Students enrolled in this certificate will be introduced to the major implications of climate change on people and earth systems with the purpose of building a person’s climate change literacy, empowering them to reduce impacts of climate change, and giving students awareness of climate change mitigation/adaptation strategies to bring to their workplaces. Courses in the certificate educate students about:
- What is climate change, why is it now a serious problem, and what can we do about it? (ATS 150)
- What are the key responses and feedbacks of earth systems to climate change? (CLMT 275/GEOL 275)
- What are the key issues for understanding how groups of people respond to and are affected by climate change? (ANTH 330 or ESS 365)
- What adaptation (e.g., ATS 440/GES 440), mitigation (e.g., GES 441) solutions, or business strategies (e.g. BUS 440) might be employed in real world systems?
The recommended course sequence is outlined above; however, this sequence is not mandatory.
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this certificate, students will be able to:
- Identify why and how the climate is changing, and how scientists study these physical changes.
- Analyze biophysical responses and feedbacks to climate change, including both aspects of climate change mitigation and adaptation.
- Recognize and evaluate responses and feedbacks to climate change in social systems (e.g., policy and economic responses, justice and equity implications, and changes to social structures and systems).
- Apply information to generate solutions for decarbonization and adaptation in human and natural systems.
Effective Fall 2025
Additional coursework may be required due to prerequisites.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses: | ||
| ATS 150 | Science of Global Climate Change (GT-SC2) | 3 |
| CLMT 275/GEOL 275 | Climate Change and Earth System Interactions | 3 |
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Human Ecology | ||
| Global Climate Justice | ||
| Global Environmental Justice Movements | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Corporate Sustainability Strategy | ||
| Sea Level Rise and a Sustainable Future | ||
| Analysis of Sustainable Energy Solutions | ||
| Program Total Credits: | 12 | |