NSCI 1110 - Introduction to Climate Change Studies
3 Credits
Investigates the causes and magnitudes of past and present climate change. Identifies humans’ responsibility in our recent past and future climate and how this impacts humans globally. Predicts future climate change based on current trends and explores climate solutions.
Major Content Areas
Climate science basics, atmospheric composition, greenhouse gases, feedback mechanisms.Causes of past climate changes and mass extinctions.Causes of Anthropocene climate change. Misconceptions based on culture-bound values which influence political, economic, and popular responses to climate change. Effects of Anthropocene climate change on natural disasters, biodiversity, land use, politics, economics and quality of life for humans globally. Predicting future climate change based on current trends. Climate change solutions.
Learning Outcomes
Understand the major components of the climate system. Explain the natural and human causes of climate changes both past and present. Recognize the difference between scientific facts and misconceptions about climate science. Demonstrate the relationship between human-caused climate change and increasing natural disasters like wildfires, floods, and weather events. Identify and explain climate change solutions.
Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MNTC) Goals
03 - Natural Science 10 - People/Environment
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