Climate Justice Minor
What is Climate Justice?
Should privileged countries and communities bear more responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions?
What are the systems and interests perpetuating the carbon dioxide emissions?
At Sterling College, Climate Justice is seen as the intersection of environmental degradation, climate change, and issues concerning social inequality. This minor is an opportunity for students to delve into these multifaceted issues by studying the interdisciplinary field of climate justice, exploring the questions, and searching for solutions to the complex issues of climate change and inequality.
Students pursuing a minor in Climate Justice at Sterling College will explore environmental and social justice issues that both contribute to and arise from climate change. With a strong understanding of ecology, an introduction to climate science, and further studies in economics, policy and law, community organizing and social change, Sterling students will become uniquely qualified to engage critically in constructing effective responses to climate change.
The Climate Justice minor allows you to add expertise in this critical area to your environmentally focused major in Ecology, Environmental Humanities, Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems, Outdoor Education, or one that you’ve self-designed.


Each of the following courses is required:
- NS 272 – Topics in Natural Science: Introduction to Climate Science SS202 – Environmental Policy and Law SS210 – Economics and the Environment
- SS271A – Special Topic: Environmental Justice and Activism
- SS335 – Leadership and Social Change
One of the following courses is required:
- SS280 – Conflict Management, Justice Paradigms and Mediation
- SS285 – Gender in U.S. Society
- SS310 – Land Use Planning
- SS337 – U.S. Agriculture Policy
- SS325 – Education and Culture
- NS335 – Renewable Energy Analysis and Design
- AS310 – Permaculture Design
- NS301 – Field Ecology & Lab