Climate Change
There is no Planet B. Learn how climate change is affecting our lives and how by studying at the University of Waikato, you can make a difference.
Climate change is the most pressing environmental issue facing humanity, affecting every facet of the world around us.
While climate change is an incredibly complex problem, the solution is very simple - we need to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. This requires a fundamental shift in the way we do business and go about our lives.
Our world-first Bachelor of Climate Change degree is a unique and flexible qualification, which will arm you with the knowledge and expertise to help solve this complex, global issue. We urgently need people from all walks of life who can contribute their expertise to develop effective climate change solutions that span its scientific, social, cultural, economic and political dimensions. This is a degree with a difference that will ensure you take up your place in the workforce as a climate-informed citizen.
For students wanting to enrol in one of our more traditional qualifications, you can also complete one or more elective papers in the area of climate change. A selection of these papers is given in the section below.
Key information
| Study Location: | Hamilton |
|---|---|
| Area of Study: |
Career opportunities
- Analyst
- Anthropologist
- Biodiversity manager
- Climate action specialist
- Climate change manager
- Community educator
- Consultant
- Data analyst
- Ecologist
- Economist
- Environmental scientist
- Foreign affairs advisor
- Iwi advisor
- Media advisor
- Policy Analyst
- Political scientist
- Politician
- Planner
- Public relations expert
- Sustainability consultant
Papers
Available Climate Change papers
100 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARTSC106 | Critical Social Science Research: The Crisis of Climate Change | 15.0 | 24B (Hamilton) & 24B (Online) |
| This paper is an introduction to critical social science research in Aotearoa New Zealand. It adopts an interdisciplinary approach spanning Indigenous and Feminist studies, political science and sociology, and is organised around the case study of climate change. | |||
| CLIMT101 | Introduction to Climate Change Science - Pūtaiao Huringa Āhuarangi | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton), 24A (Online), 24A (Secondary School - Unistart) & 24A (Tauranga) |
| An overview of the scientific basis of climate change with emphasis on understanding climate change mitigation and adaptation. He tirohanga whanui no tenei pepa i te tuapapa o te putaiao o te huringa ahuarangi. He nui te aro ki te whakamauru me te takatu o te huringa ahuarangi. | |||
| CLIMT103 | Arts Activism in a Changing Environment | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| This paper introduces the role of arts in environmental, climate change and social activism through critical discussion of performances, events and art objects, and the complexities of communication and media representation. | |||
| CLIMT104 | Introduction to Māori, Pacific and Indigenous Studies: The Climate Change Crisis | 15.0 | 24B (Hamilton) & 24B (Online) |
| This course examines Maori, Pacific and Indigenous peoples' philosophies and relationships with land, language, culture and resources, with a particular focus on understanding the climate change crisis. | |||
| CSMAX101 | The World of Data | 15.0 | 24B (Hamilton) |
| This paper introduces students to tools used in analysing datasets, focusing on health science applications and publicly available data on New Zealand. Students will learn how to use these tools to generate the appropriate results and be able to critically evaluate results presented in the media as well as scientific articles. Stud... | |||
200 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| BUSAN205 | Data Analytics with Business Applications | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton), 24B (Hamilton), 24B (Tauranga), 24VA (National Economics University, Vietnam) & 24X (Zhejiang University City College, Hangzhou China) |
| This paper introduces various data analytical methods and illustrates their business and economics applications, showing how to use data to communicate more convincingly and to produce better-informed business decisions. | |||
| CLIMT201 | Climate Change Modelling, Impacts and Adaptation | 15.0 | 24B (Hamilton) |
| The strengths and weaknesses of different types of climate models and scenarios are explored, with an emphasis on understanding the projected climate change risk profile of Aotearoa. An understanding is gained of how different climate hazards respond to a warming world, as well as non-hazard factors which determine the severity of ... | |||
| CLIMT202 | Māori, Pacific and Indigenous Responses to Climate Change | 15.0 | 24B (Hamilton) |
| An analysis of how Maori, Pacific and Indigenous communities respond, adapt and mitigate the challenges presented by climate change drawing on indigenous theoretical approaches and relationships with land, oceans, culture, resources, development and political frameworks within settler-colonial states and Pacific nations and others.... | |||
300 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLIMT301 | Climate Change Solutions: Multidisciplinary Group Projects | 15.0 | 24B (Hamilton) |
| Working in groups, students from different majors within the Bachelor of Climate Change will work together with an external organisation to develop an innovative solution to an authentic climate change problem. | |||
For me the highlights were the opportunities to work with world-leading academics in soil science, the moments to spend with friendly and open-minded colleagues for scientific discussions and the unforgettable field trips to Taupo and many other study sites.
Read stories from other Climate Change students
Scholarships and prizes
New to Waikato? The International Excellence Scholarship is worth up to $10,000.
Visit our Scholarship Finder for information about possible scholarships
Other Climate Change papers
Expand to read Other Climate Change papers
| Code | Paper Title |
|---|---|
| Introduction to Earth System Sciences | |
| Water Resources, Weather and Climate | |
| Economics of Land, Water and Environment | |
| Future Cities | |
| Environmental Assessment and Policy | |
| Environmental Science | |
| Environmental Chemistry and Geochemistry | |
| Climate Change Law | |
| Energy Law | |
| Environmental Law | |
| International Environmental Law | |
| Global Environmental Politics and Policy |