The University of California (UC) San Diego has implemented a significant initiative aimed at equipping all incoming students with crucial knowledge about climate change, known as the Jane Teranes Climate Change Education Requirement (JTCCER). This program, named in honor of a esteemed faculty member from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography who passed away in July 2022, requires all newcomers, regardless of their field of study, to complete a climate change-focused course as a condition for graduation. The requirement reflects the university’s commitment to fostering a comprehensive understanding of climate change issues, ensuring that graduates are not only aware of the challenges posed by climate change but also prepared to contribute to solutions.
In line with the program’s implementation, over 7,000 first-year students must complete one approved quarter-long course to meet the requirement. UC San Diego emphasizes that this initiative has been carefully structured to align with existing general education and major-specific course requirements, thereby preventing any additional logistical burden on students during their studies. Although transfer students are exempt from this mandate, they are actively encouraged to engage with the available climate courses, which comprise a diverse selection, highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of climate change education.
The approved course list, spanning more than 40 options, includes intriguing titles such as “Gender and Climate Justice,” “Indigenous Approaches to Climate Change,” and “California Politics.” This assortment reflects an approach that integrates various disciplines, underscoring the multifaceted challenges associated with climate change. While many of these courses are offered by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, an array of other departments, including arts, political science, and gender studies, have also contributed to the program, demonstrating the university’s intention to treat climate change as a broad, interdisciplinary concern that impacts several fields of study.
The initiative draws parallels to the university’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) requirement, established in 2011, which mandates that undergraduates complete at least one course in that area. Muir College Provost Wayne Yang indicated that lessons learned from the DEI requirement informed the development of the climate education program. The goal is to enrich the curriculum and empower faculty to weave climate change topics into their upper-division courses, thus enhancing the broader educational experience while preparing students to address climate issues relevant to their respective disciplines.
The JTCCER’s inception was notably influenced by the late Jane Teranes, who played a pivotal role in championing climate education at the university prior to her untimely passing. Her contributions to the proposal’s development were recognized as instrumental, prompting faculty to honor her legacy through this initiative. Scripps professor Sarah Gille underscored Teranes’ understanding of climate pedagogy and acknowledged the significant void left by her absence, emphasizing that the requirement is a testament to her lasting impact on the campus community and the broader discourse on climate change.
Through the JTCCER, UC San Diego aims to forge a new path in climate education, ensuring that all graduates, regardless of their academic focus, are equipped to confront the pressing challenges posed by climate change. This initiative not only reflects an urgent need for awareness and action but also serves as an invitation for other academic institutions to consider similar curricular changes. The ambition is to inspire active engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration across various fields, ultimately contributing to the generation of informed and proactive leaders prepared to tackle the climate crisis.