Southern's Bachelor of Science in Energy and Utility Leadership prepares you to lead in a high-demand, high-paying economic sector. Our curriculum has been developed in partnership with industry leaders, translating real-world field challenges into actionable expertise.
The flexible curriculum, taught through our AACSB-accredited School of Business, includes over 30 credits dedicated to the management of energy systems, including water, gas, electricity, and wastewater. New courses in asset and infrastructure management, green energy and environmental sustainability, crisis/risk management and workforce safety, and industry regulatory codes will be part of the program. The business curriculum applies theory to real-world problems so that students develop the skills and knowledge for in-demand careers in the region's energy companies.
New England’s premier Energy and Utility Leadership Program is designed to prepare students for careers in energy, utility-centric business, and policy domains. By emphasizing sustainable practices and integrating real-world challenges from both energy and utility landscapes, the major provides specialized insights while also imparting analytical and managerial tools vital for these industries.
40%
Workforce Retirement Deficit
Nearly 40% of the regional utility workforce is nearing retirement, creating an immediate management talent shortage.
#1
Exclusive Regional Degree
The only specialized undergraduate program of its kind in New England co-designed by industry executives.
$116k+
High Earning Potential
The median salary for industrial production and utility managers nationwide.
$4,000
Annually Renewable Scholarships
Available specifically for full-time students in this major via industry endowments.
Core Skills for the Energy Sector
You won't just study broad management theory. You will learn inside SCSU’s School of Business, taking specialized courses designed specifically for utility sector financial structures, rate structures, and logistics.
- Financial and Rate Management
- MGT 250 – Rates and Revenues in the Utility Industry: Learn how public utility commissions determine consumer pricing and rate cases.
- FIN 325 – Financial Management and Reporting for Public Utilities: Master specialized public utility accounting practices, cash flows, and capital investments.
- Infrastructure, Asset Protection and Technology
- MGT 260 – Asset and Infrastructure Management in the Utility Industry: Manage structural lifecycles, preventative maintenance programs, and aging grid modernization.
- BIS 306 – Operations and Project Management for the Energy and Utility Sector: Apply analytical frameworks to cross-functional utility projects.
- Green Energy, Public Policy and Law
- BUS 390 – Experiential Solar Study: Hands-on analysis of solar arrays, green grid integration, and clean tech viability.
- MGT 470 – Energy and Public Utilities Law, Regulation, and Public Policy: Understand the state and federal frameworks governing utility organizations.
Core Leadership Competencies
- Structured Analysis: Approach complex management problems using a disciplined balance of quantitative metrics and qualitative business methods.
- Executive Communication: Master concise oral presentations and technical business writing tailored specifically for boards of directors, regulatory authorities, and consumers.
- Critical Decision-Making: Evaluate real-time grid, water, or environmental crises based on sound legal reasoning, risk mitigation, and workforce safety codes.
- Technology: Students will be able to use common software programs to facilitate analysis and decision-making.
Get a High-Demand Career in Utility Management
The modern utility sector is undergoing rapid infrastructure upgrades, clean energy transitions, and a massive leadership generational shift. The Bachelor of Science in Energy and Utility Leadership includes over 30 credits dedicated to the management of energy systems, including water, gas, electricity, and wastewater. New courses in asset and infrastructure management, green energy and environmental sustainability, crisis/risk management and workforce safety, and industry regulatory codes will be part of the program.
The business curriculum applies theory to real-world problems so that students develop the skills and knowledge for in-demand careers in the region’s energy companies. Step directly into in-demand management positions with strong financial security:
- Utility Operations / Industrial Production Manager ○ Role: Oversee the safe, efficient distribution of water, gas, electricity, or wastewater infrastructures.
- Median Salary: $116,970 / year
- Regulatory Compliance Manager / Officer ○ Role: Navigate changing clean energy laws, state mandates, public utility codes, and environmental laws.
- Median Salary: $78,810 – $130,000+ / year
- Energy Efficiency Program Manager / General Manager ○ Role: Direct corporate sustainability initiatives, green grid updates, and public benefit energy programs.
- Median Salary: $101,280 / year
Executive and Management Career Paths:
- Utility Manager
- Director of Utility Services
- Regulatory Compliance Manager
- Energy Efficiency Program Manager
- Water Treatment Plant Manager
- Waste Management Director
- Environmental Compliance Manager
- Operations Manager
Learning Outcomes
- Analysis: Students will be able to approach management problems from a structured, disciplined approach, using quantitative and qualitative methods.
- Communication: Students will be able to communicate effectively in both written and oral forms. Their communication will be clear, well-organized, and concise.
- Critical thinking: Students will be able to evaluate and critique management issues. They will critically assess information and provide inputs to management problems based on sound reasoning.
- Technology: Students will be able to use common software programs to facilitate analysis and decision-making.
School / College
School of Business
Department
Management and International Business
Contact
Dr. Carol Stewart