About the Energy Resource Management Minor
The Energy Resource Management minor, offered through the University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources, provides undergraduate students with a flexible, interdisciplinary foundation in one of the world’s most essential industries. Designed to complement any major, the program blends topics like energy markets, policy, natural resources and business to help you understand how energy systems shape economies and communities. Housed within a school known for preparing future energy leaders through hands-on learning, industry engagement and cross-disciplinary training, this minor equips you to think critically about complex energy challenges and expand your opportunities across a wide range of fields.
Energy resource management students learn from a diverse network of expert faculty. Rather than being limited to a single department, SER faculty hold appointments across fields like economics, engineering, law, natural resources and policy. Bringing real-world expertise directly into the classroom, this means you’re gaining insight from professionals who are actively researching and working on today’s most pressing energy challenges. With additional support from adjunct faculty and program leaders, students benefit from industry-informed teaching, personalized guidance and meaningful connections that extend beyond campus and into the energy sector.
With just 12 credit hours, including core courses like Energy and Society and Energy Markets & Policy, you’ll build practical, career-ready knowledge while tailoring electives to your interests. Here are just a few examples of elective courses you can take:
- Federal Land Politics
- Negotiation
- Power Systems
- Law and Nuclear Technology
- Topics in Geophysics
- Public Land Surveys
- Forest Ecology
View the full Minor in Energy Resource Management degree program curriculum.
Complement your Degree With an ERM Minor
With the addition of the Energy Resource Management (ERM) minor option, a wider array of UW students gain access to specialized energy education to supplement and enhance their education, as well as add critical skills that are valuable to potential employers. If you are interested in any of the topics below, this minor is right for you!
Students interested in pursing a pre-law or law degree are well served by core courses in property law, contracts, oil and gas law and land management. With the energy resource management minor, students are also well positioned to work in residential or commercial real estate or as a right-of-way agent.
Recommended Majors:
As a dominant feature of not only Wyoming’s economy, but worldwide, energy economics play a critical role in major decisions. Market-focused majors can add an energy skillset to their training through the minor for a leg up in the industry.
Recommended Majors:
- Business Economics
- Entrepreneurship
- Marketing
- Agricultural Business
- Economics (B.S.E.)
- Secondary Education - Agriculture Education and Earth Science Education
In a competitive industry, energy management and leadership skills are highly coveted. Students on a business track benefit from courses in sophisticated energy transactions, business culture, real estate and land management.
Recommended Majors:
Geologic formations and subsurface characterization are more important than ever in the worldwide mission towards decarbonization. Earning a minor in ERM will help in directing and managing resources for carbon use and storage.
Recommended Majors:
With significant coursework crossover, students in science and engineering degree programs can easily add a minor in energy resource management to gain a competitive edge in their respective disciplines, as well as an understanding of social and global issues related to energy resources.
Recommended Majors:
Students pursuing a career in public administration or government gain leadership skills & instruction in one of the most debated topics on capitol hill. With energy policy directives, students are positioned for success in many fields.
Recommended Majors:
- Political Science
- Honors Program
- Sociology
- International Studies
- Psychology
- English
- History
- Construction Management
- Criminal Justice
- Secondary Education - Social Studies and Political Science
Energy and environment are closely related fields of study. Climate solutions are found at the nexus of energy, environment and natural resources. The ERM minor provides knowledge to mitigate environmental impacts of energy services for society.
Recommended Majors:
Surface uses related to agriculture, grazing, livestock, watershed management, reclamation and migration corridors all play a major role in energy development. Students will learn how to navigate these issues with dominant mineral estates.
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