Program Details

NASA reports on four key components of climate change:

EVIDENCE. “Direct observations made on and above Earth’s surface show the planet’s climate is significantly changing. Human activities are the primary driver of those changes.”

CAUSES: “Human activities (primarily the burning of fossil fuels) have fundamentally increased the concentration of greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere, warming the planet. Natural drivers, without human intervention, would push our planet toward a cooling period.”

EFFECTS: “The effects of human-caused global warming are happening now, are irreversible on the timescale of people alive today, and will worsen in the decades to come.”

SOLUTIONS: “NASA is an expert in climate and Earth science. While its role is not to set climate policy or prescribe particular responses or solutions to climate change, its purview does include providing the robust scientific data needed to understand climate change and evaluating the impact of efforts to address it.”

As a student in our Climate Change certificate program, you'll learn what's happening to Earth's climate and what you can do to help protect the habitats and inhabitants of our one and only planet.

Climate Change at Inver Hills

Click each item below to see content

Coursework to Boost Your Awareness

As you delve into your climate change studies, you will naturally increase your comprehension of humankind's most universal challenge, which in turn will enhance your ability to make a real difference in how our world works to find viable solutions.

Climate Change curriculum: 3 credits

NSCI 1110: Introduction to Climate Change Studies

Climate Science curriculum: 4–8 credits

BIOL 1117 (with lab): Environmental Science: 4 credits
BIOL 2306: General Ecology: 4 credits
GEOG 1140: Meteorology: 4 credits
GEOG 1400: Energy, Environment and Climate: 4 credits

Climate and Society curriculum: Social Concerns: 3–6 credits

ANTH 2140: Humans and the Environment: 3 credits
GWS 1200: Women and Global Issues: 3 credits
PHIL 2130: Environmental Philosophy: 3 credits
SOC 2030: Environmental Sociology: 3 credits

Climate and Society curriculum: Solutions: 3–6 credits

POLS 1141: Introduction to Environmental Politics: 3 credits
BUS 1118: Business Ethics: 3 credits
ECON 1106: Principles of Microeconomics: 3 credits
GEOG 1150: Renewable & Non-Renewable Natural Resources: 3 credits

Climate Change at Inver Hills Adds Up

What you’ll accomplish as a student in our Climate Change program:

Sharpen your understanding of climate change evidence, causes, effects, and solutions
Increase your global awareness in tandem with your capacity to limit climate change
Strengthen your appreciation of our planet's ecosystems
Open doors to a huge range of careers
Work directly with expert, student-focused climate change faculty
Benefit from small class sizes and collaborating with likeminded classmates
Save money and continue your academic and professional careers with less student debt

According to U.S. News & World Report, national student loan debt topped $1.7 trillion in the second quarter of 2021, or roughly $740 billion more than U.S. total credit card debt.

In Minnesota, 900,000 student loan borrowers owe an average $31,250 in federal and private student debt. That debt translates into an average monthly payment topping $250.

Tuition and fees for one year at Inver Hills costs a little less than $5,500. Compare that to $15,000 to $20,000 at a for-profit college, or $40,000 to $50,000+ at a private college or university. You can complete your first two years at Inver Hills getting a topflight, hands-on education from knowledgeable, caring and experienced faculty and then transfer to a four-year school as a junior all while saving thousands of dollars.