Interdisciplinary Studies

The Climate Change Institute is an interdisciplinary research unit organized to conduct research and graduate education focused on variability of the Earth’s climate, ecosystems, and other environmental systems and on the interaction between humans and the natural world.

The Institute is proud to offer students access to world-renowned laboratory facilities, faculty research at the forefront of their fields, and numerous expedition opportunities across the globe.

Climate Change Institute Program Learning Outcomes

Master of Science (M.S.) in Quaternary and Climate Studies; Certificate in Interdisciplinary Climate Studies

March 2021

1. Know: Students will demonstrate advanced knowledge of a sub-discipline of Quaternary and Climate Studies (Graduate School Learning Goal [GSLG] 1). Assessment: Thesis and thesis defense; and/or CCI required courses (ERS542, INT500, ANT/BIO510 or ANT530).

2. Critique: Students will be able to apply critical thinking skills to assess work done by others in their sub-discipline (GSLG 1 and 2). Assessment: CCI required courses (ERS542, INT500, ANT/BIO510 or ANT530).

3. Propose: Students will be able to apply critical thinking skills to identify gaps in knowledge and unanswered questions, and propose their own contributions that contribute to/augment/shape the knowledge base (GSLG 1 and 2; CCI QCS MS program only). Assessment: Thesis proposal; Churchill Exploration Fund proposal; Graduate Student Government proposals.

4. Implement: Students will implement scientific approaches to address scientific questions and/or hypotheses, and carry out a research plan from start to finish (GSLG 1; CCI QCS MS program only). Assessment: Thesis and thesis defense.

5. Analyze and Quantify: Students will demonstrate competence in the collection, synthesis, interpretation, and contextualization of data (quantitative and/or qualitative) (GSLG 1). Assessment: Thesis and thesis defense; and/or CCI required courses (ERS542, INT500,ANT/BIO510 or ANT530).

6. Communicate: Students will effectively communicate their research purpose, activity, and results to audiences both inside and outside the Quaternary and Climate Studies fields (GSLG 1 and 2). Assessment: Borns Symposium; and/or CCI required courses (ERS542, INT500, ANT/BIO510 or ANT530).

7. Ethical experience: Students will demonstrate a basic understanding of ethical scientific approaches in the Quaternary and climate sciences, including, but not limited to, communication, cultural perspectives, course work, field work, grant writing, laboratory, project, personnel, and data management and methodology (GSLG 3; CCI QCS MS program only). Assessment: UMaine required courses (INT601), Graduate Student Government and Churchill Exploration Fund projects; Thesis research; Borns Symposium; Participation in the CCI EID (Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity) Standing Committee; Special topics courses (e.g., ANT597: Equity and Archaeological Practice).