Climate-related disasters in the United States resulting in losses exceeding $1 billion each are on the rise. Virginia alone has suffered hundreds of multimillion-dollar disasters resulting from extreme weather and climate change. The increasing severity and frequency of climate change impacts on communities worldwide have created the need for a climate-literate workforce; professionals with the knowledge and skills required to design, develop, and implement climate adaptation and resilience solutions. The minor will equip students with the skills they need to understand how and why the climate is changing; the current and expected impacts of that change; how to develop and assess adaptation strategies to enhance communities’ climate readiness; and how to help societies and ecosystems gain resilience to future impacts of climate change for generations to come. Climate resilience and adaptation encompasses a wide range of disciplines reflected in the minor’s unique curriculum; the minor also includes practical experience to ensure career-readiness.

Policies

Eight credits of coursework must be unique to the minor. For policies governing all minors, see AP.5.3.4 Minors.

Banner Code: CLRA

Minor Requirements

Total credits: 16-18

Students should refer to the Admissions & Policies tab for specific policies related to this program.

Students must successfully complete the following coursework with a minimum GPA of 2.00.

Foundation Courses

CLIM 101
CLIM 103
Global Warming: Weather, Climate, and Society (Mason Core)
and Global Warming: Weather, Climate, and Society Laboratory (Mason Core)
4
EVPP 490Special Topics in Environmental Science and Policy (when the topic is "Climate Change Adaptation Planning and Assessment")3
Total Credits7

Practical Experience

Students have the option of completing this requirement via an internship, an independent research project, or a capstone course:3
Internship 1,2
Internship
Internship in Business 3
Research Internship
Internship in Communication
Capstone Internship (Mason Core)
Internship
Global and Community Health Internship
Internship
Internship
Internship in Sociology I (Mason Core)
Independent Research Project 1
Ethnographic Research Methods
Civil Engineering Senior Design Project I (Mason Core)
Civil Engineering Senior Design Project II (Mason Core)
Internship Field Experience
Special Programs Field Experience
International Field Experience
Independent Study in Global and Community Health
Research Practicum
Experiential Learning
Senior Design Project I
Senior Design Project II (Mason Core)
Capstone Course
Sustainability in Action (Mason Core)
Community Health Capstone (Mason Core)
Earth Science and Policy (Mason Core)
Internship
Capstone in Geography and Geoinformation Science (Mason Core)
Senior Thesis
Total Credits3
1

The proposed project or internship must be approved by the Climate Resilience and Adaptation Coordinator and the student’s academic advisor.

Projects or internships should meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • Support climate readiness efforts of local partners,
  • Contribute to regional or state-wide assessment of climate vulnerabilities, or
  • Contribute to regional or state-wide opportunities to increase resilience
2

George Mason's Virginia Climate Center at Mason can facilitate student connections with potential mentors and identify suitable placements for internships.

3

Available only to Costello College of Business students who meet the course's prerequisite.

Elective Courses 

Select 6-8 credits from the following:6-8
Environment and Culture
Archaeology of Climate Change
Biology and Society (Mason Core)
RS: Ecological Sustainability (Mason Core)
Global Environment of Business (Mason Core)
Business Models For Sustainability
Environmental Issues and Solutions Around the World (Mason Core)
Engineering for Climate Adaptation
Flood Hazards Engineering and Adaptation
Climate Change Engineering and Policy
Introduction to Global Climate Change Science (Mason Core)
Introduction to the Fundamentals of Atmospheric Science (Mason Core)
Physical Climatology
Physical Climatology
Severe and Extreme Weather
Air Pollution
Climate Dynamics
Environmental Communication, Campaigns, and Social Movements
Conflict Resolution Techniques and Practice
Community, Group, and Organizational Conflict Analysis and Resolution
Global Conflict Analysis and Resolution (Mason Core)
Mobilizing for Change and Justice
Environmental Economics for the Citizen (Mason Core)
Economic Problems and Public Policies
Environmental Economics
Economics of Energy
Business and Sustainability
Tackling Wicked Problems in Society the Environment (Mason Core)
Environmental Policy Making in Developing Countries (Mason Core)
Introduction to Environmental Policy
Intermediate Environmental Policy
RS: Ecological Sustainability (Mason Core)
Energy Policy
Food-Energy-Water-Climate Nexus
Politics of Climate Change Governance
Urban Ecosystems and Processes
Sustainability in Action (Mason Core)
Introduction to OneHealth
Health and Environment
The Changing Ocean (Mason Core)
The Changing Ocean Laboratory (Mason Core)
Environmental Geology (Mason Core)
Paleoclimatology
Human Geography (Mason Core)
Global Environmental Hazards
Geography of Resource Conservation (Mason Core)
Population Geography (Mason Core)
Urban Geography
Geographic Approaches for Sustainable Development
Data Analysis and Global Change Detection Techniques
Global Health and Development
Responsible Innovation
Urban Planning
Introduction to Environmental Policy
Intermediate Environmental Policy
Public Policy Making
Issues in Public Policy and Administration (when the topic is "Introduction to Energy and Climate Law")
Global Networks and Communities (Mason Core)
Sustainable World (Mason Core)
Introduction to Conservation Studies (Mason Core)
Leadership for Sustainability
Social Movements and Community Activism (Mason Core)
Business and Sustainability
Environmental Justice (Mason Core)
Social Justice Consciousness and Action
Global Leadership (Mason Core)
Social Innovation in Action
Social Impact and Entrepreneurship
Global Environmental Ethics (Mason Core)
Topics in Environmental Philosophy (Mason Core)
Psychology of Creativity and Innovation
The Psychology of Environmental Stewardship
Community Engagement for Social Change (Mason Core)
The Urban World (Mason Core)
Social Problems and Solutions (Mason Core)
Gender, Health, and Culture in the United States
Total Credits6-8