You should have high grades in mathematics and sciences in high school if you want to pursue a solar engineering degree in college. The two most logical engineering degrees that lead to the solar engineer profession include a bachelor of science in electrical and electronic engineering or a bachelor of science in electrical power engineering. These paths offer courses in solar technology.
Start with finding accredited engineering schools by looking at the accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology website, abet.org, where you can search for certified electrical and electronic engineering programs in the United States. From the list, examine the university courses that teach about power systems, photovoltaic technology or opto-electronic engineering.
The basic electronic and electrical or power engineering curriculum can be enhanced with electives that cover motor and generator theory, thermodynamics principles and material sciences. The addition of summer jobs or internships with utility companies or with solar panel manufacturers broadens the understanding of the solar technology. Local communities also welcome volunteer initiatives to equip schools or churches with solar technology.
Further education in solar energy resides in graduate degrees (master's or Ph.D.s) that contrast solar technology with other alternate energy technologies (wind, water, agro-energy). These programs cover more than just the technical aspects and discuss the business, public policy and social dimensions of bringing solar energy into homes.
Some universities, such as the Lawrence Technological University in Michigan, offer a one-year graduate certificate in solar energy to professionals who hold a B.S. in engineering and are interested in solar energy. This emergence of new certification programs was further stimulated by the U.S. Department of Labor with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that aligns grants for groups that develop training programs for professionals entering the new energy industry.
The median salary for solar energy engineers averages $88,570 according to O*Net OnLine, a site created for the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.