Fuel cells provide one of the most efficient means for converting the chemical energy stored in a fuel to electrical energy. Fuel cells offer improved energy efficiency and reduced pollution compared to heat engines. While composed of no (or very few) moving parts, a complete fuel cell system amounts to a small chemical plant for the production of power. This course introduces students to the fundamental aspects of fuel cell systems, with emphasis placed on proton exchange membrane (PEM) and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). Students will learn the basic principles of electrochemical energy conversion while being exposed to relevant topics in materials science, thermodynamics, and fluid mechanics.