Interdisciplinary Climate Science Minor
Climate change is perhaps the defining global environmental, social and political issue of our time.
This new interdisciplinary minor, available in Fall 2026, capitalizes on the University of Colorado Boulder’s world leadership in climate research, with leading programs in many departments and institutes. Climate-relevant classes are spread across the natural sciences, and collectively provide both a broad and deep exposure to the science of climate. Students will acquire a foundation in how Earth’s climate works, evolves and influences other aspects of Earth and society.
Meeting the complexity of climate change
The study of Earth’s climate is fundamentally interdisciplinary and complex, synthesizing earth, atmospheric and ocean sciences, with physics, chemistry and biology.
The history of Earth’s climate has shaped the evolution of the planet's surface and influenced the arc of human history. Future climate change will touch nearly all aspects of human existence from agriculture, engineering and economics, to geopolitics, health, philosophy, recreation and art. A broad and interdisciplinary understanding of climate science is critical for the future of the planet and its people.
The Interdisciplinary Climate Science Minor spans eight departments in the Division of Natural Sciences:
- Astrophysical & Planetary Sciences (APS)
- Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (ATOC)
- Applied Math (APPM)
- Earth Science (ERTH) (recently renamed from Geological Sciences)
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EBio)
- Environmental Studies Program (ENVS)
- Geography (GEOG)
- Physics (PHYS)
Requirements
This interdisciplinary minor is intended to educate students in modern climate science, with all its quantitative rigor. Students from all majors are welcome to participate, however the minor’s quantitative approach is a particularly good fit for students who are already pursuing a natural science or engineering degree.
Course topics include:
- Arctic Climate System
- Oceanography
- The Cryosphere: Earth’s Icy Environments
- Paleoclimatology
- Mountain Ecology and Conservation
- The Art and Strategy of Science Communication
- Climate Politics and Policy
- Global Geographies: Societies, Places, Connections
Be a part of something new!
Connect with like-minded students and faculty across campus. Build connections to local government labs through tours and potential internships at NOAA, USGS, NRL, the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. National Science Foundation Ice Core Facility. Apply to participate in the Juneau Icefield Research Program, an eight-week summer field school in earth and climate sciences.