Human Dimensions of Climate Change (HDCC) Minor

Minimum number of credits required to earn minor: 18

GPA requirements to earn minor: Students graduating with a minor in a CLAS field must earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better in those courses credited toward completion of the minor.

Minimum Grade requirements for courses to count toward minor: Students minoring in HDCC must pass ANT225 and ANT410 with at least a C- grade.

Other requirements: A minimum of 9 credit hours that include ANT225 and ANT410 must be completed at the University of Maine. A minimum of 9 credit hours must be at the 200-level or above.

Restrictions: 

  • Any combination of minors in Anthropology, Archaeology, or Human Dimensions of Climate Change is not permissible.
  • Geography minors can minor in Anthropology, Archaeology, or Human Dimensions of Climate Change, but no more than one course may be double counted.

Contact Information: Samuel Hanes, Chair of Anthropology, 5773 South Stevens Hall, Room 228C, (207) 581-1885, samuel.hanes@maine.edu

Overview
Climate Change is one of the leading environmental and human problems facing the world today. Melting glaciers and rising oceans are one side of the issue, and shifting temperature and moisture patterns and the responses of earth’s biota to these changes add to the dilemma. The other side of the problem is the human dimension, both with regards to impact and response. Solutions to the many problems arising from climate change will only be found with an understanding of the processes that govern both climate and human culture. The minor in Human Dimensions of Climate Change explores the diverse human causes and impacts of climate change to better enact successful policy decisions at local, national, and international levels. Students will choose one of two tracks – sociocultural or archaeological – to focus on contemporary or past human dimensions of climate change, respectively.

As an interdisciplinary field that combines the social and environmental sciences, the minor will complement many different major degree programs, including Biology, Earth Sciences, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Engineering, Forestry, History, Marine Science, Sustainable Agriculture, and Zoology, among others. The curriculum draws on departmental strengths in environmental anthropology and archaeology, and it offers foundational and advanced coursework in HDCC, regional specializations throughout the globe, and topics of special interest.

Course requirements
Required core courses (6cr)
ANT225-Climate Change, Societies, and Culture (3cr)
ANT410-Human Dimensions of Climate Change (3cr)

One science elective from the following list (3cr)
BIO122-Biology: The Living Science
EES100-Human Population and Global Environment
EES117-Introduction to Ecology and Environmental Science
ERS101-Introduction to Geology
ERS102-Environmental Geology
ERS108-Beaches and Coasts (same as SMS108)
ERS121-Humans and Global Change
ERS152-Earth’s Changing Climate
ERS191-Energy in the Earth System
ERS240-The Atmosphere
ERS323-Extreme Weather
ERS425-How to Build a Habitable Planet
PSE105-Principles of Sustainable Agriculture 
PSE312-Sustainable Food Systems
PSE360-Agroecology and Sustainable Cropping Systems
SMS100-Introduction to Ocean Science
SMS108-Beaches and Coasts (same as ERS108)
SMS110-Concepts in Oceanography
SMS230-Intro to Marine Policy and Fisheries Management

Choose track (9cr)
Sociocultural OR Archaeological

Sociocultural track
ANT102-Diversity of Cultures (3cr)
     plus two of the following
ANT212-Anthropology of Food (3cr)
ANT235-Cultural Perceptions of Nature (3cr)
ANT250-Conservation Anthropology (3cr)
ANT270-Environmental Justice Movements in the U.S. (3cr)
ANT295-American Indians and Climate Change (3cr)
ANT311-Geography of Climate Change (3cr)
ANT350-Mediterranean: Ancient Landscapes, Modern World (3cr)
ANT459-Peoples and Cultures of South America (3cr)
ANT464-Ecological Anthropology (3cr)
ANT466-Economic Anthropology (3cr)
ANT497-Department Projects (w/approval) (3cr)
ANT290/490-Topics in Anthropology (w/approval) (3cr)

Archaeological track
ANT101-Human Origins and Prehistory (3cr)
     plus two of the following
ANT317-Fundamentals of Archaeology (3cr)
ANT350-Mediterranean: Ancient Landscapes, Modern World (3cr)
ANT420-Human Impacts on Ancient Environments (3cr)
ANT421-Inca Society and Peasants of the Andes (3cr)
ANT475-Environmental Archaeology (3cr)
ANT476-Ancient Maya (3cr)
ANT477-Field Research in Archaeology (w/approval) (3cr)
ANT480-Andean Prehistory (3cr)
ANT497-Department Projects (w/permission) (3cr)
ANT290/490-Topics in Anthropology (w/approval) (3cr)