Climate Studies Minor
Boise State University
Description
The Climate Studies Minor aims to help students understand past, current and future changes in climate and the effects of climate change on Earth’s atmospheric, biologic, hydrologic and ecologic systems. This minor will include the interactions among physical and human systems, and prepare Boise State students to address the grand challenges associated with global climate change. It provides needed preparation for students joining Idaho’s workforce to understand the causes of climate change, how climate change will affect Idaho’s businesses, agriculture, and forest resources, and how to best prepare for the future. Students who earn the Climate Studies minor will value the importance of good science in making environmental decisions. They will better understand the role of personal transformation (i.e., lifestyle choices and consumptive decisions) and societal change (i.e., community involvement and political action) in response to environmental challenges related to climate change. They will realize the significance of climate and paleoclimate data in forecasting (i.e., climate modeling).