Program: Climate Science - BS - Utah State University

Apr 09, 2025

2024-2025 General Catalog

College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences

Department of Plants, Soils and Climate

About This Degree

Students learn the natural laws that determine the climate through the study of meteorology, climatology, environmental physics, and oceanography. The Climate Science Degree helps students gain a complete understanding of climate including how atmosphere, water, land surface, and ecosystems affect each other. Students also investigate the behavior of weather and climate and the obstacles of climate prediction.

For more information about Climate Science, see the department website.
Admitted and current students must meet with an advisor.
Log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.
The highest math requirement for this degree is MATH 2250 - Linear Algebra and Differential Equations (QI) .

Minimum University Requirements

Total Credits: 120
Credits of C- or better: 100
Total credits taken at USU: 30
Credits of upper-division courses required for the major taken at USU: 10
Minimum Grade Point Average (many majors require a higher GPA): 2.0 GPA
Credits of upper-division courses (#3000 or above): 40
Upper-division credits taken at USU: 20
General Education Requirements
University Studies Requirements
Undergraduate Degree Requirements

Admission Requirements For This Program

New freshmen: Admitted to USU in Good Standing
Transfer students from other institutions or other programs at USU: 2.75 GPA

Additional Information

Coursework for this major requires a GPA of 2.5 or higher

Required Courses (83-84 credits)

CHEM 1110 - General Chemistry I (BPS) 4 credit(s)
ENGL 1010 - Writing as Inquiry (CL1) 3 credit(s)
ENGL 2010 - Research and Argument Across Perspectives (CL2) 3 credit(s)
GEO 1110 - Physical Geology (BPS) 3 credit(s)
GEO 1115 - Physical Geology Laboratory 1 credit(s)
GEO 3100 - Natural Disasters (DSC) 3 credit(s)
JCOM 1130 - Media Writing 3 credit(s)
MATH 1210 - Calculus I (QL) 4 credit(s)
MATH 1220 - Calculus II (QL) 4 credit(s)
MATH 2210 - Multivariable Calculus (QI) 3 credit(s)
MATH 2250 - Linear Algebra and Differential Equations (QI) 4 credit(s)
PHYS 2210 - Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (BPS/QI) 4 credit(s)
PSC 2000 - The Atmosphere and Weather (BPS) 3 credit(s)
PSC 3000 - Fundamentals of Soil Science 4 credit(s)
PSC 4123 - Climate Data Analysis 3 credit(s)
PSC 4810 - Climate and Climate Change (DSC/QI) 3 credit(s)
PSC 4880 - Earth System Science 3 credit(s)
PSC 5410 - Hydroclimate 3 credit(s)
PSC 5500 - Environmental Physics of Land Ecosystems and Climate 3 credit(s)
STAT 2000 - Statistical Methods (QI) 4 credit(s)
WATS 3000 - Oceanography (DSC) 3 credit(s)
WILD 2200 - Ecology of Our Changing World (BLS) 3 credit(s)
PSC 4740 - Climate Practicum 4 credit(s)
PSC 4830 - Atmospheric Instrumentation and Operation 3 credit(s) or
PSC 5000 - Environmental Instrumentation 2 credit(s)
PSC 4840 - Climate Dynamics 3 credit(s)
PSC 4850 - Physics of Climate 3 credit(s)
PSC 4870 - Synoptic Meteorology 3 credit(s)

Elective Courses (7 credits)

Students must complete at least 7 credits from the following elective courses:

ADVS 5030 - Sustainable Agricultural Production Systems with Animals 3 credit(s)
APEC 5560 - Natural Resource and Environmental Economics 3 credit(s)
CEE 3430 - Engineering Hydrology 3 credit(s)
CEE 3610 - Environmental Management 3 credit(s)
CS 3430 - Scientific Computing (DSC/QI) 3 credit(s)
ECN 3170 - Law and Economics 3 credit(s)
ENVS 3600 - Living with Wildlife (DSC) 3 credit(s)
ENVS 5550 - Sustainability: Concepts and Measurement 3 credit(s)
GEO 2200 - The Earth Through Time 3 credit(s)
GEO 3300 - Geology of the World’s Oceans (DSC) 3 credit(s)
POLS 4820 - Natural Resources and Environmental Policy: Political Economy of Environmental Quality (DSS) 3 credit(s)
PSC 2700 - Climate Change Impacts (BPS) 3 credit(s)
PSC 3000 - Fundamentals of Soil Science 4 credit(s)
PSC 3600 - An Introduction to Plant Breeding and Heredity 3 credit(s)
PSC 3800 - Fundamentals of Organic Agriculture 3 credit(s)
PSC 4280 - World Field Cropping Systems 3 credit(s)
PSC 4320 - Forage Production and Pasture Management 3 credit(s)
PSC 4890 - Senior Seminar (CI) 1 credit(s)
PSC 5130 - Soil Genesis, Morphology, and Classification 4 credit(s)
PSC 5670 - Environmental Soil Physics 4 credit(s)
WATS 4490 - Small Watershed Hydrology (QI) 4 credit(s)
WATS 4530 - Water Quality and Pollution 3 credit(s)
WILD 4000 - Principles of Rangeland Management 3 credit(s)
PSC 5003 - Remote Sensing of Land Surfaces 3 credit(s)
PSC 5680 - Paleoclimatology 3 credit(s) or
GEO 5680 - Paleoclimatology 3 credit(s)

Open Electives

Total elective credit is determined by General Education courses taken, degree type selected, additional credits earned, and any additional math or other prerequisite courses needed. Please consult your Academic Advisor for details.

Total Credits: 123

Suggested Degree Map - Climate Science BS

Climate Science BS - 4 Year Degree Map