Climate Change Leadership (CCL)

CCL 605  |  3 credit hours

This course serves as an introduction to UNE’s Master of Science in Climate Change Leadership (CCL) and the Leadership Challenge and also explores the fundamental connections among climate change, marine science, sustainable business, and public health. As a microcosm of the entire program, it examines climate change through the lens of a complex socio-ecological system (Gulf of Maine) using case studies and virtual field trips to assess its impact on marine science, public health, and sustainable business. Additionally, the course introduces key pedagogical techniques—such as interdisciplinary analysis, experiential learning, and results-oriented communication—that will be integrated throughout this and other courses in the program, fostering critical thinking, reflection, and engagement with real-world challenges.

CCL 615  |  3 credit hours

Description coming soon

CCL 620  |  3 credit hours

Climate changes. It always has and always will. However, scientific evidence proves that over the past half century, human activities are the primary driver of change in the Earth’s climate system. The course first describes the Earth’s climate system, then explores scientific evidence of past and projected future climate change, the associated climate risks and impacts on our interconnected social and ecological systems on regional and global scales. The course also considers prospects for addressing the climate crisis via sustainable development with a focus on human health and economic development. You will learn problem solving through critical analysis and assessment of climate change indicators, climate risks, and sustainable development options. The purpose of the course is to better understand the complex and evolving nature of climate change and associated impacts, and explore frameworks that can be used to apply this knowledge to climate action at local and regional scales.

CCL 625  |  3 credit hours

This course is designed to expose students to such topics as market and government failure, benefit-cost analysis, the economics of energy, Federal control policies involving air and water pollution, externalities, and environmental issues in other industrialized countries. The course will also expose students to the role of accounting and environmental disclosures in corporate sustainability.

CCL 630  |  3 credit hours

This course is designed to provide you with a foundation in the field of coastal and marine ecology and how it relates to the ongoing challenge of climate change leadership. Secondary goals within the course include developing an understanding of the scientific method, understanding and interpreting peer reviewed literature, and gathering appropriate resources for response. It will cover many of the basics of a marine and coastal ecology course while also having you engage in a multi-step leadership project related to a selected project focused on conservation, preservation, restoration, or resource management. Weekly topics include: community structure, movement, primary production, trophic dynamics, zonation, biodiversity, and conservation.

CCL 635  |  3 credit hours

This interdisciplinary graduate course provides a comprehensive introduction to the geological, chemical, physical, and biological processes that shape the world ocean. Designed for students with little or no prior oceanography background, the course emphasizes the ocean’s central role in Earth systems and its connections to human societies. Through a blend of scientific concepts, case studies, and applied assignments, students will explore topics ranging from plate tectonics and sediment dynamics to ocean circulation, marine chemistry, ecosystems, and the ocean’s role in climate regulation.

Each week features interactive assessments and assignments tailored to deepen understanding and build science communication skills. Activities include online assessments, case study discussions (written and video-based), Op-Ed writing, and data-driven visual projects such as posters and models. The course culminates in a final integrative project that challenges students to synthesize course content in the context of real-world environmental issues.

This course equips students with foundational knowledge and critical thinking skills to interpret and communicate oceanographic science, setting the stage for further study or interdisciplinary application in research, policy, or business.

CCL 640  |  3 credit hours

Why should firms care about sustainability? Which risks matter most to their stakeholders, and how do leaders turn frameworks into operational wins? This course examines recognized sustainability frameworks/standards, identifies what is material within a given organization, and provides practical steps to make operations cleaner, leaner, and more resilient. Students apply tools to a real (or target) organization to diagnose, design, pilot “first‑wins,” and communicate a board‑ready plan for adoption.

CCL 645  |  3 credit hours

This course introduces students to the foundational principles and real-world applications of emergency management through the lens of public health and climate resilience. Students will explore the five phases of emergency management—prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery—while gaining a working knowledge of the Incident Command System (ICS) and its operational structure. Through case studies, simulations, and community-based projects, students will analyze historical and contemporary disasters, design localized prevention and preparedness initiatives, and develop components of business continuity plans. By integrating theory with practice, the course fosters a culture of preparedness and equips students with the skills to enhance community resilience in the face of public health crises, climate-related hazards, and other emerging threats.

CCL 650  |  3 credit hours

To reduce climate related risk, organizations are now incorporating sustainability initiatives into their strategic planning and day-to-day operations. The success or failure of these initiatives is based on the ability of individuals to lead and manage the change process. The ability to lead change within organizations is essential for solving the complex and urgent challenges of our time; however, the majority of change efforts have been shown to fail. The techniques used to successfully lead change across different industries and sectors (private, nonprofit, public) can be taught, learned, and practiced. This course will demonstrate why change efforts often fail, communicate common pitfalls, and introduce strategic approaches for leading successful change that can be applied at any scale. This course emphasizes learning through doing where students will practice and apply concepts, give and receive feedback, and practice self-reflection to grow as leaders of organizational change for climate impact. The course will cover what is known as the heart of change, with particular focus on how you can switch your team on to reduce climate impact and inspire sustainable change.

CCL 655  |  3 credit hours

Description coming soon

CCL 660  |  3 credit hours

Interdisciplinary research is vital for better understanding the impacts of climate change and developing innovative, effective solutions. This course equips students with disciplinary knowledge, analytical tools, and methodological frameworks that can be leveraged to address the complex, interconnected challenges of climate change. Drawing from the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and engineering fields, students will explore diverse research data collection and analysis methods—including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods approaches. This course will focus heavily on examining climate change through a systems-thinking lens, recognizing the importance of engaging with relevant parties, and promoting opportunities to integrate approaches from across disciplines, with a focus on elements of marine science, global health, and sustainable business.

CCL 670  |  3 credit hours

This interdisciplinary course explores how climate change impacts value chains across industries and how organizations can respond through sustainable, resilient, and ethical management practices. Students will examine climate-related risks and opportunities at every stage of the value chain — from sourcing and production to distribution and end-of-life — while learning strategies for reducing environmental impact, enhancing climate resilience, and driving long-term value. Students will also build leadership competencies through case studies, projects, and decision-making exercises focused on climate value chain challenges.

CCL 680  |  3 credit hours

Remote sensing & GIS give us new ways to understand changes happening around the world. This course is designed to give learners skills that will enable powerful analyses, to be used widely across disciplines, with an emphasis on natural sciences. We will concentrate on aerial photography and satellite measurements, with some discussion of other remote sensing techniques (gravimetry, radar, lidar, etc). You will learn how to acquire and manipulate data, and how to extract information from imagery. Application of these techniques to environmental monitoring, oceanography, agriculture, resource management, and other disciplines will form the basis of the course. Students will learn computer software that aids in processing and analyzing large images from satellites and aerial platforms while interfacing with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) through collaboration across disciplines to tell stories with spatial data. The course will prepare you to power your work with spatial data and new insights to improve decision making.

CCL 685  |  3 credit hours

Description coming soon

CCL 700  |  3 credit hours

This course will explore how the impacts of climate change on coastal and marine environments and related human communities can be addressed through mitigation and adaptation actions. Topics will include impacts of sea level rise and storms on coastal communities, effects of changing ocean conditions on marine and maritime industries, and potential consequences of mitigation activities within the marine environment, such as renewable energy and deep seabed mining. Selected case-studies will be analyzed by applying legal, scientific and socio-economic principles, and strategies assessed using tradeoff analyses and sustainable development goals.