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2026-2027 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog [In Progress]

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Bachelor of Science in Climate Science

The climate science major trains quantitatively literate climate system scientists with a strong foundation in physics, chemistry, and geosciences. Climate scientists work to increase climate literacy among employers, students, colleagues, and the public through their solid understanding of the fundamental processes of Earth's climate system and scientific credibility of climate information. As climatologists they analyze/interpret climate and paleoclimate data (e.g., atmospheric, oceanographic, geochemical, glaciological, geological, solar/orbital) and computationally simulate climate processes, predict future climate change, and reconstruct Earth's past climates. They have deep knowledge of the information going into climate models, interconnectedness of Earth's surface systems, carbon cycling, and uncertainties associated with climate model projections. As climate scientists, they help other professionals (including policy makers, engineers, entrepreneurs, insurance companies, lawyers, health professionals), students, and the lay public communicate about climate change meaningfully and make informed decisions about the magnitude and impacts of expected climate change and its mitigation. They can also work as state climatologists or serve state and federal government organizations like EGLE, NASA, and NOAA. Lastly, they have the educational foundation to pursue related studies in graduate school. www.gvsu.edu/geology

Degrees offered

Bachelor of science in climate science, minor in climate science, and certificate in climate science.

Participating Programs

Geology, physics, chemistry, statistics, mathematics, computing, environmental and sustainability studies, and biology.

Requirements for a Major in Climate Science

Students in the climate science major program at Grand Valley State University must follow all general education requirements as defined in the Grand Valley State University Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog.

Climate Science Major B.S. Course Requirements

76 - 77 credits total for climate science major. Students should be aware that MTH 122 and MTH 123 OR MTH 124, and a general education course with the GEO prefix are prerequisites for some required courses in the climate science major. These courses also count toward General Education requirements to complete any degree at Grand Valley. Alternatively, students have the opportunity to test and place out of MTH 122, MTH 123 and MTH 124; and the pre-requisite in GEO 112 for a General Education course with the GEO prefix may be waived by the Geology department on a case-by-case basis.

Core Courses (15 credits)
Major Course Requirements (55 credits)

*Climate science majors taking GEO 484 and GEO 485 must focus their research projects on topics related to climate science.

** Note to geology and geology-chemistry majors, GEO 417 does not count as an elective toward those majors. Nor does it count as an elective for physics majors.

Electives (6 to 7 credits)

Students must pick one course from each of two groups of electives:

Elective Group 1: Quantitative Elective (pick one - 3 credits)

*Although only one course is required from this group, climate science majors are strongly encouraged to take more than one.

**If CIS 161 and CIS 164 are not available, students may take CIS 162 and CIS 163.

Elective Group 2: Interdisciplinary Elective (pick one - 3 or 4 credits)

* Geology or geology-chemistry majors may not pick an elective with the GEO prefix.

Suggested Order of Coursework for Climate Science Major

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4


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