Global Warming Science 101
E-PSCI 101

Jointly Offered with: Faculty of Arts & Sciences as ESE 101

2027 Spring

Full Term

Jan. 25, 2027 – Apr. 28, 2027

3:00pm - 5:45pm

Cambridge Campus

to see location

Class Number: 11819

Course ID: 214499

Consent: No Consent

Enrollment: No Limit

Links

Other Terms & Sessions

This class is currently not scheduled for any other terms or sessions.

Description

An introduction to the science of global warming/climate change meant to assist students in understanding issues that appear in the news and public debates. The course is meant for STEM students with basic math preparation, not assuming prior science courses. Topics include the greenhouse effect and consequences of the rise of greenhouse gases, including sea level rise, ocean acidification, heat waves, droughts, glacier melting, forest fires, expected changes to hurricanes, and more. An ability to critically evaluate observations, predictions, and risks will be developed throughout. The scientific basis for each subject will be covered, and students will be guided in a hands-on, in-class quantitative analysis of climate observations, models, and feedbacks using provided Python Jupyter notebooks. This course satisfies the QRD requirement.

Course Notes

Non FAS students require instructor permission. This course fulfills the EPS sub-discipline requirement of Atmosphere(s) and Oceans. E-PSCI 101 is also offered as ESE 101. Students may not take both for credit. For SB students: this course can only count as a science elective in the concentration requirements, and SB students must enroll in E-PSCI 101. AB students may enroll in either E-PSCI 101 or ESE 101 to meet their concentration requirements.

Recommended Prep

Basic calculus and ordinary differential equations, as covered, for example, by Math 19a or Math 21b or permission of instructor. Some previous exposure to programming (in any programming language) is assumed, and Python will be introduced as part of the course. The course will introduce the students to various science subjects, but no prior college-level science knowledge is assumed.

School Faculty of Arts & Sciences

Credits 4

Cross Reg

Available for Harvard Cross Registration

Department Earth & Planetary Sciences

Course Component Lecture

Subject Earth & Planetary Sciences

Grading Basis FAS Letter Graded

General Education N/A

Quantitative Reasoning with Data Yes

Divisional Distribution Science & Engineering & Applied Science

Course Level For Undergraduate and Graduate Students