Climate System Science

Ready to start changing the world? If you’re a high school student interested in applying to the Jackson School to be a climate system science major, please select Geological Sciences during the process of your undergraduate application to The University of Texas at Austin. Additional application information can be found on the UT Office of Admissions website and the Jackson School’s Admissions page.

Thinking of transferring to the Jackson School to be a climate system science major? If you’re an undergraduate student already enrolled at The University of Texas at Austin, you may enter the Jackson School through an internal transfer process which occurs twice a year. Please visit the Jackson School’s Internal Transfers webpage for details about the internal transfer process, deadlines, and upcoming information session dates to learn more about our school and programs. We also encourage you to contact academic advising before you start this process.

For information on required courses visit the B.S. in Climate System Science degree page. Students may also view current Geoscience courses being offered and information on student research opportunities.

As society adapts to living under climate change and pursues solutions, we need climate scientists to guide us. Students who want to use their technical training to improve the world and who are interested in applying a strong quantitative and computational foundation to help understand and address climate change will flourish in this major. The major is also designed to give students extensive face time with departmental faculty, and students who are self-motivated will particularly benefit from the closeknit community and faculty engagement that the major is intended to foster.

• Apply an understanding of physics, chemistry, and mathematics to map the behavior of our climate system using sophisticated computer models, detailed geologic records, and satellite and ground-based observations.
• Work to predict change in the system, understand observed change such as rising sea levels, warmer temperatures, and changing weather patterns, and evaluate impacts such as those on human health, agriculture, and natural ecosystems.
• Understand how the climate system works so we can better plan for the future.

The climate system science major provides an excellent foundation for students seeking employment after graduation as well as for those interested in continuing their studies in graduate school.