Certificate in Climate Change Causes, Impacts, and Solutions
The Climate Change Causes, Impacts and Solutions Certificate currently is a 13-22 unit certificate program offering undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity for a deeper exploration of the causes, impacts, solutions, and social justice aspects of climate change. There are 5 core required courses. Students complete a foundational course, plus one course each in causes, impacts, and solutions. One of the causes, impacts, or solutions courses must be designated as Advanced Climate Justice. At least two-thirds of the units taken by the student must be at the upper-division level. The Certificate serves both matriculated and non matriculated students. Non matriculated students include community members, for instance members from a wide range of professions including, but not limited to green energy, government, transportation, recreation, tourism, community planning, law, health, journalism, and real estate could benefit from additional training about climate change causes, impacts and solutions.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Explain and analyze the natural, social, economic, and/or political causes of anthropogenic climate change.
- Identify the natural, social, economic, and/or political impacts of anthropogenic climate change.
- Identify solutions to anthropogenic climate change and demonstrate the ability to translate knowledge into action.
- Critically analyze and identify examples of the relationship between anthropogenic climate change and social justice.
- Apply evolving understanding of climate change causes, impacts and solutions towards real-world action.
Certificate in Climate Change Causes, Impacts, and Solutions — 13-22 units
Courses may be listed in multiple areas. Courses cannot be double-counted and each course can only fulfill one requirement area. Students should meet with a Climate Change Certificate advisor to determine which courses in other areas should be selected if a course satisfies multiple areas
Foundational Course (3-4 units)
Select One:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 318 | Our Endangered Planet | 3 |
| ENVS 130 | Environmental Studies | 3 |
| ERTH 335 | Global Warming | 3 |
| GEOG 160 | Introduction to Environmental Science | 4 |
| RRS 276 | Race, Activism and Climate Justice | 3 |
| WGS 578 | Feminist Environmental and Climate Justice | 3 |
Causes Course (3-4 units)
Select One:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 161 | Climate Change and the Oceans | 3 |
| BIOL 300 | Nature Study | 3 |
| BIOL/ERTH 577 | Climate and Ecological Interactions | 4 |
| BIOL 617 | Environmental Physiology | 3 |
| BUS 450 | Greening of Business | 3 |
| CHEM 380 | Chemistry Behind Environmental Pollution | 3 |
| COMM 572 | Communication and Environmental Justice | 4 |
| ENVS 130 | Environmental Studies | 3 |
| ENVS 460 | Energy, Justice, and Sustainability | 3 |
| ERTH 260 | Physical Processes in the Atmosphere | 4 |
| ERTH 335 | Global Warming | 3 |
| ERTH 365 | Extreme Weather in a Warming World | 3 |
| ERTH 535 | Planetary Climate Change | 4 |
| GEOG 101 | Our Physical Environment | 3 |
| GEOG 160 | Introduction to Environmental Science | 4 |
| GEOG 314 | Bioclimatology | 4 |
| GEOG 435 | Geography of Global Transportation | 4 |
| GEOG 500GW | Physical and Human Dimensions of Climate Change - GWAR | 3 |
| GEOG 666 | Geography of Garbage: Recycling and Waste Reduction | 3 |
| I R/GEOG 428 | International Political Economy of Food and Hunger | 4 |
| I R 735 | Seminar in Global Environmental Policy | 3 |
| LS 401 | International Development and Resource Justice | 3 |
| PLSI 354 | Politics, the Environment, and Social Change | 4 |
| RRS 276 | Race, Activism and Climate Justice | 3 |
| USP 514 | Sustainable Development in Cities | 4 |
| WGS 593 | Gender, Health, and the Environment | 3 |
Impacts Course (3-4 units)
Select One:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| AA S 587 | Asian Americans and Environmental Justice | 3 |
| BECA 502 | Environmental Communication on Electronic Media | 3 |
| BIOL 161 | Climate Change and the Oceans | 3 |
| BIOL 300 | Nature Study | 3 |
| BIOL 617 | Environmental Physiology | 3 |
| BUS 450 | Greening of Business | 3 |
| ENVS 470 | Climate Politics and Policy | 3 |
| ENVS 480 | Climate Change Adaptation and Justice | 3 |
| ERTH 260 | Physical Processes in the Atmosphere | 4 |
| ERTH 330 | California Water | 3 |
| ERTH 335 | Global Warming | 3 |
| ERTH 365 | Extreme Weather in a Warming World | 3 |
| GEOG 314 | Bioclimatology | 4 |
| GEOG 500GW | Physical and Human Dimensions of Climate Change - GWAR | 3 |
| I R/GEOG 428 | International Political Economy of Food and Hunger | 4 |
| RRS 276 | Race, Activism and Climate Justice | 3 |
| USP 514 | Sustainable Development in Cities | 4 |
| WGS 593 | Gender, Health, and the Environment | 3 |
Solutions Course (3-6 units)
Select One:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BECA 502 | Environmental Communication on Electronic Media | 3 |
| BIOL 532 | Restoration Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 534 | Wetland Ecology | 4 |
| BIOL 671 | Ecology and Evolution of Marine Systems II | 6 |
| BUS 450 | Greening of Business | 3 |
| COMM 572 | Communication and Environmental Justice | 4 |
| COMM/ENVS 675 | Climate Ambassadors Practicum | 4 |
| ENVS 460 | Energy, Justice, and Sustainability | 3 |
| ENVS 470 | Climate Politics and Policy | 3 |
| ENVS 480 | Climate Change Adaptation and Justice | 3 |
| ENVS 530 | Environmental Leadership and Organizing | 3 |
| ENVS 570 | Applied Local Sustainability | 3 |
| FIN 651 | Student Managed Fund in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Investments | 3 |
| GEOG 314 | Bioclimatology | 4 |
| GEOG 433 | Urban Transportation | 4 |
| GEOG 435 | Geography of Global Transportation | 4 |
| GEOG 500GW | Physical and Human Dimensions of Climate Change - GWAR | 3 |
| GEOG 666 | Geography of Garbage: Recycling and Waste Reduction | 3 |
| I R/GEOG 428 | International Political Economy of Food and Hunger | 4 |
| I R 735 | Seminar in Global Environmental Policy | 3 |
| LS 430 | Future of the Forests | 3 |
| RRS 276 | Race, Activism and Climate Justice | 3 |
| USP 515 | Environmental Justice: Race, Poverty, and the Environment | 4 |
| WGS 578 | Feminist Environmental and Climate Justice | 3 |
Applied Component Course (1-4 units)
Select One:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 681 | Climate Action: Applied Learning for Real World Change | 1 |
| COMM/ENVS 675 | Climate Ambassadors Practicum | 4 |
Advanced Climate Justice
At least one of the courses taken to fulfill the Causes, Impacts, or Solutions area must also be an Advanced Climate Justice course. Courses designated as fulfilling Advanced Climate Justice are listed below:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| AA S 587 | Asian Americans and Environmental Justice | 3 |
| BECA 502 | Environmental Communication on Electronic Media | 3 |
| BIOL 534 | Wetland Ecology | 4 |
| BIOL 671 | Ecology and Evolution of Marine Systems II | 6 |
| BIOL 681 | Climate Action: Applied Learning for Real World Change | 1 |
| COMM 572 | Communication and Environmental Justice | 4 |
| COMM/ENVS 675 | Climate Ambassadors Practicum | 4 |
| ENVS 460 | Energy, Justice, and Sustainability | 3 |
| ENVS 470 | Climate Politics and Policy | 3 |
| ENVS 480 | Climate Change Adaptation and Justice | 3 |
| ENVS 530 | Environmental Leadership and Organizing | 3 |
| ENVS 570 | Applied Local Sustainability | 3 |
| GEOG 433 | Urban Transportation | 4 |
| GEOG 435 | Geography of Global Transportation | 4 |
| GEOG 500GW | Physical and Human Dimensions of Climate Change - GWAR | 3 |
| GEOG 666 | Geography of Garbage: Recycling and Waste Reduction | 3 |
| I R/GEOG 428 | International Political Economy of Food and Hunger | 4 |
| I R 735 | Seminar in Global Environmental Policy | 3 |
| LS 401 | International Development and Resource Justice | 3 |
| LS 430 | Future of the Forests | 3 |
| RRS 276 | Race, Activism and Climate Justice | 3 |
| USP 514 | Sustainable Development in Cities | 4 |
| USP 515 | Environmental Justice: Race, Poverty, and the Environment | 4 |
| WGS 578 | Feminist Environmental and Climate Justice | 3 |
| WGS 593 | Gender, Health, and the Environment | 3 |