Department of Earth Sciences | BSc Climate Science

BSc Climate Science at Durham University

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Gain the knowledge and skills you need to understand past, present and future challenges related to Climate Change. In BSc Climate Science you can explore ways in which society can mitigate this global crisis.

Climate Change and humanity’s response to it will define life on the planet for billions of people but despite this there are few undergraduate degrees that focus on the broader climate problem.

This BSc in Climate Science uniquely offers a big-picture approach encompassing both recent and past Climate Change and its impact on Earth and Human Systems. It provides a holistic overview of Climate Science and equips you with the knowledge and skills to lead society towards the mitigation of this emergency.

Our flexible degree puts you in control. It gives you both the fundamentals and increased specialisation as you progress through the course, allowing you to choose a pathway of most interest to you. The degree acknowledges the breadth of the field of Climate Science and provides you with a solid background in diverse aspects of Climate Science that span geological time.

In the first year, you will learn about Climate Change and develop your understanding of Earth processes and resources.

In Year 2, you will learn about Isotopes and can opt to study Glaciers, the Carbon Cycle, how the Earth’s Climate has varied in the past and how scientists reconstruct past Climate Change.

In your final year, you will study Earth Systems and can choose to learn about how Climate Change impacts Coastal and Alpine Environments, Atmospheric Circulation, how it affected Ancient Civilisations, or explore the Geochemistry of the Environment. You will also undertake a dissertation and conduct fundamental research into an advanced topic of your choice related to Climate Science.

Our flexible courses have been developed to meet the needs of industry and provide you with the skills you need to succeed. You will graduate with the scientific foundations and transferable skills to move directly into the workplace or to progress to a more specialised postgraduate qualification.

Career prospects for Durham University graduates are excellent. Geology and Earth Sciences graduates are highly valued by employers and go on to a wide range of highly successful careers in the sector and beyond, working in industry and research, including environmental management, water management, energy and engineering geology. Some of the high-profile employers our graduates have gone on to work for include ATKINS, ARUP, Centrica and the Environment Agency.

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