Climate, Environment, and Society
What courses should I take in my first year to see if this is the right major for me?
The best course to start with and determine if the CES major is right for you is CES 101. There are also other introductory core courses in the major (ones that are applicable to the biophysical sciences, social sciences, or worldview and ethics) that would be helpful to register for along with CES 101. These include but are not limited to: GEOG 020, GEOG 102, BIOL 084, EN 101, ID 125, ECON 010, PHIL 100, PHIL 131, ID 121, PECO 101, and PSCI 173.
Are there any courses I am required or strongly encouraged to take in my first semester if I know I want to declare this major? Do any AP credits count for these requirements?
CES 101 is the best class to take in your first semester if you are considering this major. No AP exams count towards this major.
What is the latest semester that I can start this major and still graduate in four years?
You can declare your major at the end of your sophomore year and still be able to complete the major in four semesters. Our major requires 12 courses to be completed.
I am interested in many different subjects. What other majors, minors, or concentrations go well with this major?
Some of the majors, minors, and concentrations that are quite complementary to the CES major include; Economics, Geography, International Development & Social Change, Environmental Science, Biology, and Psychology.
What else do you want incoming first year students to know about this major?
Climate, Environment, and Society involves the study of Earth’s natural and human systems amidst profound global environmental change. Students examine how Earth’s climate and environment are being transformed by socioeconomic and cultural processes, and how socioeconomic and cultural conditions are, in turn, being transformed by the changing climate and environment. In addition to building foundational understanding, the CES major involves a search for more equitable, sustainable and just pathways for the future. The major is interdisciplinary, problem-focused and solution-oriented, moving students across the various perspectives required to understand and address climate change and other sustainability challenges, and designed to train and position students for careers in a variety of sectors, fields, and professions.
If I want to declare this as a major, who should I talk to and where do I go?
Feel free to reach out to our office to meet with any of our faculty and staff to discuss the Climate, Environment, and Society program by visiting our department. You can also learn more by visiting our website here.
Summer Point of Contact:
Professor James Murphy (Program Director) – jammurphy@clarku.edu
Yaa Poku – ypoku@clarku.edu
