Drexel University Partners with Baltimore Gas-Electric on Innovative Power Engineering Certificate

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Drexel University's College of Engineering is tapping its strength in electric power, energy systems, and industry partnerships to develop talent at Baltimore Gas & Electric (BGE), a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation, through a new Power Systems Graduate Certificate program.

The rigorous curriculum was designed by Drexel engineering faculty, led by Karen Miu, PhD, professor of electrical and computer engineering, in partnership with representatives from BGE, to meet the specific needs of the company. It includes advanced coursework in power system analysis, protective relaying, distribution systems, automation and control, and integrating renewables and distributed energy resources onto the grid. Students who successfully complete the 8-course, 24-credit program will be eligible to transfer all credits toward a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering at Drexel.

"Partnerships like this allow us to translate Drexel's research excellence into curricula that meets real-world industry workforce development needs," said Kapil Dandekar, PhD, E. Warren Colehower Chair Professor and Associate Dean at Drexel Engineering. "Combining Drexel's cutting-edge faculty with BGE's practical knowledge will shape professionals ready to lead the industry forward."

The curriculum provides an accessible pathway for BGE professionals to advance their expertise in power systems engineering. By learning online, they can remain on the job while earning a valuable credential from a top engineering school. At least 25 BGE employees are expected to enroll in the initial cohort, scheduled to start this fall.

“BGE has partnered with Drexel to enhance our employee development, providing relevant skills and tools to stay competitive,” said Rex Gallamoza, BGE’s senior manager of transmission and substation engineering projects. “Transforming our workforce and investing in people will give us an edge in this growing industry including electrification, grid advancements, distributed energy resources, large-scale modernization of aging infrastructure, and technologies to improve grid operations and resilience.”

With leading research and faculty expertise across engineering disciplines, Drexel is well equipped to develop customized programs for other companies seeking to upskill their technical workforce.

"We are eager and well-positioned to develop similar tailored programs for additional industry partners," said Dandekar. "These programs ensure that we are delivering the cutting-edge curricula needed to build a skilled workforce to address the engineering challenges of the future."

Learn more about enrolling in the Power Systems Engineering Program.