Climate Studies (BS)
This program is highly interdisciplinary and designed to address the increasing interest in dealing with the problem of climate change. Students will gain a foundation in climate science, technical and communication skills, and have high flexibility in following one or more interdisciplinary focus areas (in art, business, communication, public policy, geographic information systems and mapping, or go deeper into a variety of science possibilities). The problem of climate change goes well beyond basic science and in order to appropriately solve current and future problems caused by its effects, a highly interdisciplinary approach and experts with many different types of skills are needed. A wide variety of these areas of expertise exist at Plymouth State and this program uses them to prepare professionals that can address one or more of the many needs related to studying, educating people about, planning for, regulating, adapting to, and dealing with climate change and its many effects, by building on the students’ own interests and skills.
Course | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Major Requirements | ||
CLM 1000 | Introductory Climate Studies Seminar | 1 |
MT 2000 | Fundamentals of Meteorology and Climatology (GACO) | 3 |
ESP 2110 | Introduction to Environmental Science and Policy II | 4 |
ESP 3201 | Energy and Society | 4 |
ESP 3326 | Climate, Risk, and Adaptation (GACO) | 3 |
CM 3095 | Technical Communication (TECO,WRCO) | 4 |
CLM 4000 | Climate Studies Capstone Project | 2 |
ESP 4441 | Climate Change | 3 |
Math and Technical Skills | ||
MA 2300 | Statistics I (QRCO) | 3 |
MA 2130 | Precalculus (QRCO) | 4 |
or MA 2550 | Calculus I (QRCO) | |
Take one of the following: | 3-4 | |
GIS I: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (QRCO,TECO) | ||
Computing Fundamentals (TECO) | ||
Introduction to Programming | ||
Interdisciplinary Focus Areas | ||
Take three lower-level (1000/2000) courses and take five upper-level (3000/4000) courses 1,2 | 24-32 | |
Communication Focus | ||
Studies in Communication and Media (TECO) | ||
Intercultural Communication | ||
Strategic Communication | ||
Public Speaking | ||
Media and Cultural Studies (TECO) | ||
Communication and Leadership | ||
Professional Social Media | ||
Global Perspectives in the Media (GACO) | ||
Journalism in the Digital Age (TECO,WRCO) | ||
Environmental Humanities (WRCO) | ||
Career Launch: Tell Your Story | ||
Foreign Language 1000/2000 3 | ||
Foreign Language 3000/4000 3 | ||
Science Focus | ||
Biological Science I (TECO) | ||
Biological Science II | ||
General Chemistry I (QRCO) | ||
General Chemistry II | ||
Introduction to Environmental Science and Policy I | ||
Introduction to Weather Analysis and Forecasting | ||
College Physics I | ||
College Physics II | ||
University Physics I | ||
University Physics II | ||
Conservation (DICO,GACO,INCO) | ||
Freshwater Ecology | ||
Plant Diversity & Evolution | ||
Hydrology | ||
Environmental Geology (TECO) | ||
Environment and Health (WECO) | ||
Advanced Conservation Ecology | ||
Instruments and Observations in Meteorology | ||
Air Quality | ||
Geographic Information System and Mapping Focus | ||
GIS II: Advanced Geographic Information Systems | ||
Remote Sensing and Digital Image Processing | ||
Geospatial Technology Applications | ||
GIS Programming | ||
Public Policy and Planning Focus | ||
World Politics (GACO) | ||
Community Planning | ||
Foundations of Environmental Policy (WRCO) | ||
American Government | ||
Public Administration (DICO) | ||
Comparative Politics and Government | ||
Environmental Planning | ||
Introduction to Permaculture | ||
Model United Nations (GACO,INCO) | ||
Sustainability in Residences | ||
Decision Making in Environmental Management | ||
Economic Geography | ||
Political Analysis and Policy (WRCO) | ||
Sustainability in Practice (WECO) | ||
Art Focus | ||
Art Foundations 2D: Composition and Content | ||
Art Foundations 3D: Design and Meaning | ||
Art Foundations Drawing: Line and Language | ||
Photography I | ||
Painting | ||
Painting: Process Exploration | ||
Printmaking: Cut, Carve, Etch | ||
Printmaking: Silkscreen and Alternative Processes | ||
Art and Sustainability | ||
Business Focus | ||
Foundations of Innovation and Entrepreneurship | ||
Business Statistics (QRCO) | ||
Business, Ethics, and Society | ||
Introduction to Marketing and Sales | ||
Social Entrepreneurship | ||
Business and the Environment | ||
Introduction to Ecological Economics | ||
General Education Requirements | ||
EN 1400 | Composition | 4 |
IS 1115 | Tackling a Wicked Problem | 4 |
CTDI | Creative Thought Direction | 3-4 |
PPDI | Past and Present Direction | 3-4 |
SIDI | Scientific Inquiry Direction | 3-4 |
SSDI | Self and Society Direction | 3-4 |
Directions (choose from CTDI, PPDI, SIDI, SSDI) 4 | 4-8 | |
DICO | Diversity Connection | 3-4 |
WECO | Wellness Connection | 3-4 |
INCP | Integrated Capstone | 4 |
Electives | 25-14 | |
Total Credits | 120 |
- 1
Students can go deep into one or two interdisciplinary focus areas or sample from various disciplines as long as they take at least three low level courses and five upper level courses. Students must keep in mind when planning their courses, that many of them have prerequisites (included in the required or optional courses). Students can take more than the minimum number of courses to follow their interests using their free electives and/or consider appropriate minors or certificates or a second major that might also use some of these courses.
- 2
Besides fulfilling the Interdisciplinary Focus requirement, the courses below can be used to aid in completing one or more minors or certificates. Possible minors of interest: Anthropology/Sociology, Applied Ethics, Art, Biology, Business Administration, Chemistry, Computing, Digital Media Design and Development, Economics, Expository Writing, Geography, Graphic Design, Marketing, Mathematics, Media Studies, Peace & Social Justice, Political Science, Professional Communication, and Sustainability. Possible certificates of interest: Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Transformative Innovation & Design entrepreneurship (TIDE).
- 3
Students with previous experience in a language must take a placement exam to determine the appropriate level course in which they should register. Otherwise students can start with the Spanish (SP 1011) or French (FR 1011) Language and Culture Studies I course. We recommend that those interested in taking a foreign language as a communication focus area choose to take more courses in the same language with the ultimate goal of effective communication in such language.
- 4
Directions should total 20 credits (unless the major has a waiver for a specific Direction).
Check all course descriptions for prerequisites before planning course schedule. Course sequence is suggested but not required.
To complete the bachelor’s degree in 4 years, you must successfully complete a minimum of 15 credits each semester or have a plan to make up credits over the course of the 4 years. For example, if you take 14 credits one semester, you need to take 16 credits in another semester. Credits completed must count toward your program requirements (major, option, minor, certificate, general education or free electives)
Year One | Credits | |
---|---|---|
CLM 1000 | Introductory Climate Studies Seminar | 1 |
MT 2000 | Fundamentals of Meteorology and Climatology (GACO) | 3 |
ESP 2110 | Introduction to Environmental Science and Policy II | 4 |
MA 2300 | Statistics I (QRCO) | 3 |
IS 1115 | Tackling a Wicked Problem | 4 |
EN 1400 | Composition | 4 |
CTDI | Creative Thought Direction | 3-4 |
PPDI | Past and Present Direction | 3-4 |
SSDI | Self and Society Direction | 3-4 |
Credits | 28-31 | |
Year Two | ||
ESP 3201 | Energy and Society | 4 |
ESP 3326 | Climate, Risk, and Adaptation (GACO) | 3 |
MA 2130 or MA 2550 |
Precalculus (QRCO) or Calculus I (QRCO) |
4 |
Take one of the following: | 3-4 | |
GIS I: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (QRCO,TECO) | ||
Computing Fundamentals (TECO) | ||
Introduction to Programming | ||
Interdisciplinary Focus - Lower Level (3 courses) | 9-12 | |
SIDI | Scientific Inquiry Direction | 3-4 |
Elective | 3-4 | |
Credits | 29-35 | |
Years Three and Four | ||
CM 3095 | Technical Communication (TECO,WRCO) | 4 |
ESP 4441 | Climate Change | 3 |
Interdisciplinary Focus Upper Level (5 courses) | 15-20 | |
CLM 4000 | Climate Studies Capstone Project | 2 |
Directions (choose from CTDI, PPDI, SIDI, SSDI) | 4-8 | |
WECO | Wellness Connection | 3-4 |
DICO | Diversity Connection | 3-4 |
INCP | Integrated Capstone | 4 |
Electives | 11-21 | |
Credits | 49-70 | |
Total Credits | 120 |
- Knowledge and applications of climate science
- Earth’s systems and the role of climate within these systems
- Historical, current and predicted future status of Earth’s climate
- Methods of climate research, research design, data collection, and data handling
- Effects, hazards, consequences within and between science and social disciplines and societal sectors
- Technical oral and written communication of climate information
- Public oral and written communication of climate information
- Use and assessment of climate-related information
- Promotion and practice of science-based decision-making
- Application of climate and interdisciplinary knowledge and skills to an appropriate capstone project
The career possibilities are many, and include the fields of climate communication/public education, emergency management, conservation, public policy, science journalism, formal education, planning, and a variety of different types of private industry and government jobs working in the various aspects of the climate problem.
There are likely future career possibilities that we cannot foresee at the moment, and because of that, graduating students with a strong foundation of knowledge and skills, who can adapt and learn new tools and follow new paths, is of great importance.