Climate Change Studies Minor
Contact
Jennifer Brousseau, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, School of Marine and Environmental Programs
jbrousseau@une.edu
Mission
Climate change promises to be one of the defining environmental and social problems of our lifetime, and the topic of climate change will grow ever more relevant as we move into the future. The interdisciplinary minor in Climate Change Studies is committed to educating tomorrow’s leaders in the science, impacts, and solutions to climate change. This interdisciplinary program of study seeks to engage students with an understanding of climate change from diverse perspectives — scientific, political, psychological, economic, and ethical dimensions of the problem and its solutions — and prepare them for a myriad of professions that directly or indirectly relate to understanding, combating, and adapting to climate change.
Minor Description
The minor in Climate Change Studies provides students with an interdisciplinary understanding of climate change. Three required courses provide a foundation in climate change causes, consequences, and solutions. Students then choose from a variety of courses in three areas: Natural Science, Social Science/Humanities, and Policy. The variety of courses in multiple disciplinary fields allow students to craft a minor that is relevant to their professional and personal interests, including the opportunity for an internship if desired.
Transfer Credit
See Undergraduate Admissions for more information.
Admissions
See Undergraduate Admissions for more information.
Financial Information
Tuition and fees for subsequent years may vary. Other expenses include books and housing. For more tuition and fee information, please consult this catalog’s Financial Information section.
Curricular Requirements
A student may minor in Climate Change Studies with the approval of the minor program contact. To complete this minor, students are expected to successfully complete the following course of study:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Program Required Courses | ||
| ENV 208 | Climate Change: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions | 3 |
| PHY 218 | Energy and Climate Change | 3-4 |
| or MAR 460 | The Scientific Basis for Global Climate Change | |
| SOC 227 | Climate Change & Society | 3 |
| Select One Policy Elective: 1 | 3 | |
| Envir Policy Compar Perspect | ||
| Climate Change Adaptation | ||
| Intro to Marine Pollution | ||
| Climate Change, Oceans & Law | ||
| Science in Society | ||
| Intro Intern Relations | ||
PSC 205 | (Introduction to Politics and Environment) | |
PSC 306 | (Environmental Politics) | |
| Select One Natural Sciences Elective: 1 | 3-4 | |
| Winter Natural History and Winter Natural History Lab | ||
| Global Change Ecology | ||
| Coral Biology and Coral Biology Lab | ||
| Advanced Field Methods in Avian Ecology & Conservation and Adv. Research Meth/Avian Ecol Lab | ||
ENV 328 | (Environmental Pollution: Ecosystems, Wildlife, and Human Health) | |
| Oceanography and Oceanography Lab | ||
| Natural History of Iceland and Natural History of Iceland | ||
| The Scientific Basis for Global Climate Change | ||
MAR 464 | (Polar Biology) | |
| Select One Social Sciences and Humanities Elective: 1 | 3 | |
| Environmental Economics | ||
BUEC 395 | (Ecological Economics) | |
| Environmental Communication: Expert Practices for Ecosystem Management | ||
ENV 328 | (Environmental Pollution: Ecosystems, Wildlife, and Human Health) | |
| Environ Movemnts/Social Change | ||
| Env Racism/Env Justice Mvmnt | ||
ENV 344 | (Environmental Ethics) | |
| Ethics of Science & Technology | ||
PHI 330 | (Environmental Philosophy) | |
| Social Psychology | ||
SOC 210 | (Displaced Cultures and Society) | |
SOC 226 | (Environmental Sociology) | |
| Social Issues/Problems Global World | ||
SOC 320 | (Community Organization) | |
| International Development | ||
| Total Hours | 18-20 | |
- 1
Internship Opportunities (Optional): Internships may substitute for one of the above elective courses, subject to advisor and internship coordinator approval. The internship must deal explicitly with some aspect of climate change science, mitigation, or adaptation.
Please note: While some courses can fulfill both core and program requirements, the credits earned do not count twice towards the minimum total required credits for the degree.
Learning Outcomes
- Evaluate the issues and conflicts surrounding climate change from multiple perspectives, including scientific, geographic, political, economic, sociological, psychological, ethical, and cultural perspectives
- Explain and quantify the impacts of climate change on human well-being and the natural world
- Think critically about the uneven distribution of climate change responsibility, impacts, vulnerability, adaptive capacity, and political power across individuals, societies, generations, and species
- Identify options for preventing further climate change (mitigation) and reducing impacts of change on human and natural systems (adaptation)
- Analyze and critique policy issues related to global warming
- Apply a practical understanding of climate change impacts, mitigation, and adaptation to their professional work