, management of water resources, and threats to sustaining water quantity and quality, for all types of freshwater surface, groundwater, rivers, lakes, wetlands.
- 3credits
Analysis, formulation, implementation, and impacts of energy-related policies, regulations, and initiatives.
Course Availability
If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.
Costs and Financial Aid
Costs and Financial Aid
Learn about this program's tuition, fees, scholarship opportunities, grants, payment options, and military benefits.
Costs and Financial Aid
Undergraduate Tuition
Undergraduate tuition is calculated based on the number of credits for which you register and the number of total credits you have accrued at or transferred to Penn State.
Tuition is due shortly after each semester begins and rates are assessed every semester of enrollment.
2024–25 Academic Year Rates
| How many credits do you plan to take per semester? | If you have 59 or fewer credits | If you have 60 or more credits |
|---|---|---|
| 11 or fewer | $632 per credit | $678 per credit |
| 12–19 | $7,678 per semester | $8,288 per semester |
2025–26 Academic Year Rates
| How many credits do you plan to take per semester? | If you have 59 or fewer credits | If you have 60 or more credits |
|---|---|---|
| 11 or fewer | $638 per credit | $685 per credit |
| 12–19 | $7,755 per semester | $8,371 per semester |
Undergraduate students taking more than 19 credits will be charged the flat tuition rate plus the regular per credit hour rate for each credit above 19.
Financial Aid and Military Benefits
Some students may qualify for financial aid. Take the time to research financial aid, scholarships, and payment options as you prepare to apply. Federal financial aid may only be used to pay for credits used to satisfy program requirements.
Military service members, veterans, and their spouses or dependents should explore these potential military education benefits and financial aid opportunities, as well.
Additional Cost of Attendance Details
To view the detailed list of cost of attendance elements:
- visit the Tuition Information site
- click the plus sign to expand the table
- select a semester from the World Campus row
Upcoming Events
Convenient Online Format
This program's convenient online format gives you the flexibility you need to study around your busy schedule. You can skip the lengthy commute without sacrificing the quality of your education and prepare yourself for more rewarding career opportunities without leaving your home.
A Trusted Leader in Online Education
Penn State has a history of more than 100 years of distance education, and World Campus has been a leader in online learning for more than two decades. Our online learning environment offers the same quality education that our students experience on campus.
How to Add a Minor to Your Degree
How to Add a Minor to Your Degree
You must be a current student and meet specific requirements to apply for a minor.
Application Instructions
Steps to Apply
To be eligible for admittance into this minor, you must:
- be a current Penn State undergraduate student in your fifth semester and be in a bachelor's degree major
- maintain a grade of C or better in all courses for the minor
- ensure your minor code and major code do not match
Talk with your academic adviser about incorporating the minor into your major and to develop a semester-by-semester plan for meeting requirements. You should add the minor as early as possible, but you can apply up to the late drop deadline of your graduating semester.
You will receive a confirmation email once you declare the minor in LionPATH.
Admissions Help
Please work with your adviser if you have questions about adding a minor. You can find your adviser's contact information in your student portal or by calling advising at 814-863-3283.
Contact Us
Contact Us
Have questions or want more information? We're happy to talk.
To learn more about the Minor in Energy Business and Finance, offered in partnership with the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, please contact:
World Campus Admissions Counselors
Phone: 814-863-5386
[email protected]