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Overview

Humanity has reached a critical point with climate change. Greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere have increased persistently since the start of the industrial revolution and they are set to increase rapidly because we continue to burn fossil fuels at ever increasing rates as nations around the world strive for higher standards of living. A direct result is that the human race is pushing Earth’s climate outside the range that has existed since human civilization began. The choices nations make in the coming years will determine the direction for civilization, and Earth’s climate, for decades and centuries.

Most concerned people including college students hear only the public discourse on climate change. It is therefore important that Stony Brook offer a program of study which focuses on what is scientifically known about the consequences of our near-term choices for Earth’s long-term prospects. The good news is that climate science has produced great clarity about how the system works and how human activity is disturbing it. Furthermore, options for sustainable economic and social development that curtail climate risks have been identified. These options imply that we can minimize climate change vulnerabilities and realize new opportunities with manageable but sustained effort.

An understanding of climate science is essential to the interpretation of climate variations and change, as well as the assessment of their impacts on diverse human populations and ecological systems. Climate data must be analyzed and interpreted in order to formulate effective responses and plan actions to meet specific climate challenges. The Stony Brook Climate Science program prepares students to be climate professionals who can help develop and implement strategies for mitigation of, as well as adaptation to, adverse impacts of climate change. Students in this program learn basic scientific information on processes in the atmosphere and the ocean that drive climate change and are informed about current and anticipated climate impacts and possible mitigation and adaptation strategies. Students learn about threats to coastal environments, economic and social impacts of climate and how the various aspects of climate have evolved over the history of the Earth.

A key aspect of climate science is the emergence of very large and increasing amounts of data about the atmosphere, the ocean, human and animal populations in diverse environments and multiple parts of the global ecosystems. There are extensive data on extreme events like hurricanes, floods and drought and on human, animal and plant health. Earth System Models generate expected future changes in all aspects of the climate system. The students in this program become familiar with the types of data available, learn quantitative skills for analyzing climate data from observations and model simulations to discern trends and possible future scenarios.

The curriculum is designed to meet the current needs of employers in climate applications. This gives our students confidence that their studies are pertinent to building a rewarding career which would be relevant to society’s crucial needs.

Information on research opportunities may be found by contacting faculty directly.

 

Major Requirements

Completion of the Climate major requires approximately 67 or 68 credits. Of these, no more than one course (4 credits) with a P or a passing grade below C can be credited to the major.

I. Foundational Courses (21 or 22 Credits)

  1. AMS 102 . Elements of Statistics (SBC: QPS)  (3 Credits);  or equivalent (see Note 1)
  2. MAT 131 (SBC: QPS) and MAT 132 (SBC: QPS) 8 Credits (see Note 2)
  3. CHE 129/130 or CHE 131 General Chemistry or CHE 152 Molecular Science I (SBC: SNW) 4 Credits
  4. ENS/PHY 119 or PHY 121 or 125 or 131 or 141. (3 Credits)
  5. One of the following courses:
    • ENS 101 Prospects for Planet Earth (SBC: SNW) 3 Credits or
    • SUS 111 Introduction to Sustainability (SBC: SNW) 3 Credits or
    • ECO 108 Introduction to Economics (SBC: SBS) 4 Credits

II. Required Departmental Courses

Basics of Climate Science (15 Credits)

  1. ATM 205 Introduction to Atmospheric Science (SBC: STEM+) 3 Credits
  2. MAR 333 Coastal Oceanography (SBC STEM+) 3 Credits
  3. ATM 201 Introduction to Climate and Climate Change (SBC: SNW) 3 Credits
  4. ATM 305 Global Climate Change (SBC: STEM+)
  5. ATM 397 Air Pollution and Global Warming (SBC: CER) 3 Credits

Sustainable Climate Change (15 Credits)

Take 5 of the following Sustainability Courses

  1. SUS 200 Human Settlement: History and Future (SBC:    SBS)  3 Credits
  2. SUS 206 Economics and Sustainability (pre-requisite ECO 108) (SBC: SBS+) 3 Credits
  3. ENS 301 Contemporary Environmental Issues and Policies (SBC STAS) 3 Credits
  4. EDP 302 Sustainable Planning and Development (prerequisite: SUS 200 SBC:     SBS+) 3 Credits
  5. ENV 316 Coastal Zone Management (Prerequisites MAR 104) 3 Credits
  6. SUS 317 American Environmental History (Prerequisite:WRT 102SBC:  SBS+, USA ) 3 Credits
  7. SUS 305 Collective Action and Advocacy (pre-req ENS 101 or SUS 111)(SBC SBS+) 3 Credits
  8. SUS 307: Environmental Economics and Management (Prerequisite:SUS 206 (SBC:     STAS) 3 Credits
  9. SUS 323: Environmental Justice (Prerequisite:WRT 102) (SBC: CER,STAS,WRTD) 3 Credits
  10. SUS 343 Age of the Anthropocene (pre-req CHE 131) (SBC: STAS) 3 Credits
  11. ENV 304 Global Environmental Change
  12. SUS 366 Philosophy of the Environment

Problem Solving Skills (16 Credits)

  1. GSS 313 GIS Design and Application 1 (SBC : TECH) 3 Credits
  2. GSS 314 GIS Laboratory 1 Credit
  3. ATM 320 Problem Solving in Python 3 Credits
  4. MAR 334 Remote Sensing (SBC: STEM +, TECH) 3 Credits
  5. One of the following (6 Credits):
    • Capstone Project (SBC EXP+) (ATM 387 Weather and Climate Data Analysis and ATM 487 or
    • Climate related  Research   (ATM 487 or  MAR 487 or SUS 487) or
    • Climate related  Internship ( ATM 488 or MAR 488 or SUS 488).
    • Topic of research or internship requires approval by ATM Division Director.

Upper-Division Writing Requirement

The advanced writing component of the major in the Climate major requires registration in, and satisfactory completion of the 0-credit MAR 459 or SUS 459 (S/U grading) along with enrollment in an approved advanced course that entails writing of either a term paper or a laboratory report. Completion of MAR 459 or SUS 459 with a grade of S will also result in fulfillment of the WRTD requirement. A list of preapproved courses can be found at http://www.somas.stonybrook.edu/education/undergraduate.

Notes:

  1. AMS 110AMS 310,  ECO 320POL 201PSY 201, or SOC 202may be substituted for AMS 102
  2. MAT 131/132 can be replaced by AMS 151/161 or MAT 125/126/127
 

Requirements

Please click here for a full listing of the Climate Sciences requirements

Note: All courses offered for the major must be passed with a letter grade of C or higher. Course taken with the Pass/NC option may not be applied to the major.

To contact the faculty director of the major please email : kar.chang@stonybrook.edu

Please visit the Undergraduate Bulletin for a complete listing of CCI Courses.

* For the most up to date and official degree description and requirements see the undergraduate bulletin.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

1. Please consult the Undergraduate Bulletin that was in place when you declared your major/minor for the official list of major/minor requirements.

2. Please consult with the appropriate academic advising unit to review what is required for your major or minor, confirm completion of the University’s general education, upper-division, and total credit requirements. For general advising locations, visit Academic Advising or speak to the SoMAS Academic Advisor.


Internships and Jobs

Internships provide a valuable opportunity to test a student’s interest in various meteorological career paths and to extend his or her knowledge with real-life experiences. Many students obtain internships at a number of outside organizations.  Students can be awarded academic credit for internship experiences, which sometimes provide a stipend.  Internships provide the opportunity to propel students into successful careers. Other students have gone on to graduate school to further their education in this field.

Find out more about jobs and career paths  relating to this major.

Additional information on careers in the atmospheric sciences can be found at the American Meteorological Web Site:   A Career Guide to the Climate Sciences.


Scholarships and Employment

Stony Brook offers a  wide variety of scholarships to new and continuing students, some of which are based on merit alone and others which take into account financial need.