Energy studies focuses on the extraction, manufacture, distillation, and sale of resources used to create power for maintaining societies. This ranges from traditional materials such as firewood and dung to modern sources including fossil fuels and nuclear power as well as alternative energy sources and future models.

The Middle East boasts a uniquely diverse population filled with a myriad of political, cultural and religious identities. In this setting, students have the opportunity to learn first hand about historic cultures and empires based in the region.

The PhD is a doctoral degree, specifically called a "doctor of philosophy" degree. This is misleading because PhD holders are not necessarily philosophers (unless they earned their degree in philosophy!). That said, PhD recipients are able to engage in thought experiments, reason about problems, and solve problems in sophisticated ways.