This is an unofficial description for this program. For official information check the Academic Catalog.
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 BA degree emphasizes coursework in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and behavioral sciences. Students pursuing this option will be particularly prepared for career pathways in policy, planning, journalism and communication, cultural resource management, policy aspects of sustainability, and more. The modest size of the degree (36 credits) not only encourages students to select a minor that will complement their major but will also allow interested students to pursue a double major more readily.
Of the 36 total credits in the major, at least 12 must be at the 300 level or higher. A minor is required with this major.
Major Requirements (36-37 Credits)
Foundational Courses (6 credits)
Equity / Justice and Climate Change (3 credits)
Communicating Climate Change (3 credits)
Policy and Climate Change (3 credits)
Capstone Seminar (1 credit) and CCS Capstone or Internship (3 credits)
Electives (17-18 credits)
BIO 132 Introductory Ecology 3 Credits
BIO 133 Laboratory in Introductory Ecology 1 Credit
BIO 436 Environmental Resources and Management 3 Credits
CHEM 406 Environmental Chemistry 3 Credits
CM 110 The Built Environment and Global Society 3 Credits
COMM 451 Environmental Communication 3 Credits
ECON 370 Environmental and Ecological Economics 3 Credits
ECON 380 Food Economics 3 Credits
ESCI 102 Environmental Justice in the 21st Century 3 Credits
ESCI 129 Meteorology: Earth’s Weather 4 Credits
ESCI 131 Environmental Earth Science 3 Credits
ESCI 135 Environmental Earth Science Laboratory 1 Credit
ESCI 141 Earth and Life History 3 Credits
ESCI 145 Earth and Life History Laboratory 1 Credit
ESCI 424 Geomorphology 4 Credits
ESCI 425 Glacial Geology and Ice Ages 3 Credits
ESCI 431 Hydrogeology 4 Credits
ESCI 441 Environmental Geochemistry 3 Credits
ESCI 455 Energy Science and Technology 3 Credits
GEOG 433 Issues in Environmental Protection 3 Credits
GEOG 445 Environmental Planning 3 Credits
GEOG 275 Soils and Vegetation Sustainability 3 Credits
HIST 221 History and Climate Change 3 Credits
JRN 201 Introduction to Journalism and Climate Change 3 Credits
JRN 372 Environmental Journalism 3 Credits
PHIL 241 Environmental Ethics 3 Credits
PS 455 Environmental Politics and Policy 3 Credits
PSY 125 Environment & Behavior 3 Credits
SOC 355 The Culture and Politics of Food 4 Credits
SUST 100 Search in Sustainability 3 Credits
SUST 140 Introduction to Sustainability 3 Credits
SUST 275 Sustainable Soils & Vegetation 3 Credits
SUST 442 Field Methods in Sustainability 3 Credits
SUST 459 Field Studies in Sustainability 3 Credits
SUST 469 Readings in Sustainability 1 Credit
Other courses may be counted as electives after consultation with a Climate Change Studies program advisor.
At least 3 different course designators must be included within these electives.
At least 3 cr must be a course considered to be in the Arts and Humanities, selected in consultation with a Climate Change Studies program advisor.