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Climate Change & Society at NC State University

Core CCS Masters Courses

The core courses outlined below constitute the foundation of the Climate Change & Society Degree. MEA 519 and MEA 516 are offered exclusively online, while MEA 517 and MEA 518 are conducted in-person and online. The MEA courses are part of the NC State United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Initiative. In addition to the core courses listed below, the remainder of the program allows the student to choose  elective courses that align with their career interests in the climate and sustainability realm.

Core Courses (Total – 25 Credit Hours) + Elective credits.

MEA 517 Fundamentals of Climate Change Science 

presents the basic science of climate change, including chemical and physical systems and processes. The students will be introduced to how the climate system works and the role of greenhouse gases in the climate system. Students will learn about climatological data, climate models and how predictions/projections are made. Emphasis will be placed upon relating predicted/projected changes to manifestations such as sea level rise and changes in the distribution and character of precipitation. Topics include the primary climate components, ocean-atmospheric teleconnections, decadal and multi-decadal climate indices, natural and anthropogenic climate variability, and climate model projections. MEA 517 is a SDG Initiative course and is offered in the Fall semester.

MEA 518 Adaptation to Climate Change investigates the technological, economic, communication, scientific and legal challenges inherent to adaptation to climate change. This course provides practical hands-on experience for professionals in developing adaptation strategies in climate sensitive sectors. Content draws heavily on case studies in international development, infrastructure, health, energy, and transportation sectors. MEA 518 is a SDG Initiative course MEA 518 is a SDG Initiative course and is offered in the Spring semester.

MEA 519 Barriers to Climate Change Literacy investigates the cognitive, affective and behavioral barriers to climate literacy and the ways in which effective communication strategies can be utilized to address these challenges. Critical analysis of key aspects of climate science, common misconceptions, mental models, cultural influences, and risk perceptions about climate change will be examined. The various approaches to creating effective climate messages that appropriately address a variety of publics will be discussed where students will develop products that incorporate these methods/practices. The course will feature relevant readings and videos (See Susan Hassol’s TED talk), classroom discussions, student-led presentations, and summative and formative course feedback though course assignments and exams. MEA 519 is a SDG Initiative course and is offered in the Fall semester

MEA 516 Climate Risk Analysis prepares students to analyze climate data to enable  decision making under uncertain climate conditions. A wide variety of observational and model generated climate data sets will be considered. Students will learn how to  present climate information in attractive and effective graphics. . The course will address observed historical trends in climate, including the underlying assumptions and statistical methods, including correlation and regression analyses, that have been used to assess such trends. . In the second half of the term focuses on spatial analysis of climate-related anomalies and trends, ensemble prediction, and its applications to climate sensitive systems. (3 credits) MEA 516 is offered in the Spring semester.

MEA 630 Independent Study Applied Climate Experience (ACE) portion of the degree.  Our ACE program has focused on several communications projects, including teaching high school students about climate. MEA 630 is completed during Fall, Spring and Summer semesters.