Program Overview
Bachelor of Science in Climate Science
Program Overview
The Bachelor of Science in Climate Science program at the University at Albany provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the Earth's climate system and its interactions with the environment and human society. Through coursework, hands-on exploration, and internships, students develop interdisciplinary knowledge and skills to address the policy and societal aspects of climate change.
Program of Study
The program's flexible, interdisciplinary curriculum includes:
- Environmental Science:
- Introduction to Environmental Science
- Introduction to Environmental Science Laboratory
- Understanding the Earth
- Environmental Statistics and Computation
- Meteorological and Environmental Measurement
- Ocean Science
- Climate Laboratory
- Paleoclimatology
- Major Topics in Environmental Science
- Atmospheric Science:
- Atmospheric Structure, Thermodynamics, and Circulation
- Climate Variability and Change
- Water and Climate Change
- Chemistry and Physics:
- General Chemistry I & II
- Physics I: Mechanics
- Math and Informatics:
- Calculus I & II
- Programming for Problem Solving
- Electives:
- 15 credits of upper-level Climate Science courses
Applied Learning
Students have opportunities to engage in research, internships, and hands-on training, including:
- Conducting research alongside professors in the Paleoclimate Lab
- Participating in computer modeling of the climate system
- Analyzing satellite data
- Investigating connections between climate and infectious diseases
- Coordinated study abroad programs
- Presenting research at conferences
Career Outcomes
A BS in Climate Science from UAlbany prepares students for graduate school or careers in industries such as consulting, renewable energy, public policy, education, and research. Potential job titles include:
- Climate Policy Analyst
- Environmental Scientist
- Environmental Coordinator
- Environmental Consultant
- Sustainability Analyst
- Environmental Education Coordinator
- Climate Advisor
- Climate Modeler
- Research Associate
- Data Analyst
- Grant Writer
Potential employers include:
- Federal, State, and Local Governments
- Universities
- Consulting firms
- Technology
- Insurance and risk analytics
- Sustainable energy companies
- K-12 schools
Student Learning Objectives
Students completing the BS degree in Climate Science are expected to be able to:
- Effectively communicate with colleagues or others via clear and efficient writing or presentation technique
- Identify and describe the various components comprising the Earth's climate system
- Perform quantitative analyses specific to climate problems
- Apply field methods, data, concepts, and models to the solution of problems in the climate sciences
Minors
Students can build competency in a passion or strengthen their resume by pursuing a minor, which consists of 18-24 graduation credits, including a minimum of 9 graduation credits of advanced coursework at or above the 300 level. A full list of available minors is provided.
