Climate Change Science and Adaptation Minor

Students will need to complete at least 27 credits to complete the Climate Change Science and Adaptation Minor. The minor may be earned simultaneously with a BA or BS degree or post baccalaureate in any major. Students can choose among a range of core and elective courses from the social and physical sciences. For students pursuing both the Geography major and the Climate Change Science and Adaptation Minor OR both the Environmental Science (or Studies) and the Climate Change Science and Adaptation Minor, courses presented for the minor must differ from the major by at least 12 credits.

Core Courses (20 credits)

Pick five from the following core courses, at least 2 courses must be 400-level (all 4-credit courses):

  • Geog 310U/Sci 333U: Climate and Water Resources
  • Geog 311U:  Climatology
  • Geog 312U/Sci 334U: Climate Variability
  • Geog 314U: Severe Weather
  • Geog 412: Global Climate Change Science and Socio-environmental Impact Assessment
  • ESM 464: Climate Adaptation: Managing Environmental Risks and Vulnerabilities
  • Ph 375U: Climate Change and Human Life
  • Ph 471/ESM 471: Physical and Human Dimensions of Climate Change

Electives

You can choose electives from one of two tracks: Management and Policy, or Physical Science.

Electives - Management and Policy Track (7-9 credits)

At least one course selected needs to be at the 400-level (4-credit courses unless otherwise listed):  

  • Geog 310U/Sci 333U: Climate and Water Resources
  • Geog 340U: Global Water Issues and Sustainability
  • Geog 345U: Resource Management
  • Geog 412: Global Climate Change Science and Socio-environmental Impact Assessment
  • Geog 445: Resource Management Topics
  • Geog 446: Water Resource Management
  • Ec 332U: Economics of Environmental Issues
  • Ec 430: Resource and Environmental Economics
  • Ec 443/ESM 443: Global Environmental Economics
  • Ec 444: Economics of Green Power
  • ESM 335: Introduction to Environmental Management
  • ESM 416: Ecosystem Restoration
  • ESM 435: Natural Resource Policy and Management
  • ESM 462: Climate Change Impacts, Adaptations and Responses: Geosphere and Anthrosphere
  • ESM 464: Climate Adaptation: Managing Environmental Risks and Vulnerabilities
  • ESM 499: Special Studies (1-8 credits)
  • Phl 310U: Environmental Ethics
  • Phl 449: Philosophy of Sustainability
  • Soc 465: Environmental Sociology
  • USP 313U: Urban Environmental Issues
  • USP 490: Green Economics and Sustainable Development (3 credits)

Electives - Physical Science Track (8 credits)

At least one course selected needs to be at the 400-level (all 4-credit courses): 

  •  Geog 311U: Climatology  
  •  Geog 314U: Severe Weather  
  •  Geog 333U/Ph 333U: Weather 
  •  Geog 412: Global Climate Change Science and Socio-environmental Impact Assessment
  •  Geog 413: Disturbance Biogeography of Pacific Northwest
  •  Geog 414: Hydrology  
  •  Geog 418/ESM 418: Landscape Ecology  
  •  CE 489: Introduction to Advanced Environmental Fluid Mechanics  
  •  ESM 425: Watershed Hydrology  
  •  ESM 427: Watershed Biogeochemistry  
  •  ESM 460/CE 488: Air Quality  
  •  ESM 471/Ph 471: Atmospheric Physics
  •  Ph 375U: Climate Change and Human Life  
  •  Ph 477: Air Pollution
  •  SySc 330U: Models in Science  

Additional Minors

Learn more about Geography programs