Now Open! Global Warming Course to Raise Awareness of Climate Change Issues
UC San Diego Launches Climate Change Course Without Extending Student Schedules
The University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego) in the United States has introduced a climate change course that aims to raise awareness about global warming without increasing students’ class time. The response from students has been positive, with many seeing it as an innovative foundational course to prepare them for the future challenges they will face.
Recently, UC San Diego started a new graduation requirement for students beginning their studies in the fall (September 22 – December 21). The new course focuses on climate change, with at least 30% of the content covering climate-related topics. Students must choose courses from two of the following four areas: scientific fundamentals, human impacts, mitigation strategies, and learning from projects. Approximately 7,000 students from the class of 2028 are expected to follow this policy.
A human biology student at UC San Diego shared her thoughts, saying that she constantly thinks about the climate crisis and discusses it with her family and friends, especially after the recent hurricanes Milton and Helen devastated parts of the southern U.S. She said, “It seems to be affecting people more every day.”
Sarah Gille, a physical oceanographer from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and a member of the committee that created the new plan, stated, “The most important thing is that UC San Diego wants to ensure we’re preparing students for the future they will face.”
The new policy will not add extra time to students’ schedules because it is designed to integrate with existing courses. One in four courses will focus on goals related to climate change, including courses on climate change astronomy, gender and climate justice, indigenous knowledge for climate change, and environmental art and communication. Many of these courses also overlap with those focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Gille noted, “Students have a positive response to this requirement, which aims to prepare them for future climate-related policies and career opportunities.” She also mentioned, “As a society, we are aware of how the climate is changing, and it’s frightening. That may mean we need to change how we do things. If they are thinking about the future, they need to be prepared for what it may bring.” This could lead to new opportunities in fields related to climate, such as carbon accounting or climate-focused civil engineering.
This curriculum change reflects broader societal awareness. A 2024 Marist survey revealed that 85% of Gen Z is highly concerned about the climate crisis, with many more believing it is mostly caused by human activity compared to other generations. Additionally, several U.S. states are requiring elementary students to learn about the climate crisis.
In addition to UC San Diego, Arizona State University has introduced a new sustainability requirement for graduation this year. Universities like Columbia, Harvard, and Stanford are placing even more emphasis on climate issues and have established dedicated schools focused specifically on this subject.
Gille concluded, “What’s important for UC San Diego is doing what works best for our university and seeing how this requirement is implemented. If we can do something bigger, we may be able to produce graduates who are better prepared for the future.”
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