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Fall 2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Climate Science, BS

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School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS)
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science in Climate Science
 
Director of Undergraduate Studies: Edmund Kar-Man Chang
Undergraduate Advisor: Nancy Black   

Advising Office: E2361 Melville Library   
Phone: (631) 632-9404 
Advising email: nancy.black@stonybrook.edu 
Department Website

An understanding of climate science is essential to the interpretation of climate variations and change, as well as the assessment of their impacts on diverse human populations and ecological systems. The Stony Brook Climate Science program prepares students to be climate professionals who can help develop and implement strategies for mitigation of, as well as adaptation to, adverse impacts of climate change. Students in this program learn basic scientific information on processes in the atmosphere and the ocean that drive climate change and are informed about current and anticipated climate impacts and possible mitigation and adaptation strategies. Students learn about threats to coastal environments, economic and social impacts of climate and how the various aspects of climate have evolved over the history of the Earth.

A key aspect of climate science is the emergence of very large and increasing amounts of data about the atmosphere, the ocean, human and animal populations in diverse environments and multiple parts of the global ecosystems. There are extensive data on extreme events like hurricanes, floods and drought and on human, animal and plant health. Earth System Models generate expected future changes in all aspects of the climate system. The students in this program become familiar with the types of data available, learn quantitative skills for analyzing climate data from observations and model simulations to discern trends and possible future scenarios.

The curriculum is designed to meet the current needs of employers in climate applications. This gives our students confidence that their studies are pertinent to building a rewarding career which would be relevant to society’s crucial needs.

Students may learn more about the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences by visiting http://www.stonybrook.edu/somas.

Degree Requirements

The major in Climate Science leads to the Bachelor of Science degree. Completion of the Climate Science major requires a minimum of 65 credits. Of these, no more than one course (4 credits) with a P or a passing grade below C can be credited to the major.

I. Foundation Courses (19-23 credits)

Notes

1. AMS 110 , AMS 310 , ECO 320 , POL 201 , PSY 201 , or SOC 202  may be substituted for AMS 102.
2. AMS 151 /AMS 161  or MAT 125 /MAT 126 /MAT 127  may be substituted for MAT 131/MAT 132.
3. CHE 129 /CHE 130  or CHE 152  may be substituted for CHE 131.
4. PHY 121 , PHY 125  , PHY 131 , or PHY 141  may be substituted for ENS 119/PHY 119.
 

II. Required Departmental Courses (46 Credits)

A. Basics of Climate Science (15 credits)

B. Sustainable Climate Change (15 credits)

Five courses from the choices below:

C. Problem Solving Skills (16 credits)

D. Upper Division Writing Requirement

D. Upper-Division Writing Requirement:

The advanced writing component of the major in Climate Science requires registration in, and satisfactory completion of the 0-credit ​MAR 459  or SUS 459  (S/U grading) along with enrollment in an approved advanced course that entails writing of either a term paper or a laboratory report. Completion of MAR 459 with a grade of S will also result in fulfillment of the WRTD requirement. A list of preapproved courses can be obtained through the department.

Climate Sciences Honors Program

Graduation with departmental honors in Climate Science requires the following:

1. Students are eligible to participate in the Honors Program if they have a 3.50 GPA in all courses for the major by the end of the junior year. Students should apply to the SoMAS undergraduate director for permission to participate.

2. Students must prepare an honors thesis based on a research project written in the form of a paper for a scientific journal. A student interested in becoming a candidate for honors should submit an outline of the proposed thesis research project to the SoMAS undergraduate director as early as possible, but no later than the second week of classes in the last semester. The student will be given an oral examination in May on his or her research by his or her research supervisor and the undergraduate research committee. The awarding of honors requires the recommendation of this committee and recognizes superior performance in research and scholarly endeavors. The written thesis must be submitted before the end of the semester in which the student is graduating.

3. If the student maintains a GPA of 3.5 in all courses in their major through senior year and receives a recommendation by the undergraduate research committee, he or she will receive departmental honors.

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