Course syllabus - Climate Change

Objectives

Climate change is a critical planetary boundary. Driven largely by greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel use, deforestation, and industrial processes, it alters the Earth’s energy balance and disrupts climate regulation. Rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, ocean acidification, and the melting of ice sheets affect ecosystems, water resources, agriculture, and human health. Future professionals need to understand these dynamics in order to develop strategies for mitigation and adaptation within safe limits.

Learning outcomes

1. Understand the drivers behind climate change
2. Define key concepts related to the physical and chemical processes governing Earth´s climate system such as equilibrium, stoichiometry, ideal gas law, gases and intermolecular forces.
3. Understand the interconnected Earth Systems – atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere and biosphere – affect and influence one another in the context of climate change.
4. Identify and describe current environmental challenges such as ocean acidification and desertification and explain their connections to climate change.
5. Indicate potential solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
6. Understand the local, European and international environmental regulation connected to climate change

Course content

The course covers fundamental knowledge behind climate change, including greenhouse effect, atmospheric chemistry, energy transfer mechanisms and the physical and chemical processes governing the Earth´s climate system. It describes the interconnected Earth systems to help students understand the causes and impacts of climate change. Through a systems-thinking approach, students will discover current challenges and indicate solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Requirements

Basic eligibility and Physics 2, Chemistry 1, Mathematics 3c or Mathematics D Or: Physics level 2, Chemistry level 1, Mathematics - Further level 1c

Examination

HEM1, Take-home examination, 3 credits, grade: Excellent (A), Very good (B), Good (C), Satisfactory (D), Sufficient (E), Insufficient (F). Learning outcome: 1-6.

PRO1, Project report, 4,5 credits, grade: Excellent (A), Very good (B), Good (C), Satisfactory (D), Sufficient (E), Insufficient (F). Learning outcome: 1-6.

A student who has a certificate from MDU regarding disability study support, can request adaptions for the examination. It is the examiner who takes decisions on any adaptions, based on the certificate and other conditions.

Grade

AF-skala