ENV 1307 - Climate Change: Environmental and Human Dimensions

SPRING 2025 

Why this course? 

Climate change is one of the biggest issues of our generation—this course will prepare you to navigate its complexities and empower you to be part of the solution, no matter your career path.

How will this course impact you?

In this course, you'll learn practical skills for understanding global climate challenges and develop solutions that can make a difference in your community and beyond.

How will this course help me move forward with my life and career.

Discover how climate change affects every aspect of life, from the environment to the economy, and gain the tools to make informed decisions that will shape a sustainable future.

Course Credit: This course is part of the Arts and Science Core Curriculum as part of the scientific methods II. 

Course Description:

This introductory course will be taught for a non-science majors’ audience with a focus on obtaining a fundamental background on the Earth’s global climate system. No prior work in meteorology or atmospheric science is assumed.  Students will learn foundational information which will prepare them to make informed decisions regarding climate change, sustainability, and conservation.  We will discuss the general circulation of the atmosphere, learn how it is observed from measurements, the importance of greenhouse gases, and see how climate records can reconstruct past climate. Scientific evidence confirms that human activities are the primary drivers of climate change. This course will present the key scientific findings that drive this scientific consensus and serve as a starting point for discussing climate change. Students will learn foundational information which will prepare them to make informed decisions regarding climate change, sustainability, and conservation.  National and global policy on climate change may also be addressed as well as examples of successful climate change solutions, approaches, and motivation.  Over the past century, the study of climate science has continued to grow and evolve, providing more evidence of the anthropogenic influence on our climate.