Climate change is the largest scientific challenge facing humanity. Adapting to ongoing climate change depends on a strong scientific understanding of the fundamental climatic processes that form an integral component of Earth system science.
The ANU’s Climate Science major is a unique multidisciplinary climate science program that provides a foundation in atmospheric science, chemistry, physics, biology, statistics and scientific programming. Emphasis is placed on understanding past, present and future climate variability and change through a range of statistical, modelling, laboratory and field approaches.
This major equips students with a theoretical and analytical toolkit for understanding the scientific basis needed to adapt to future climate variability and climate change. A major in Climate Science opens up possibilities for work in government agencies, the research sector and science education. It serves as a pathway to higher degree climate science research at Australian or overseas universities.
Learning Outcomes
- Think critically about climate science issues, integrate information, and construct logical, consistent and synthesised arguments.
- Quantitatively analyse climate data and climate model output using a variety of observations and techniques.
- Draw on diverse learning environments including field, laboratory and classroom settings encompassing individual and group learning.
- Perform process-oriented, multidisciplinary studies to critically evaluate hypotheses and models on how our climate system and the life within operate.
- Write scientific reports and communicate efficiently with university staff, peer students and the wider community on Climate Science topics.
Other Information
Which courses should you take in first year?
- Either MATH1003, MATH1013 or MATH1115 (required for EMSC2021)
- Either CHEM1101, PHYS1001 or PHYS1101.
- EMSC1006 is strongly encouraged.
- Courses marked with an asterisk (*) have 1000-level course pre-requisites that may need to be taken in your first year of study.
Additional advice:
- Students should note that CHEM1101 requires an ACT major in Chemistry or NSW HSC Chemistry, or equivalent, or successful completion of a bridging course in Chemistry. Students with a level of mathematics equivalent to ACT Mathematical Methods should enroll in MATH1003. PHYS1101 has MATH1013 as a co-requisite.
- Students are encouraged in first year to take appropriate foundation courses in earth science, mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology and /or environmental science, because of the interdisciplinary nature of Climate Sciences.
- Students can only complete one special topics/research project course: ENVS3100. In order to contribute towards this major, the special topic must be in the field of Climate Science the topic/project must be in the field of Climate Science and align with the learning outcomes of the CLSC-MAJ.
- Other courses that complement the skill development include COMP1730 Programming for Scientists
Courses in this major that will contribute towards satisfying the transdisciplinary course requirements of your undergraduate degree:
- ENVS2015 GIS and Spatial Analysis (6 units)
- ENVS3013 Climate Change: Past, Present and Future
- ENVS3020 Climate Change: Science, Society and Policy (6 units)
Academic or enrolment advice:
Students can seek further advice from the academic contact for this major (details above), or the College of Science Student Services Team (students.cos@anu.edu.au)
Relevant Degrees
Requirements
Courses marked with an asterisk (*) have 1000-level prerequisites, which must be selected in the first year of study and will contribute towards satisfying the 1000-level course requirements of the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Science (Advanced) (Honours).
Please check individual courses for details however the courses listed below will cover most 1000-level requirements for 2000- and 3000- level courses listed in this major. Not all courses will need to be taken depending on later year course selection). Please also check the Other Information section for additional 1000-level courses that will support the learning in this major.
This major requires the completion of 48 units, which must include:
A minimum of 18 units from the completion of core climate science courses from the following list:
*EMSC2021 Fundamentals of Climate Science (6 units)
*EMSC3039 Climate Dynamics (6 units)
ENVS2004 Climate and Its Applications (6 units)
ENVS3013 Climate Change: Past, Present and Future (6 units)
A minimum of 18 units from the completion of climate application courses from the following list, of which a maximum of 12 units may come from EMSC-coded courses:
EMSC3019 Coral Reef Field Studies (6 units)
EMSC3025 Global Water Resources (6 units)
EMSC3032 Remote Sensing Techniques for Monitoring Earth (6 units)
ENVS3020 Climate Change: Science, Society and Policy (6 units)
ENVS3029 Palaeo-Environmental Reconstruction (6 units)
6 units from the completion of a skills development course from the following list:
EMSC3050 Special Topics
ENVS2015 GIS and Spatial Analysis (6 units)
ENVS3100 Independent Research Project (6 units)
ENVS3903 Environmental Sensing, Mapping and Modelling (6 units)
*MATH3133 Environmental Mathematics
SCOM3501 Science Communication Strategy and Leadership (6 units)
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