Certificate in Climate Change Causes, Impacts, and Solutions

Program Overview

The Climate Change Causes, Impacts and Solutions Certificate program offers an in-depth exploration of climate change for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as non-matriculated community members. The program covers causes, impacts, solutions, and social justice aspects of climate change. Students can choose from a range of courses in different disciplines to fulfill the certificate requirements. The program emphasizes real-world application and encourages students to meet with advisors to craft a customized curriculum.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Climate Change Causes, Impacts and Solutions Certificate is a 13-22 unit certificate program designed for both undergraduate and graduate students, as well as non-matriculated community members. It provides in-depth exploration of climate change encompassing its causes, impacts, solutions, and social justice aspects.

Program Objectives:

• Understanding Climate Change Causes: Explain and analyze the natural, social, economic, and political factors contributing to anthropogenic climate change.
• Analyzing Climate Change Impacts: Identify the natural, social, economic, and political consequences of anthropogenic climate change.
• Developing Climate Change Solutions: Identify potential solutions to anthropogenic climate change and demonstrate the ability to translate knowledge into practical action.
• Exploring Climate Change and Social Justice: Critically analyze and identify examples of the relationship between anthropogenic climate change and social justice.
• Real-World Application of Climate Change Knowledge: Apply evolving understanding of climate change causes, impacts, and solutions to real-world action.

Program Structure:

• Foundational Course: Students must select one 3-4 unit course from a list including BIOL 318, ENVS 130, ERTH 335, GEOG 160, RRS 276, and WGS 578.
• Causes Course: Students must select one 3-4 unit course from a list including BIOL 161, BIOL 300, BIOL/ERTH 577, BIOL 617, BUS 450, CHEM 380, COMM 572, ENVS 130, ENVS 460, ERTH 260, ERTH 335, ERTH 365, ERTH 535, GEOG 101, GEOG 160, GEOG 314, GEOG 435, GEOG 500, GEOG 666, I R/GEOG 428, I R 735, LS 401, PLSI 354, RRS 276, and USP 514.
• Impacts Course: Students must select one 3-4 unit course from a list including AA S 587, BECA 502, BIOL 161, BIOL 300, BIOL 617, BUS 450, ENVS 470, ENVS 480, ERTH 260, ERTH 330, ERTH 335, ERTH 365, GEOG 314, GEOG 500, I R/GEOG 428, RRS 276, USP 514, and WGS 593.
• Solutions Course: Students must select one 3-6 unit course from a list including BECA 502, BIOL 532, BIOL 534, BIOL 671, BUS 450, COMM 572, COMM/ENVS 675, ENVS 460, ENVS 470, ENVS 480, ENVS 530, ENVS 570, FIN 651, GEOG 314, GEOG 433, GEOG 435, GEOG 500, GEOG 666, I R/GEOG 428, I R 735, LS 430, RRS 276, USP 515, and WGS 578.
• Applied Component Course: Students must select one 1-4 unit course from a list including BIOL 681 and COMM/ENVS 675.
• Advanced Climate Justice: At least one of the courses taken to fulfill the Causes, Impacts, or Solutions area must also be an Advanced Climate Justice course.
A list of designated courses is provided in the text.

Other:

• The certificate serves both matriculated and non-matriculated students.
• Non-matriculated students, including community members from various professions such as green energy, government, transportation, recreation, tourism, community planning, law, health, journalism, and real estate, could benefit from the certificate.
• The certificate requires at least two-thirds of the units taken by the student to be at the upper-division level.
• Students are encouraged to meet with a Climate Change Certificate advisor to determine which courses in other areas should be selected if a course satisfies multiple areas.