Environmental Technology Certificate
Photovoltaic Technology
Overview
The Environmental Technology certificates are a collaborative partnership among Cape Cod Community College, Massachusetts Maritime Academy and University of Massachusetts–Dartmouth, for persons seeking to acquire skills and knowledge in these environmental fields: Coastal Zone Management, Environmental Site Assessment, Geographic Information Systems, Photovoltaic Technology, Small Wind Technology, Solar Thermal Technology, and Water Supply. Students may need to travel to each of the three schools in order to complete all the courses in any certificate program. Students are encouraged to enroll in ENV260 Cooperative Work Experience/Internship.
This certificate provides a solid understanding of photovoltaic technology, site analysis, system design, and installation methods. Students completing ENV173 and ENV178 are qualified to take the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners Entry Level Photovoltaic Certificate of Knowledge Exam. This certificate may appeal to anyone interested in learning more about solar energy and applying that knowledge to their home, business, or career.
| Courses | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| ENV170 | 3 | ||
| ENV171 | 3 | ||
| ENV173 | 3 | ||
| ENV178 | 3 | ||
| ENV260 | 3 | ||
| Total Credits | 12/15 | ||
Career Outlook
The “clean energy cluster” is a large and one of the fastest growing segments of the Massachusetts economy. Solar energy represents a significant portion of the cluster and its projected growth. A person with this certificate has basic knowledge of photovoltaic systems, suitable for a supervised, entry-level position with a dealer/installer, or other PV industry company or organization. Professionals in building trades can gain the knowledge necessary to expand their services to include photovoltaic system design, consulting, specification, and installation. A wide range of additional career opportunities are available within the clean energy cluster for students with degrees in a variety of fields, such as science, engineering, business, law, political science, and communication.
This occupational profile is provided by O*NET.
Program Outcomes
Upon completion of the Photovoltaic Technology Certificate, students are able to:
- Conduct a basic home energy audit and make energy efficiency and conservation recommendations.
- Conduct a solar energy site assessment and quantify the amount of solar energy available at a particular site.
- Properly site, size, and design a residential scale photovoltaic system for both on and off grid applications.
- Accurately explain the benefits and limitations of photovoltaic systems.
- Conduct an economic and environmental assessment of proposed photovoltaic systems.