Undergraduate

Climate Science

Explore both natural and human-induced climate processes while engaging in hands-on research opportunities.

Degree

Minor

Location

Durham, NH

Courses

Credit

20 hrs.

Full-time

- -

Part-time

- -

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Earth Sciences

The Climate Science minor at UNH offers foundational training in Earth's dynamic climate systems and environmental change. Here you'll be able to explore both natural and human-induced climate processes while engaging in hands-on research opportunities.

Through study of modern climate mechanisms and historical changes, you'll develop valuable expertise that enhances majors from business to engineering and prepares you for careers in environmental consulting, science communication, and policy.

Earth Sciences Department

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Innovation Scholars

The only first-year research and innovation program of its type in the region!

The Innovation Scholars program, open to all CEPS majors, offers students an exceptional launch to their college experience. Through multiple interdisciplinary cohorts and hands-on research in world-class facilities, students build confidence, gain real experience, and open doors to paid research, internships, and future graduate study. It’s a proven program that helps students shape their future from day one.

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Rosemarie Came

Associate Professor

Rosemarie.Came@unh.edu

James Hall, Room 336, Durham, NH 03824

(603) 862-1720

What is Climate Science?

The Climate Science Minor will provide you with a solid background in the mechanisms and feedbacks that control the Earth's modern climate system. In addition, you will learn about the Earth’s past and future climates, examining natural and anthropogenic climate change on various timescales - from hundreds of years to hundreds of millions of years. This scientific background will serve as a firm foundation as you embark on climate-related studies in other departments, such as business, sociology, geography or engineering. The Climate Science Minor nicely complements other majors at UNH to prepare you for graduate or professional school, or careers in law, business, politics, the nonprofit sector, science journalism or industry.

Why Study Climate Sciences at UNH?

UNH is located on the Great Bay Estuary and close to the White Mountains, providing an ideal backdrop for hands-on learning opportunities for students studying Earth and climate science. You will have multiple options to immerse yourself in research experiences in the field and in state-of-the-art laboratory settings. Increasing needs for energy, environmental protection and responsible land, water, and resource management means that those with a background in Earth and climate sciences will be well prepared for the future job market.

Potential Career Areas

Business analytics
Energy sector
Environmental consulting
Government agency management
Land/water/resource-use stewardship
Law
Ocean
Science journalism
Secondary Education

Curriculum & Requirements

Program Description

The Department of Earth Sciences offers a minor in Climate Science available to all University students. The Climate Science minor provides an opportunity for students to complement their major field of study with foundational knowledge and essential skills in Climate Science.

Students interested in the Climate Science minor should contact rosemarie.came@unh.edu for more information.

Requirements for the Program

Academic policies related to Minors.

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Required Courses
ESCI 401	Dynamic Earth	4
or ESCI 402	Earth History
or ESCI 405	Global Environmental Change
or ESCI 409	Geology and the Environment
or ESCI 501	Introduction to Oceanography
ESCI 514	Introduction to Climate	3
Climate and Society Course
Complete one approved 500/600 level course. Suggested courses include: ¹		4
SOC 565	Environment and Society
SOC 665	Environmental Sociology
SOC 693	Global Change and Social Sustainability
GEOG 405	There Is No Planet B
GEOG 473	Elements of Weather
GEOG 574	Global Landscapes and Environmental Processes
CEE 520	Environmental Pollution and Protection: A Global Context
Quantitative/Statistics Course
Select one course from the following:		4
ESCI 701	Quantitative Methods in Earth Sciences
ESCI 764	Spectral Analysis of Geophysical Time Series Data
MATH 539	Introduction to Statistical Analysis
BIOL 528	Applied Biostatistics I
CS 457	Introduction to Data Science and Analytics
PSYC 402	Statistics in Psychology
SOC 402	Statistics
HMP 540	Statistics for Health and Human Service Professionals
ADMN 510	Business Analytics and Statistics
ESCI Climate Science Course
Select one course from the following:		3-4
ESCI 561	Landscape Evolution
ESCI 642	Biogeosciences in the Earth System
ESCI 705	Principles of Hydrology
ESCI 758	Introductory Physical Oceanography
ESCI 760	Paleoceanography
ESCI 765	Paleoclimatology
ESCI 777	GIS for Earth & Environmental Sciences
ESCI 778	Remote Sensing Earth & Environmental Sciences
Total Credits		18-19

¹: The course meeting the climate and society requirement should be selected in consultation with the Climate Science Minor advisor.

Student Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Understand the broad attributes of and interactions within the Earth System.
Describe the history of Earth's climate, how and why the climate is changing today, and how those changes impact society.
Perform simple statistical calculations to process and evaluate quantitative climate science data.
Summarize, analyze, and evaluate the primary climate sciences literature.