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)

GSCI 102Environmental Justice in the 21st Century

3

or

PHIL 241Environmental Ethics

3

Communicating Climate Change (3 credits)

COMM 451Environmental Communication

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)

Focus Area: Policy & Planning (3 credits)

ECON 380Food Economics

3

GSCI 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)

GSCI 350Computer Methods in the Geological 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

GSCI 129Introduction to Meteorology

4

GSCI 131Environmental Geoscience

3

GSCI 135Environmental Geoscience Laboratory

1

GSCI 141Earth and Life History

3

GSCI 145Earth and Life History Laboratory

1

GSCI 425Glacial and Quaternary Geology

3

GSCI 431Introduction to Hydrogeology

4

GSCI 441Environmental Geochemistry

3

GSCI 442Introduction to the Principles of Soil Science

4

GSCI 455Energy Science and Technology

3

or

SUST 475/GEOG 475Sustainable Energy & Climate Change

3

GEOG 275/SUST 275Soils and Vegetation Sustainability

3

GSCI 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