2024-2025 Undergraduate/Graduate Catalog

Climate Change Studies, B.S.

The BA and BS in Climate Change Studies share an interdisciplinary core highlighting the multi- and interdisciplinary causes and effects of climate change, and prepares students to become leaders in creating multi- and interdisciplinary responses to the same.

The BS degree emphasizes coursework in the sciences, technology, and engineering. Students pursuing this option will be prepared for career pathways that require an in-depth background in these fields, such as environmental science, “green” construction, conservation, renewable energy, technical aspects of sustainability, and more. The comprehensive background required by this degree (63-65 credits) prepares students for a career in scientific research, consulting, and applications.

Courses cannot be double-counted between the Foundational and the Focus Areas. At least 12 credits in the Focus Areas must be at the 300 level or higher, with at least 6 of these credits at the 400 level. At least 2 different designators must be represented in the courses taken in the Focus Areas. A minor is not required with this major.

Major Requirements (63-65 credits)

Foundational Courses (6 credits)

GEOG 109/CCS 109/SUST 109Introduction to Climate Change

3

CCS 121Introduction to Climate Change Science

3

CCS 122Climate Change Impacts

3

CCS 209/GEOG 209/SUST 209Climatology

3

Choose 6 credits from the courses listed above.

Equity/Justice and Climate Change (3 credits)

ESCI 102Environmental Justice in the 21st Century

3

or

PHIL 241Environmental Ethics

3

Communicating Climate Change (3 credits)

COMM 451Environmental Communication

3

HIST 121World Civilization I

3

JRN 201Introduction to Journalism and Climate Change

3

Choose 3 credits from the courses listed above.

Policy and Climate Change (3 credits)

GEOG 433Issues in Environmental Protection

3

PS 455Environmental Politics and Policy

3

Choose 3 credits from the courses listed above.

Capstone Seminar and either CCS Capstone or Internship (4 cr)

CCS 490Seminar in Climate Change Studies

1

CCS 491Climate Change Studies Capstone

3

CCS 492Climate Change Studies Internship

3

Focus Area: Policy & Planning (3 credits)

ECON 380Food Economics

3

ESCI 455Energy Science and Technology

3

GEOG 270Geography of Hazards

3

GEOG 445Environmental Planning

3

GEOG 433Issues in Environmental Protection

3

SUST 475/GEOG 475Sustainable Energy & Climate Change

3

Choose 3 credits from the courses listed above.

Focus Area: Spatial Data Analysis (3 credits)

ESCI 350Computer Methods in the Earth and Space Sciences

3

ESCI 478Image Analysis in the Earth and Space Sciences

3

GEOG 266Introduction to Remote Sensing

3

GEOG 378Geographic Information Systems

3

Choose 3 credits from the courses listed above.

Focus Area: Science Content (18 credits)

BIO 436Environmental Resources and Management

3

CE 376Environmental Engineering

3

CHEM 406Environmental Chemistry

3

CCS 209/GEOG 209/SUST 209Climatology

3

ESCI 129Meteorology: Earth’s Weather

4

ESCI 131Environmental Earth Science

3

ESCI 135Environmental Earth Science Laboratory

1

ESCI 141Earth and Life History

3

ESCI 145Earth and Life History Laboratory

1

ESCI 425Glacial Geology and Ice Ages

3

ESCI 431Hydrogeology

4

ESCI 441Environmental Geochemistry

3

ESCI 455Energy Science and Technology

3

GEOG 275/SUST 275Soils and Vegetation Sustainability

3

GEOG 475/SUST 475Energy Resources and Climate Change

3

ESCI 455 OR SUST 475 may be taken, not both. Courses cannot be double-counted between the Core and the Focus Areas. At least 12 credits in the Focus Areas must be at the 300 level or higher, with at least 6 of these credits at the 400 level. At least 2 different designators must be represented in the courses taken in the Focus Areas.

Related requirements (20-22 credits)

BIO 132Introductory Ecology

3

BIO 133Laboratory in Introductory Ecology

1

CHEM 161General Chemistry

3

CHEM 162General Chemistry Laboratory

1

CHEM 201Foundations of Analytical Chemistry Laboratory

1

CHEM 260Foundations of Inorganic Chemistry

3

PHYS 121General Physics I

4

In addition, students must complete one of the following: MATH 119, or MATH 124, or MATH 115 and MATH 116, or MATH 115 and MATH 125.