Climate Change Minor

MTR 1400 – Weather and Climate

GEG 1100 – Introduction to Physical Geography

Credits: 3

Prerequisite(s): None

Description:  This course explores the various elements of the physical environment and interactions between the elements. The course emphasizes the atmosphere (weather and climate), the lithosphere (soils, geology, and landforms), and the hydrosphere (oceans, streams, and groundwater).

General Studies: Natural and Physical Sciences

Instructors:  Katz and others

Semesters Taught:  fall, spring, summer.  Online available.

MTR 1600 – Global Climate Change

Credits: 3

Prerequisite(s): None

Description: This course presents the science behind global climate change from an Earth systems and atmospheric science perspective.  These concepts then provide the basis to explore the effect of global warming on regions throughout the world.  This leads to the analysis of the observed and predicted impacts of climate change on these regions; the effect of these changes on each region’s society, culture, and economy; and the efforts of these regions to mitigate or adapt to climate change.  The interdependence of all nations will be discussed in regards to fossil fuel-rich regions, regions responsible for greenhouse gas emissions, and regions most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

General Studies: Natural and Physical Sciences, Global Diversity

Instructors:  Schuenemann, Wagner, Gifford, Chapman, and others

Semesters Taught:  fall, spring, summer.  Online available.

GEG 3410 – Biogeography

Credits: 3

Prerequisite(s): GEG 1100 or GEL 1010 or MTR 1400 or ENV 1200

Description: This course examines past and present geographic patterns of biodiversity, emphasizing the physical and ecological conditions and processes that influence the distribution of organisms, communities, and ecosystems. Topics include past climates and continental configurations, dispersal and invasion, speciation and extinction, biogeographic responses to anthropogenic climate change, island biogeography, and application of biogeographic concepts to environmental conservation.

Instructor:  Katz

Semesters Taught: Fall 2025

MTR 3330 – Climatology

Credits: 3

Prerequisite(s): MTR 1400 or GEG 1100, and completion of quantitative literacy requirement

Description: Climatology examines the characteristics, distribution, and causes of global and regional climate. Physical and dynamic mechanisms of climate are emphasized. The course also explores the spatial and temporal distributions of the main climate elements. Climate change topics include paleoclimatology, observed shifts in climate, climate model projections, and potential impacts of global warming.

Instructor:  Schuenemann

Semesters Taught: S25

Required for MTR Major, elective for MTR Minor, elective for some geography programs

MTR/ENV 3340 – Climate Change Science

Credits: 3

Prerequisite(s): MTR 1600 or GEG 1100 or ENV 1200 or GEL 1010 or GEL 1150 or MTR 1400

Description: This course examines the physical mechanisms of climate change through an integrative earth systems science lens. These processes explain many of the observed changes within the atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, biosphere, and lithosphere of the planet. Aspects of dynamic climate change include movement of energy through the Earth system, atmospheric and oceanic circulation, and hydrologic and carbon cycles. This understanding is applied to interpreting climate model projections, with keen attention to climate sensitivity, time scales of changes, and sources of uncertainty in climate prediction. An understanding of the physical processes driving climate models facilitates an examination of climate change impacts on natural and societal systems.

Instructors:  Schuenemann, Wagner

Semesters Taught: F24, S26

GEG 4720 – Planning for Climate Change

Credits: 3

Prerequisite(s): Junior or higher standing

Description: Regions throughout the United States are experiencing profound impacts of climate change on local economies, communities, and environments. In this course, students study how hazard mitigation planning and community emergency planning can reduce the long-term risks and impacts of climate change in the United States. While hazards such as floods, hurricanes, and droughts cannot be prevented, risks to life and property can be greatly reduced through advanced planning. This course analyzes polices, practices and cases that illustrate how natural-environmental hazards are exacerbated by climate change and inextricably intertwined with sustainable development. Sustainable community development can improve social equity while minimizing environmental damage, reducing community vulnerability to natural disasters that are intensified by climate change.

Semesters Taught: Spring 2025

GEG 4700 – Sustainability in Resource Management

Credits: 3

Prerequisite(s): Junior Standing

Description: The course traces the evolution of current thought and practice in the environmental debate of resources. It reviews the politics of resource management as it relates to a broader set of issues about economic development, sustainability, and social equity. It examines the environmental and social effects associated with development of specific land-based resources. Topics covered include consumerism, the growth economy, global climate change, hydropolitics, food systems and agriculture, deforestation, warfare, and ecological and human impacts of environmental degradation. The course provides a framework to examine the politics of resource management and environmental policy and how contending approaches and practices impact human development and environments.

Semesters Taught:  Fall 2026