Regents Approve UM Climate Change Minor

Last Updated (Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00) Friday, 20 March 2009 16:58

The University of Montana today announced the creation of one of the nation's first undergraduate degree programs devoted to the challenges and opportunities global climate change presents.

Contact: UM Provost Royce Engstrom, 406-243-4689, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; UM Regents Professor of Ecology Steve Running, 406-243-6311, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

REGENTS APPROVE UM CLIMATE CHANGE MINOR

MISSOULA—

The University of Montana today announced the creation of one of the nation’s first undergraduate degree programs devoted to the challenges and opportunities global climate change presents.

The new minor in climate change studies will combine rigorous training in sciences with course work in ethics and policy to offer students a unique, multidisciplinary understanding of climate change. Students will examine the scientific and social dimensions of global climate change, as well as explore potential solutions.

The new minor was approved Thursday, March 19, by the state Board of Regents at its bimonthly meeting in Helena.

“The climate change topic is rapidly evolving from only an earth science issue to a technological, economic and sociological issue for humanity,” said UM Regents Professor of Ecology Steve Running, who directs the new program. “We have designed this broad interdisciplinary curriculum to reflect this expansion of focus.”

Students pursuing the minor will take an interdisciplinary introductory course and six credits in each of three areas of study: climate change science, climate change and society, and climate change solutions.

“This program will provide a unique opportunity for students to think critically and practically about science, society and the environment within the context of one of the most pressing issues of our day,” said Dane Scott, director of UM’s Center for Ethics, who, with Running, chairs the task force formed to launch the climate change minor.

The minor draws on the expertise of faculty at both UM’s main campus and the College of Technology in Missoula to teach traditional courses and develop applied learning opportunities that are the cornerstone of the program. It was initiated at the direction of UM Provost Royce Engstrom with input from 29 faculty members from 18 departments.
 
“We should take great pride in being among the first universities in the country to establish a formal curriculum in climate change,” Engstrom said. “Climate change is among the key challenges we face as a global society, and it is critical that UM students have the opportunity to study the topic in detail.

“We have such strong expertise in climate change, so our students are learning from some of the world’s experts,” he said. “I am especially proud of two aspects of this new program: the involvement of so many enthusiastic people from across campus in the development of the minor, and the thoughtful, interdisciplinary design that resulted.”

Information about the climate change program is online at http://www.cfc.umt.edu/CCS/. For more information, call program coordinator Nicky Phear at 406-243-6932 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .


NP/bd
Local, state
032009minr