GET YOUR DEGREE IN

CLIMATE SCIENCE

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues facing your generation.

With training in the scientific basis for climate change and estimates of climate risk,

YOU CAN BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

YOUR GENERATION

WILL NEED TO COPE WITH CONTINUED CLIMATE CHANGE.

It urgently needs leaders who are equipped to help society understand and deal with climate challenges. UCLA’s learning and research opportunities prepare the most empowered new leaders in science.

Climate Science is the study of Earth’s climate with the aims of understanding how the climate works and predicting its future. Theoretical, modeling, and observational techniques are all central to the field. Led by UCLA’s Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (AOS) – ranked #1 by the National Research Council – this new degree program is the first of its kind at one of the world’s top research universities.

AS AN AOS CLIMATE SCIENCES MAJOR,

YOU WILL GAIN THE SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING YOU NEED TO:

• Assess climate impacts from both human-induced climate change and natural climate variability.
• Communicate climate information to decision-makers in the public sector, private sector and nongovernmental organizations.

WHAT CAN I DO

WITH A CLIMATE SCIENCE UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE?

Your degree will give you strong science foundations with an exposure to policy and solutions. With its strong quantitative emphasis, the program is excellent preparation if you wish to pursue a graduate degree in nearly any scientific field, but especially Climate Science or an allied area.

The major is also applicable to careers in environmental law, policy, communications, think tank, or non-profit sectors.

WHAT COURSES

WILL I NEED TO MAJOR IN CLIMATE SCIENCE AT UCLA?

• The basic math and science requirements expected of all science majors, including calculus, introductory physics, and introductory chemistry, in addition to one course each in statistics and computer programming.
• Six core courses teaching the fundamentals of climate science, including the phenomenology of the climate system, energy flows within the climate system, the dynamics and thermodynamics of the atmosphere and ocean, biogeochemistry, and the state of knowledge of climate change.
• Two upper division climate science courses on more specialized topics, allowing you to tailor learning outcomes to your own interests and begin the process of planning your career.
• Two upper division courses outside the AOS department. This is because climate science is relevant for public policymaking, and because changes in the physical climate system are profoundly influenced by human choices. We’ll encourage you to engage in coursework on relevant policy issues.