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Atmospheric science
George Mason University

Climate Resilience and Adaptation Minor

The Climate Resilience and Adaptation (CRA) minor is a transdisciplinary program designed to complement students' primary areas of study with specialized knowledge in climate science and policy, local and regional climate adaptation strategies and solutions, and how to translate research into practice and action. By exploring the complexities of climate change through diverse perspectives, students will gain the expertise needed to contribute meaningfully to local and global efforts to enhance resilience to the impacts of climate change and mitigate potentially larger future changes. Students in most Mason colleges and schools will be able to obtain the CRA minor by taking ten (10) additional credits beyond their primary degree program.

The CRA was approved in Spring 2025 and will be listed in the George Mason 2025-2026 Catalog.

Program Highlights

New Program, Fall 2025

  • Gain an understanding of the impacts of climate change and their relation to your subject of interest.
  • Apply to real-world problems with Practical Experience component of minor.

University Catalog

Review admission and course requirements for this degree:

Admissions & Policies

The Climate Resilience and Adaptation minor requires at least 16 to 18 credits, including 9 credits of core classes and at least 9 credits of electives. At least 8 credits applied to the minor must not apply to the student’s primary degree program.

Requirements

Total credits: 16-18

Core Courses

  1. CLIM 101: Global Warming: Weather, Climate, and Society (3 cr)
  2. CLIM 103: Global Warming: Weather, Climate, and Society Laboratory (1 cr)
  3. EVPP 490: Climate Change Adaptation Planning and Assessment (3 cr)
  4. Practical Experience (at least 3 cr)

Practical Experience  

The student can choose to satisfy the practical experience requirement with an internship, an independent research project, or a capstone course. 

Electives

Select 6-8 credits from the table (see Electives section below).  Courses marked with an asterisk (*) are Mason Core courses. 

Internship Courses

Course No. Course Title 
ANTH 495 Internship   
BUS 492 Internship in Business 
CLIM 409 Research Internship 
COMM 450 Internship in Communication 
CONF 370  Internship Field Experience  
CONF 385  International Field Experience  
ECON 493 Capstone Internship 
EVPP 494  Internship   
GCH 498 Global and Community Health Internship 
GEOL 480 Internship 
GOVT 480 Internship   
INTS 490  Internship   
SOCI 416 Internship in Sociology 

Independent Research Project Courses

Course No. Course Title 
ANTH 450 Ethnographic Research Methods 
CEIE 490  Civil Engineering Senior Design Project I * 
CEIE 491  Civil Engineering Senior Design Project II * 
CONF 370Internship Field Experience
CONF 375  Special Programs Field Experience  
GCH 385International Field Experience
GCH 499 Independent Study in Global and Community Health 
GOVT 399Research Practicum
INTS 498  Experiential Learning   
SYST 490  Senior Design Project I  
SYST 495  Senior Design Project II * 

Capstone Courses

Course No. Course Title 
EVPP 480 Sustainability in Action 
GCH 465 Community Health Capstone 
GEOL 420 Earth Science and Policy 
GEOL 480 Internship 
GGS 485  Capstone in Geography and Geoinformation Science  
PSYCH 499 Senior Thesis 
SOCI 416 Internship in Sociology 

Elective Courses

Course No.Course Title Course No.Course Title Course No.Course Title
ANTH 370Environment & Culture ECON 435Economics of Energy GLOA 388Global Health and Development
ANTH 394Archaeology of Climate Change EVPP 322Business and Sustainability GOVT 352Responsible Innovation
BIOL 301Biology and Society EVPP 336Tackling Wicked Problems in Society the Environment* GOVT 357Urban Planning
BIOL 379Ecological Sustainability* EVPP 337Environmental Policymaking in Developing Countries GOVT 361Introduction to Environmental Policy
BUS 200Global Environment of Business* EVPP 361Intro to Environmental Policy* GOVT 362Intermediate Environmental Policy
BUS 295Business Models for Sustainability  EVPP 362Intermediate Env. Policy GOVT 364Public Policy Making
CEIE 100 Environmental Issues and Solutions* EVPP 378Ecological Sustainability* GOVT 464Issues in Public Policy and Administration (when the topic is "Introduction to Energy and Climate Law")
CEIE 441Engineering for Climate Adaptation EVPP 432Energy Policy INTS 102Global Networks and Communities*
CEIE 445Flood Hazards Engineering and Adaptation EVPP 434Food-Energy-Water-Climate Nexus INTS 210Sustainable World*
CEIE 452Climate Change Engineering and Policy EVPP 436Human Dimensions of Climate Change  INTS 211Intro to Conservation Studies*
CLIM 102Introduction to Global Climate Change Science* EVPP 442Urban Ecosystems and Processes INTS 292Leadership for Sustainability
CLIM 111Introduction to the Fundamentals of Atmospheric Science  EVPP 480Sustainability in Action INTS 304Social Movements and Community Activism
CLIM/GGS 312Physical Climatology EVPP 530Evidence-Based Environmental Policymaking INTS 332Business and Sustainability
CLIM 314Severe and Extreme Weather  GCH 305Introduction to OneHealth INTS 334Environmental Justice*
CLIM 319Air Pollution GCH 360Health and Environment INTS 337Social Justice Consciousness and Personal Transformation
CLIM 440Climate Dynamics GCH 551Rural Public Health INTS 406Global Leadership*
COMM 433Environmental Communication GCH 560Environmental Health INTS 450Social Innovation in Action
COMM 660Climate Change and Sustainability Comms GEOL 120The Changing Ocean (lecture) MGMT 454Social Impact and Entrepreneurship
CONF 300Conflict Resolution Techniques and Practice GEOL 121The Changing Ocean (lab) PHIL 243Global Environmental Ethics
CONF 330Community, Group and Org. Conflict Analysis and Resolution GEOL 305Environmental Geology PHIL 343Topics in Environmental Philosophy*
CONF 340Global Conflict Analysis and Resolution* GEOL 332Paleoclimatology PSYC 335Psychology of Creativity and Innovation
CONF 347Mobilizing for Change and Justice GGS 103Human Geography* PSYC 410Psychology of Environmental Stewardship
CONF 651Collaborative Community Action & Participatory Governance GGS 302Global Environmental Hazards PSYC 427Community Engagement for Social Change
CONF 682Principles of Environmental Conflict Resolution GGS 303Geography of Resource Conservation SOCI 332The Urban World*
CONF 683Environ. Conflict Res: Situation Assessment, Design, Practice GGS 304Population Geography SOCI 352Social Problems and Solutions*
ECON 105Environmental Economics for the Citizen* GGS 306Urban Geography WMST 319Gender, Health, and Culture in the US
ECON 309Economic Problems and Public Policies GGS 307Geographic Approaches for Sustainable Development   
ECON 335Environmental Economics GGS 354Data Analysis and Global Change Detection Techniques   

* The programs and services offered by George Mason University are open to all who seek them. George Mason does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic national origin (including shared ancestry and/or ethnic characteristics), sex, disability, military status (including veteran status), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, pregnancy status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. After an initial review of its policies and practices, the university affirms its commitment to meet all federal mandates as articulated in federal law, as well as recent executive orders and federal agency directives.