More rapid development of solar energy is stymied by the high (but declining) costs of solar energy systems, the relatively low efficiencies of such systems, regulatory hurdles that impede development, and uncoordinated governmental policies. Overcoming such obstacles demands a new kind of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) workforce – one skilled in technical subjects at the heart of solar energy technologies, but also well versed in the socio-economic (e.g., social, economic, behavioral, policy) and commercial aspects of solar energy. Arizona State University (ASU) is addressing these needs through a new professional Science Master's Degree in Solar Energy Engineering & Commercialization. This rigorous 30-credit-hour program is designed for full-time students to complete in 12 months, but it will also be available to online and part-time students. Our students, who will already have a Bachelor's degree in a STEM field, will take technical and nontechnical courses. Special program features include a course on Solar Energy & Public Policy that involves a trip to Washington DC, and strong interactions with the solar energy industry through a summer research project and internship opportunities.

The broader impacts of the proposed Science Master's Degree program include the wider application of solar energy achieved by educating the future leaders of the field in the societal, business, policy, and regulatory aspects of solar energy while still maintaining a rigorous technical grounding. Women and underrepresented minorities, including Native Americans, are recruited by working with existing organizations at ASU that target these groups.