Graduate Certificate in Electric Drivetrain Technology

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) and the University of Colorado Boulder (CU-Boulder) jointly offer a Graduate Certificate in Electric Drivetrain Technology to qualified students. The program has been designed to provide professionals involved in power electronics, battery controls, and/or automotive industries the capability and motivation to continue with post-graduate education. These potential students may not wish to pursue an in-depth rigorous Master of Science program at this time but nonetheless desire to increase their professional capability and enhance career advancement opportunities.

The graduate certificate comprises four courses: two each at UCCS and CU-Boulder, as indicated in the graphic. These courses cover the most important topics in battery modeling and battery management systems (BMS), motor drive, and vehicle power electronics for applications including hybrid, plug-in hybrid, extended-range, and battery electric vehicles. The student applies to either campus to be admitted into the graduate certificate program. Upon admission, the student then registers as an "unclassified student" on both campuses to take the courses. Upon satisfactory completion of the course requirements, the student is issued the graduate certificate. Note that the certificates received by students who apply to UCCS are identical to those received by students who apply to CU-Boulder.

Graduate Education

Required Pre-requisite Knowledge

  1. Technical undergraduate degree: Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering from an accredited university, or Bachelor's degree in a closely related engineering discipline from an accredited university plus completion of all necessary course pre-requisites to the certificate courses with a grade of "B" or better.
  2. Evidence of mathematical maturity equivalent to completion with a grade of "B" or better for the all of the following college-level coursework:
    • Calculus III, Linear Algebra, and Differential Equations
    • Physics III (calculus based) and General Chemistry I
    • Circuits II, Electronics I, and Linear Systems
  3. An undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0/4.0 or better.

Certificate Completion

A grade of "B" or better in each course must be achieved.

Course Requirements

Students must complete the follow four courses in the graduate certificate either at the campus listed or through online study: