Build your own career resiliency

MS in Global Energy Management (GEM)

AT A GLANCE

Credit hours: 36

18-month program

Hybrid format: online and on-campus

Start terms: spring and fall

Where energy professionals develop into industry leaders

Build a career that withstands any energy trend. With over ten years of experience in education, our curriculum cuts across all energy sectors, from power to renewables to oil and gas. Our program’s hybrid format allows you to work anywhere in the world while completing your master’s degree.

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Taught by leading energy practitioners

55%

of students report an increase in salary upon graduation

Flexible yet connected – live and work anywhere in the world

Extensive professional network of alumni

Cohort Profile

Cohort size: 30 students
Average age: 34
Years of experience:
10+: 12%
6-10: 29%
3-5: 39%
Students working full-time: 100%
Students from energy backgrounds: 86%

Our Master of Science in Global Energy Management (GEM) program is a business and leadership degree, offered in a hybrid format that turns today’s energy professionals into tomorrow’s leaders. The hybrid format includes online coursework and a four-day on-campus weekend held in Denver every three months.

Graduate with the business acumen of an MBA, paired with a future-proof global perspective of the energy industry that spans all sectors. This degree prepares you to advance in your current field or to shift into a new role or sector.

Benefits of the program include:

Only energy program to offer an Executive in Residence program to give you access to leaders in the industry
Taught by energy practitioners with extensive experience across a number of industries
Hybrid format allows you to continue your education while working full-time from anywhere in the world

Our faculty members average 15 years in the industry. You are taught by experts who understand where the trends in energy are headed. Our program model connects business, leadership, and industry expertise.

Core Competencies

Ethics
Practicality
Teamwork
Communication

Business Acumen

Financial Management
Energy Economics
Problem Solving
Negotiation

Leading and Managing

Business Management
Organizational Leadership
Collaborative Learning
Strategy

Energy Industry Expertise

General Energy Industry Expertise
Sector Specific Industry Expertise
Energy Stakeholder Management
International & Intercultural Effectiveness

Hybrid format

This program gives you the unique opportunity to study with your industry peers from different energy sectors and to learn from energy industry practitioners through one four-day study weekend (Friday to Monday) each quarter. Combine all the flexibility of online learning with the networking power of an industry-focused on-campus program!

Our program is specifically designed to develop the business acumen, leadership, and management skills needed to lead in the energy industry. Throughout the course of 18 months, you will complete 36 credit hours in 12 courses.

Core courses (24 hours)

These courses provide a foundation of the current realities facing the energy industry today. You’ll be exposed to perspectives from economics, law, accounting, and more. Course topics include:

21^st century global energy issues and realities
Global energy economics
Environmental, regulatory, legal, and political environment in the energy industry
Technical aspects of energy science
Leadership and decision making in the global energy environment
Managerial accounting in global energy markets
Introduction to financial management in the global energy market
Strategic human capital management in the global energy environment

Energy electives (9 hours)

Explore further into areas that are of interest to your career. Course topics include:

Energy law: property, contracts, and transactions
Political risk analysis and strategy for energy business
Organizational behavior in the energy industry
Energy marketing and communication
Advanced financial management in the energy industry
Energy asset and production management
Commercialization and management/leadership of renewable energies
Special topics
Strategic management for the energy industry

Capstone class (3 hours)

The focus of the capstone course is on improving an organization’s competitiveness in changing global energy environments. With an emphasis on sustainable strategies, you develop skills to formulate, implement, and evaluate organizational strategies in changing environments.

“Professors are comprised of specialists who have succeeded at the highest level both professionally and academically worldwide. They provide industry-focused management and technical tools that are immediately transferable to the workplace.”—Tyson Johnston, GEM alumnus, Vice President Land, Anschutz Exploration Corporation

Learning outcomes

MS Global Energy Management

Value 1: Business Acumen

Outcome: Demonstrate cross-functional business acumen sufficient to enable effective market and situation analysis, problem-solving, decision-making, and resource allocation to achieve expected results at both business unit (tactical) and enterprise (strategic) levels.

Value 2: Lead and Manage People

Outcome: Demonstrate the ability to lead and manage geographically and culturally diverse people and organizations at both business unit (tactical) and enterprise (strategic) levels.

Value 3: Energy Industry Expertise

Outcome: Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the worldwide energy marketplace and the information, methods, and strategies used by strategic decision-makers in the energy industry.

Value 4: Executive Presence

Outcome: Demonstrate a growing executive presence based on confidence, credibility, demeanor, communication, ethics, and personal brand.

These objectives are assessed in relevant courses across the curriculum using projects, presentations, assignments and exam questions.

The only energy program with executives in residence, our mission is to create a collaborative learning environment with insight into the expertise and deep knowledge that energy executives have gained throughout their careers. Throughout your time with GEM, you'll have access to seven different executives. Those interactions help you:

understand the decision-making processes energy leaders utilize not only to run an organization
know how to identify high-potential performers
receive career advice to guide your decisions
build your own executive presence

Current Executive in Residence

Kathleen Staks

Director of External Affairs, Guzman Energy
Residence: Janaury 2020 - June 2020

Kathleen Staks is the Director of External Affairs for Guzman Energy. In this role, she leads stakeholder engagement, legislative and regulatory affairs, and strategic communications to help Guzman Energy meet its goal of transitioning communities across the country into a cleaner, more affordable energy future.

Before joining Guzman Energy, Staks served as the Executive Director of the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) under Governor Hickenlooper. She worked to broaden the influence and impact of the CEO, developing and securing bipartisan support for long-term funding for the office while expanding wide-reaching relationships across the energy spectrum. Prior to joining CEO, Staks served as the assistant director for energy and minerals at the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, where she developed and implemented oil and gas and mining policy issues across Colorado in coordination with the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, the Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety, and the Governor’s Office.

In addition to her experience at the State, Staks worked at Great Outdoors Colorado as the program director for Parks and Wildlife and Open Space, coordinating and developing policies and grant programs for the benefit of Coloradans through public and private land protection programs. Kathleen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Southern Medodist Univeristy and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Denver – Sturm College of Law.

The total cost of tuition for the MS in Global Energy Management program is $54,000 or $4,500 per course. GEM’s tuition is guaranteed for the length of your program and includes all student fees. Textbooks, airfare, and your hotel are not included in the price of tuition.

Employer Reimbursement

We recommend meeting with human resource and benefits departments to discuss eligibility for tuition reimbursement. We are happy to provide information to help you gain approval. If you receive tuition assistance from your employer, you can still apply for student loans.

Financial Aid

You have the opportunity to take out student loans and apply for scholarships. More information can be found on at the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.

Federal Stafford Student Loan

The Federal Stafford Student Loan is available to US citizens and is non-credit based and does not affect your credit rating. The award consists of subsidized and unsubsidized loans. The approximate award is $20,500 for each calendar year. The program runs over two years, which equals a total of $41,000 possible for the program.

Graduate Plus Loans

The Graduate Plus Loan application is automatically included in the Stafford Loan. You can choose whether or not to accept it. Graduate Plus Loans are federal funds but based on your credit rating.

Private Graduate Loans

Many banks offer private loans. Private lender guidelines vary from lender to lender and are determined based on a student’s credit rating. Most private loans offer rates lower than traditional credit cards.

Military Educational Programs

Programs like the GI Bill may be used to fund the GEM program. For more information, please visit the CU Denver Veteran and Military Student Services.

Self-directed Scholarships

Minority, professional, and personal affiliations may have scholarship opportunities. We recommend using the web to research opportunities you may have.

Home Equity Loans or Additional Mortgages

Interests on these loans may be low depending on market conditions. The interest may be tax deductible. These loans require credit approval and are likely to have closing costs.

Application Checklist

Application fee
Online application
Two letters of recommendation
GMAT score—waivers available
Official transcripts from each college or university attended
Essays
Resume
English language proficiency—international applicants only

Apply Now

The Global Energy Management program admits students for a January and July start. Admissions are made on a rolling basis, meaning decisions are made as applications are completed.

Application Process

You will need to complete the online application and submit all additional documents by the deadline. A phone interview is required as part of the admissions process.

Once we've received all of your application materials, you will typically receive a decision within two to three weeks. Applications may take longer to process depending on the current volume of applications received.

GMAT Information

We understand that GMAT/GRE testing centers have temporarily closed due to COVID-19. We are here to help make sure your application does not get delayed during the suspension of testing centers. If you find that the testing center closures impact you or have any questions about how to proceed with your application, please contact us at bschool.admissions@ucdenver.edu.

Students with significant experience in the energy industry may not have to take the GMAT for admission into the GEM program. The chart below provides information on whether or not you are required to take the GMAT. If you already have your graduate degree in another discipline, you are automatically waived from the GMAT requirement.

Years of Experience in Energy	GMAT Status
5 +	Automatically waived
3 - 5	Can apply for a GEM waiver
0 - 3	GMAT required
Already earned a graduate degree	Automatically waived

GMAT Waiver Process

Applicants with 3-5 years of experience in the energy industry can petition the admissions committee requesting a waiver from the GMAT requirement. Email the documents below to gem@ucdenver.edu. The admissions committee will inform you within one week of receiving all documents the decision on the GMAT waiver.

One-page letter petitioning the admissions committee to waive the GMAT test. Within the letter, include how undergraduate and work experience in the energy industry has positions you to be successful in the GEM program.
Resume
Copy of either an unofficial or official transcript from a degree-granting institution

How Decisions are Made

Ideal candidates for the GEM program have at least five years of professional experience, demonstrating positions of increasing responsibility. Most students are currently working within the energy industry; however, the program does accept non-energy professionals looking to transition their career.

International Students

We understand that TOEFL/IELTS testing centers have temporarily closed due to COVID-19. We are here to help make sure your application does not get delayed during the suspension of testing centers. The Business School is now accepting Duolingo as an alternative test to the TOEFL/ITELS. Please go to duolingo.com for more information on how to take the test. If you have any questions about Duolingo or your application, please contact us at bschool.admissions@ucdenver.edu.

To meet the English Language Proficiency (ELP) criteria, you must either showcase your proficiency through past education in English instruction or an English Language Proficiency test. If you are a citizen of a country whose official language is English, you do not have to prove proficiency. See below for a listing of accepted countries.

To claim proficiency, you must complete one of the following criteria. Please note that test scores are valid for two years.

Submit a TOEFL score that meets the minimum requirements of 75 (IBT) or 537 (PBT). The minimum IBT sub scores for each section are: Reading: 15, Listening: 15, Speaking: 18, Writing: 17.
Submit an IELTS score of at least 6.5 The minimum IELTS sub scores for the reading, listening, speaking, and writing sections are 5.5.
Submit a copy of completion from the CU Denver ESL Academy.
Earned an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in the United States or has successfully completed a minimum of two semesters of full-time study in a master’s program at an accredited institution in the United States.
Have graduated from a US/UK accredited school abroad with English as the medium of instruction.
Earned an associate's or bachelor's degree in the US or have successfully completed a minimum of two semesters of full-time study in a master's program at an accredited institution in the US.
Be a citizen of a country whose official language is English. These countries include Australia, Belize, Botswana, Canada (except Quebec), Commonwealth Caribbean, Ghana, United Kingdom, Ireland, Kenya, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

To be eligible for scholarships you must apply by the priority deadlines. Plan to submit materials early to expedite processing. Deadlines apply to all required documents. Please note that if you apply by the final deadlines many classes may be full.

We have two application deadlines depending on your start date.

January start: December 15
July start: June 15

Plan to submit materials early to expedite processing. Deadlines apply to all required documents. To be eligible for scholarships you must apply by the priority deadlines. Please note that if you apply by the final deadlines many classes may be full. Course offerings are limited for summer.

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Dip your toes in.

These certificates and courses can give you insight into our energy-focused curriculum.

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This certificate provides students with the opportunity to sharpen “hard” business skills in the areas of accounting and financial management. Coursework and assignments are focused 100% on the energy industry providing students with immediate applicability to current job responsibilities.

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The Energy and Commodities Data Analytics certificates offer both analysts and managers a deep dive into the rapidly expanding disciplines of Big Data and analytics as they apply to commodities and the energy industry.

Lifecycle of Oil and Natural Gas Certificate

This three-day course is designed to educate professionals within the energy industry and those on the periphery, about the complete lifecycle of oil and natural gas resources. Topics explore everything from geology to accessing land, drilling and completions, upstream marketing, and managing risk.

Start the conversation.

The GEM team is available to discuss the benefits of the Global Energy Management MS degree with you.

Please contact
Glenn Engelberg,
Assistant Director of Recruitment
303-315-8064, email him, or fill out the form linked below.

Request More Information Schedule a Call or Meeting

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