School of Climate, Environment, and Society

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School of Climate, Environment, and Society
Academics
Climate and Society, M.S.
Learning outcomes

Climate and Society, M.S.

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Curriculum
Experiential learning
Learning outcomes
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Learning outcomes

Understanding Climate Drivers and Impacts

Students will demonstrate a basic understanding of climate science, including the physical processes driving climate systems, the role of greenhouse gasses in altering those systems, and the impacts of climate variability and change on natural and human systems (Core 1). Students will develop an understanding of the human drivers of changes to the earth systems that ultimately lead to climate change, and be able to assess the impacts of climate change on various sectors, such as agriculture, health, water resources, and urban planning, using quantitative and qualitative tools developed by economists, geographers, and other social scientists (Core 2).

Mitigation and Adaptation Policies and Practices

Students will develop skills in evaluating and designing policies and practices for climate change mitigation and adaptation at local, national, and global levels (Cores 3 and 4).

Climate Justice

Students will critically examine how climate change disproportionately affects marginalized and vulnerable communities and develop strategies to promote social equity and justice in climate policy and practices (Cores 2, 3, 4, and especially 5).

Experiential Learning

Students will engage in hands-on activities to work directly with diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, community groups, and private-sector entities. Through community-engaged courses or internships, students will develop and apply strategies to collaboratively address climate change issues. Emphasis will be on task negotiation, network development, social interaction, and cultural acumen (Experiential Learning Requirement).

Interdisciplinarity

Students will apply an interdisciplinary approach to address climate-related challenges, integrating knowledge from earth systems science, environmental science, economics, human geography, and other social sciences

Systems Thinking

Students will apply systems thinking to analyze and address climate change issues, understanding the interconnectedness of environmental and social systems. They will develop the ability to integrate various categories of information and identify leverage points for transformation of complex systems.

Communication Skills

Students will be proficient in communicating complex climate science and policy to both specialized and general audiences through written reports, presentations, and other media.

Professional Development and Career Readiness

Students will develop professional skills necessary for careers in climate and society through courses in quantitative and qualitative methods, spatial analysis, project management, monitoring and evaluation, and organizational leadership. Through coursework and real-world experiences such as internships, students will build a professional portfolio that showcases their expertise in addressing climate-related challenges.