GEO3032 – Climate Change and Impacts
Course content
This course describes the climate changes which are currently occurring, as well as their underlying causes and effects on both the environment and society. These are viewed in comparison with natural climate changes through the Earth’s history, and their causes. The course also provides insight into the scientific foundation for our current understanding of the climate system and how it has evolved over time.
Learning outcome
When you have taken this course, you will have
- knowledge about climate changes, their causes, and effects
- an understanding of how our knowledge about climate change has developed throughout scientific history, and of the advances made in our time
- developed the ability to critically assess scientific studies
- experience in presenting the main content of scientific articles
- practice in popular presentation of scientific results
- practice in assessing views that are put forward during public debate
Admission to the course
The number of students in the course is limited to 40. Students doing bachelor's programmes?at the Department of Geosciences are prioritized and ranked in the admission as follows:
- Students at Geofysikk og klima (bachelor)
- Students at Geologi og geografi (bachelor)
- Incoming exchange students on exchange agreements at the Department of Geosciences
- MN bachelor's students and single-course students
Applicants will be ranked within each category: all applicants within category 1 are ranked before applicants in category 2. If there are space limitations in the course, available places will be given to students selected randomly.
Special admission requirements
In addition to fulfilling the Higher Education Entrance Qualification, applicants have to meet the following special admission requirements:
- Mathematics R1 (or Mathematics S1 and S2)
And in addition one of these:
- Mathematics R2
- Physics (1+2)
- Chemistry (1+2)
- Biology (1+2)
- Information technology (1+2)
- Geosciences (1+2)
- Technology and theories of research (1+2)
Mathematics R2 was a requirement up until and including the study year 2021/2022, as part of a trial arrangement. From and including the study year 2022/2023, Mathematics R2 is no longer a requirement.
The special admission requirements may also be covered by equivalent studies from Norwegian upper secondary school or by other equivalent studies (in Norwegian).
Recommended previous knowledge
- The course is based on GEO1100 – Evolution of the Earth and GEO2300 – Geophysical Modelling, and it is also recommended that you have some knowledge in GEO2310 – Meteorology, GEO2320 – Oceanography and GEO2330 – Hydrology.
Teaching
Lectures 2 hours per week. Seminars 2 hours per week with discussion and student presentations. Supervision will be given in how to plan and carry out a project, and how to write popular science. Weekly submissions?have to be approved before you can take part in?the final examination.
Multiple choice, presentation of a scientific paper, writing of a popular scientific article and a project thesis count towards the final grade.
Attendance at the first lecture is compulsory. Students who fail to meet are considered to have withdrawn from the course unless they have previously given notice to the Student administration (studieinfo@geo.uio.no).
We reserve the right to change the teaching?form and examination of the course in semesters where 5 or fewer students have been admitted.
Examination
- Weekly assignments must be approved in order for a student to sit the final examination.
- Three multiple-choice tests?count 10% each, together 30% towards the final grade.
- A seminar presentation of the main content in scientific articles counts 20% towards the final grade.
- A popular scientific article counts 20% towards the final grade.
- A project thesis counts 30% towards the final grade.
- All the component parts have to be passed separately and the results are evaluated together and given as a final grade.
Mandatory assignments are valid for 5 semesters starting from the semester they were approved the first time.
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you?withdraw from the exam?after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Examination support material
Language of examination
Written and oral parts of the examination will be accepted in?Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F?is a fail. Read more about?the grading system.
Resit an examination
Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are?offered a postponed examination at the beginning of the next semester.
Re-scheduled examinations are not offered to students who withdraw during, or did not pass, the original examination.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.