I. Rationale
Please provide a rationale for the course which explains how the course being proposed fits into this Cluster based on the Cluster's description. For your convenience, the overall description and rationale for this component are included below.
Overall Description and Rationale for Thematic Transdisciplinary Cluster on
Climate Change & Society
The complex interactions between human societies and the environment has not only affected every ecosystem on Earth, but also molded the evolution of human society through time.
With an ever increasing pool of evidence indicating that significant anthropogenic climate change is highly likely in the near future, it is important that we fully understand the potential impacts of such changes on natural ecosystems and society. Such complex interactions at the global scale are well suited as a topic in a thematic transdisciplinary cluster, as the most pressing and salient questions are interdisciplinary. For example, how have humans affected the world’s climate and ecosystems? How do anthropogenic impacts on climate change compare to natural climate variability? What impacts might climate change have on natural ecosystems and human societies? Are complex human societies capable of adapting to significant climate change?
What is the most effective means of communicating complex climate change data to the general public? Here we propose a group of courses especially well-suited to address these complex questions from a variety of perspectives. Exposure to a combination of the physical and social sciences specifically addressing these questions is the only meaningful way to grasp the complex past and future interactions between humans and the climate system.
Brief Statement of Rationale for Course’s Inclusion in Climate Change & Society Cluster
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II. Common Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Each course must address all of the Common Student Learning Outcomes for this Cluster and list these Common SLOs along with course-specific SLOs in the model course syllabus (to be attached). For each Common SLO, list the course SLOs that address the common SLO, describe the opportunities which will be provided for students to learn the outcome (readings, class discussion and/or activities, applied projects), and list the means of assessment (exams, papers, projects, quizzes, etc.) that will be used to determine the level of student understanding.
TTC 1. Students will demonstrate a basic understanding of the physical processes that control natural and anthropogenic global climate change.
Course SLO(s) to Address TTC 1
Opportunities for Student Learning
(reading, researching, discussing, listening, viewing, etc.)
Means of Assessing Course SLO(s)
(exams, papers, projects, quizzes, etc.)
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TTC 2. Students will demonstrate a basic understanding of the complex interactions between human societies and their environment.
Course SLO(s) to Address TTC 2
Opportunities for Student Learning
(reading, researching, discussing, listening, viewing, etc.)
Means of Assessing Course SLO(s)
(exams, papers, projects, quizzes, etc.)
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TTC 3. Students will demonstrate an ability to critically assess the existing literature and discourse concerning global climate change from a variety of information sources (personal narratives, media, government agencies, peer-reviewed scientific literature).
Course SLO(s) to Address TTC 3
Opportunities for Student Learning
(reading, researching, discussing, listening, viewing, etc.)
Means of Assessing Course SLO(s)
(exams, papers, projects, quizzes, etc.)
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TTC 4. Students will demonstrate an ability to synthesize sociological and scientific data and information regarding climate change and its potential impacts on ecosystems, resources, and societies.
Course SLO(s) to Address TTC 4
Opportunities for Student Learning
(reading, researching, discussing, listening, viewing, etc.)
Means of Assessing Course SLO(s)
(exams, papers, projects, quizzes, etc.)
Submission instructions:
Please submit cover form, all component forms, a model syllabus, and College/School’s course action form (if needed) to your department chair. Department chairs should then submit these forms, syllabus, and course action form (if needed) in one email message to universitystudies@uncw.edu
from their UNCW email address.
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