Program Timeline


Please note that this program timeline is new and will take effect for students starting the program in Fall 2025 or later!


For the program requirements prior to Fall 2025, please see this link.

Year 1: Fall Semester

  • CAS6001 - Introduction to Climate Adaptation Sciences 
  • ENVS6889 - Environmental Risks & Decision Making
    • offered odd Falls only
 

Year 1: Spring Semester

  • CAS6007 - Interdisciplinary Research Colloquium
 

Year 1: Summer Semester

  • Complete Internship
    • Recommended during the summer, but can be completed during the school year, if necessary. 
 

Year 2: Fall Semester

  • CAS 6002 - Studio I
  • CAS 6004 - Internship
 

Year 2: Spring Semester

  • CAS6003 - Studio II

CAS 6001 - Introduction to Climate Adaptation Sciences 

2 credits: Trainees are introduced to the resources and expectations of the CAS program.

ENVS 6889 - Environmental Risks and Decision Making

1 credit: Environmental Risks and Decision Making focuses on how people make decisions in the context of environmental risks, how our decisions affect the vulnerability of the ecosystem and society to environmental change, and strategies for improving decision making in these contexts. This course is discussion-intensive and includes group activities and student presentations. 
This course is offered every other Fall (in odd years).

CAS 6007 - Interdisciplinary Research Colloquium 

1 credit: The Interdisciplinary Research Colloquium immerses trainees in on-going research. Trainees work in interdisciplinary teams to formulate research proposals.

CAS 6004 - Internship

1 credit: Each trainee interns with an agency, NGO, or industry partner. During this internship, trainees gain experience through work-place projects and activities, as directed by the host, and have opportunities to learn the culture, climate adaptation challenges, and science needs of the host.

CAS 6002 & 6003 - Studio I & II 

Studio is a two-part sequence, beginning in the fall following summer internships.

2 credits: Studio I emphasizes training in informatics, interdisciplinary research methods, risk assessment, decision-making, and a variety of modeling and analytical approaches from climate, ecology, social sciences, and project management. Trainees work in small interdisciplinary groups and larger teams to define and execute climate adaptation research projects that integrate the needs of both end-users and stakeholders. 

2 credits: Studio II is trainee-driven and consists of group discussions and activities associated with completing the interdisciplinary research projects defined during Studio 1 (e.g., written and oral presentations of results for scientist and non-scientist audiences).

CAS Fall 2025 Program Roadmap