This program is available at the following location:

• Corvallis

The interdisciplinary Climate Science major focuses on the physical science of climate and climate change and its intersection with biological, social, political, and economic systems. The program emphasizes transferable skills, such as programming, data analysis and visualization, and written and oral communication, which are integrated  throughout the curriculum.  Students engage with a variety of topics within the coursework, including atmospheric science, oceanography, geology, and geography, with elective courses drawn from additional fields. Core courses emphasize active learning, and students demonstrate skills through independent research or internships. In the capstone course, students synthesize climate science knowledge with data analysis and communication skills to produce recommendations for a Pacific Northwest stakeholder regarding some aspect of regional climate.  A broad set of electives encourages students to explore and deepen their understanding of complementary fields. With the need for climate scientists expected to increase as governments and businesses develop climate mitigation and adaptation plans, graduates of the program will be prepared for positions in state and local governments, utilities, consulting firms, non-profits, and private industry, as well as further study in graduate school.

Contact Information

Andrea Allan, Director
Climate Science Undergraduate Program
104 CEOAS Administration Building
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331
Email: andrea.allan@oregonstate.edu

Major Code: 090

Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:

• Explain the physical, chemical, and biological processes that govern the climate system over a large range of time scales and how people influence the climate.
• Acquire, analyze, and interpret instrumental, proxy, and model data to characterize the climate system, detect climate change, identify causes of observed climate changes, and project future climate change. Identify and evaluate sources of uncertainty in these observations and projections.
• Evaluate risks of climate change impacts, identify natural and human systems vulnerable to climate change, and assess the options for mitigating and adapting to those impacts.
• Communicate climate science in an effective manner to a variety of audiences, including stakeholders and the general public.

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Baccalaureate Core Course (BCC)

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Writing Intensive Course (WIC)

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Core Education course. Applies only to students admitted to an OSU undergraduate degree from Summer 2025 onwards

¹

PH 211, PH 212, CH 231/CH 261 and CH 232/CH 262 are preferred

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Other upper-division courses may be taken with advisor approval

Major Code: 090

Degree plans are subject to change and the following is only an example of how students may complete their degree in four years. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best degree plan for them. Contact details for advisors can be found on the Academic Advising page.