Published: Oct. 2, 2020
Polar bear on ice in the Arctic

Sharpen Your Knowledge of the Changing Arctic. Master your knowledge of the Arctic, the rapid changes taking place, and their connections with Northern peoples, economies and geopolitics with this Coursera Online Training.

There are three courses in the specialization:

  • The Arctic as a System
  • The Changing Arctic, Past Present and Future
  • Arctic Change and the Nexus of Governance, Economics and Culture

About this Specialization

This specialization starts with an in-depth look at the physical geography of the Arctic and its key climate features, including the ocean's floating sea ice cover, the Greenland Ice Sheet, and patterns of temperature, precipitation, snow cover and permafrost. We will then learn about the remarkable unfolding changes that are transforming the Arctic environment, how they are related to each other, and cascading impacts on terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Attention then turns to the growing economic, strategic, and geopolitical importance of the Arctic in the context of observed environmental changes in the region.

Applied Learning Project

This specialization will consist of in-video questions, short quizzes for each module, and a final project for each course. Projects include a set of mapping exercises to gain familiarity with the Arctic region and its climate, a poster designed to illustrate and explain connections between observed physical and ecological changes unfolding in the Arctic and how the Arctic system will likely evolve in the 21st Century, and a project of each student's choice to illustrate how the changing Arctic will affect them and their community.

How the Specialization Works

Take Courses

A Coursera Specialization is a series of courses that helps you master a skill. To begin, enroll in the Specialization directly, or review its courses and choose the one you'd like to start with. When you subscribe to a course that is part of a Specialization, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Specialization. It’s okay to complete just one course — you can pause your learning or end your subscription at any time. Visit your learner dashboard to track your course enrollments and your progress.

Hands-on Project

Every Specialization includes a hands-on project. You'll need to successfully finish the project(s) to complete the Specialization and earn your certificate. If the Specialization includes a separate course for the hands-on project, you'll need to finish each of the other courses before you can start it.

Earn a Certificate

When you finish every course and complete the hands-on project, you'll earn a Certificate that you can share with prospective employers and your professional network.