Find your role to help solve climate challenges

Building a career that tackles climate change starts with a comprehensive understanding of both the physical and social sciences that drive its acceleration. When you earn an Undergraduate Certificate in Climate Change Solutions online from Oregon State University, you’ll study climate change from both a scientific and human perspective — learning not only the mechanisms of climate change, but also how human behavior and institutions influence and are influenced by climate issues. 

Geared toward developing actionable solutions, this program also places a strong emphasis on climate justice and will help you better understand how certain communities are disproportionately impacted by our changing climate. You’ll learn concrete strategies and skills to improve the resilience of natural and human systems and be better able to advocate for more equitable solutions.

Gain practical experience to jump-start your career

As part of this certificate, you’ll complete a project-based internship related to climate change. You can complete this internship as part of your existing job, or as a separate experience in person or virtually. Once enrolled in the program, your experiential learning coordinator will assist you with finding opportunities that best align with your goals.

Coursework

This 27-credit certificate program will deepen your understanding of climate change and its scientific, ecological and societal impacts. In addition to studying the physical and social sciences behind climate change, you can take courses in related fields like anthropology, economics, political science and sustainability.

Curriculum details and certificate requirements are available on Oregon State’s academic catalog.

Sample course topics

• Climate science
• Human dimensions of climate change
• Climate justice
• Sustainability for the common good
• Climate and health
• Global environmental health

Prerequisites

Depending on your educational background, you may need to complete additional coursework prior to enrolling in this program and taking the required certificate courses. We recommend that you evaluate this prior to applying for admission.

Apply your climate change solutions certificate toward a bachelor’s degree

Enrolling in the climate change solutions undergraduate certificate can put you on a pathway to earning a full degree in a related field. The credits you earn online can be applied toward degree programs including:

• B.S. in Environmental Sciences
• B.S. in Natural Resources

Please note: Successful completion of the climate change solutions certificate does not guarantee admission to an Oregon State bachelor’s program.

Benefits of learning online with Oregon State

• All classes are developed by Oregon State's world-class faculty, who are renowned for their research, expertise and innovation.
• Oregon State is institutionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
• Oregon State Ecampus consistently ranks among the nation’s 10 best providers of online education according to U.S. News & World Report.
• OSU Ecampus students receive the same certificate and transcript as on-campus students.

NOTE: The U.S. Department of Education has approved this certificate for federal financial aid eligibility as part of a full degree program, but has not yet approved it as an independent certificate program. Alternate funding sources (e.g. private loans, private funds, scholarships) may be required to cover the costs associated with this program.