Bachelor of Science in
Climate Science

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Gain Knowledge and Skills to Address Important Issues Surrounding Climate Change

Acquire a holistic view of Earth's climate and how it impacts and interacts with the environment and human society in the climate science bachelor’s program at UAlbany.

Learn how different parts of the Earth system (atmosphere, ocean, biosphere) interact to shape our climate. You'll become proficient in using key tools of climate science such as climate modeling, data analysis and statistics. Through coursework, hands-on exploration and internships, you’ll also develop interdisciplinary know-how to address the policy and societal aspects of climate change.

As a University at Albany graduate with climate science expertise, you’ll be well equipped for wide-ranging career possibilities, from consulting and policy making to research and education, or go on to pursue an advanced degree.

Additional Program Information

Course Catalog | Four-Year Plans | Program Contact: Justin Minder

Program of Study
Applied Learning
Career Outcomes
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Program of Study

programofstudy

Through this program’s flexible, interdisciplinary curriculum, you’ll cultivate your understanding of the science of the Earth system and research potential solutions surrounding climate change. Core courses in chemistry, physics and calculus, as well as climate science courses covering environmental science, policy and data analysis will prepare you for a range of career options.

Required Courses

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

Learn about the research being conducted by your professors and conduct your own research alongside them to contribute to a better understanding of Earth’s current climate and climate change. For example, students have conducted research in the department’s Paleoclimate Lab, where they worked with samples such as corals and lake sediments to improve our understanding of past changes in the climate. Other student research projects can involve computer models of the climate system, analysis of satellite data, or investigations of connections between climate and infectious diseases.

Internship opportunities and other hands-on training will give you invaluable experiences that can lead to an exciting career in this high-demand field. Past students have taken advantage of opportunities for coordinated study abroad involving departmental collaborations with universities in countries such as Argentina and Brazil. You will also have opportunities to travel to conferences to present your research and participate in professional development.

A UAlbany student conducting environmental research in the field.

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Career Outcomes

A BS in Climate Science from UAlbany will prepare you to pursue graduate school or a career in a range of industries, including consulting, renewable energy, public policy, education and research.

Potential job titles for a climate science degree 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

Four students having a discussion in front of a globe in UAlbany's ETEC building.

career

“Every professor does their own research, and they bring that research into class every single day and examples. So when you have examples of real research, it allows you to see how the concepts that you're learning in class really do apply in the field in real life.”

- Nicole Bell, Class of 2027

UAlbany Majors: Climate Science

Student Learning Objectives

Learning objectives that UAlbany students are expected to attain through their course of study within their academic program.

Bachelor of Science

A student completing the BS degree in Climate Science is 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, including recognizing key aspects of these components' interactions and feedback loops.
Perform quantitative analyses specific to climate problems, including assessing relevant parameters and interpreting their trends in space and/or time.
Apply field methods, data, concepts and models to the solution of problems in the climate sciences.

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What Makes The University at Albany Great

Living-Learning Communities

Live and take classes with other incoming freshmen who share your personal interests, passions or intended academic major.

Study Abroad

Become a global citizen: international experience is crucial to success in business, education, research, and public policy.

Undergraduate Research

Research, scholarship, and creative activities at the University at Albany is an option for all students, across all academic disciplines. You will be able to learn more about a specific academic field or career path all while building a long-lasting mentoring relationship with a faculty member or principal investigator.

Explore Minors

Build competency in a passion or strengthen your resume.

A minor consists of 18–24 graduation credits which must include a minimum of 9 graduation credits of advanced coursework at or above the 300 level. Most undergraduate degrees require completing a minor and it has to have a different title from your major.

Full List of Minors

Acting
Africana Studies
Anthropology
Art
Art History
Atmospheric Science
Bioethics
Biology
Broadcast Meteorology
Business
Chemistry
Chinese Studies
Cognitive Science
Communication (Fully Online Option)
Computer Science
Creative Writing
Criminal Justice Studies (Fully Online Option)
Cybersecurity (Fully Online Option)
Documentary Studies
East Asian Studies
Economics
Educational Studies
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Electronics
Film Studies
Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity (Fully Online Option)
English

Forensic Science
French
Game Design and Development
Geographic Information Science
Geography
Globalization Studies
Hebrew
History (Fully Online Option)
Informatics (Fully Online Option)
Instrumental Performance
International Studies
Italian
Japanese Studies
Journalism (Fully Online Option)
Judaic Studies
Korean Studies
Latin American and Caribbean Studies
Law and Philosophy
Leadership
Legal Studies
LGBTQ Studies
Library and Information Science
Linguistics
Machine Learning
Mathematics

Medical Anthropology
Music
Musical Performance
Musical Theatre
Philosophy
Physics
Political Science
Portuguese
Pre-Education
Psychology (Fully Online Option)
Public Health
Public Policy
Religious Studies
Russian
Russian and Eastern European Studies
Social Welfare Studies
Sociology (Fully Online Option)
Spanish
Statistics
Sustainability
Theatre
Theatrical Design/Technology
Urban Studies and Planning
U.S. Latino Studies
Vocal Performance
Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies

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