ESCI 392: Introduction to Climate Change

Environmental Sciences · 4 credits

The human population has grown rapidly, and we are changing many features of the world at a rate unprecedented in recent geological history. In this course we examine climate change and climate forcing, and other aspects of planetary change related to human resource use. We explore geological history to understand change in the planet’s long-term context. We will also explore some hopeful elements, with student investigation of mitigation and strategies for effective communication. Also offered as ENVS 392.

Offered in 10 of the 26 listed terms (Winter 2022 to Spring 2027).

Catalog entry Browse Classes Textbooks (WWU Bookstore)

Prerequisites

(ENVS 201 or MATH 114 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or MATH 124 or MATH 125 or MATH 134 or MATH 135 or MATH 138 or MATH 156 or MATH 157 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 1.70 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 1.70 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65) and (ENVS 203 or HNRS 215 or GEOL 211 or HNRS 212 or (GEOL 101 and GEOL 211A))

Prerequisite tree

Each course's own prerequisites, down to the first courses in the chain.

ENVS 201 Understanding Environmental Information
requires MATH 099 (minimum grade YP) or MATH 106 or MATH 107 or MATH 108 or MATH 112 or MATH 114 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or MATH 124 or MATH 125 or MATH 134 or MATH 135 or MATH 156 or MATH 157 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 143 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 148 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 3 or College Algebra (CA), score 1.70 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 30 or Intermediate Algebra (IA), score 1.70
- MATH 099 Introductory Algebra
  requires ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 1
- MATH 106 Quantitative Reasoning
- MATH 107 Mathematical Reasoning and Its Applications
  requires MATH 099 (minimum grade YP) or MATH 112 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 145 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 143 or College Algebra (CA), score 1.70 or Intermediate Algebra (IA), score 1.70 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 25 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 2
  - MATH 099 Introductory Algebra (shown above)
  - MATH 112 Functions and Algebraic Methods
    requires MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 143 or MATH 099 (minimum grade YP) or College Algebra (CA), score 1.70 or Intermediate Algebra (IA), score 1.70 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 148 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 35 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 2 or MATH 197C (minimum grade S) or MATH 109 (minimum grade S)
    - MATH 099 Introductory Algebra (shown above)
    - MATH 197C Support Topics for Functions and Algebraic Methods
      requires ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 30
    - MATH 109 Support for Functions and Algebraic Methods
      requires ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 30
- MATH 108 Math Applications & Reasoning
  requires MATH 099 (minimum grade YP) or MATH 112 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 145 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 143 or College Algebra (CA), score 1.70 or Intermediate Algebra (IA), score 1.70 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 25 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 2
  - MATH 099 Introductory Algebra (shown above)
  - MATH 112 Functions and Algebraic Methods (shown above)
- MATH 112 Functions and Algebraic Methods
  requires MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 143 or MATH 099 (minimum grade YP) or College Algebra (CA), score 1.70 or Intermediate Algebra (IA), score 1.70 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 148 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 35 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 2 or MATH 197C (minimum grade S) or MATH 109 (minimum grade S)
  - MATH 099 Introductory Algebra (shown above)
  - MATH 197C Support Topics for Functions and Algebraic Methods
    requires ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 30
  - MATH 109 Support for Functions and Algebraic Methods
    requires ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 30
- MATH 114 Precalculus I
  requires MPT General - Scaled Score, score 153 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 143 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 55 or MATH 112 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 3 or College Algebra (CA), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70
  - MATH 112 Functions and Algebraic Methods (shown above)
- MATH 115 Precalculus II
  requires MATH 114 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65
  - MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
- MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus
  requires MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 70
- MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I
  requires MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 153 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 5 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 2.30 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 80
  - MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
  - MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
- MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II
  requires MATH 124 or MATH 134 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 4 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 4
  - MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
  - MATH 134 Calculus I Honors
    requires MATH 115 (minimum grade A) or MATH 118 (minimum grade A) or Math Placement - Advanced 2, score 20 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 5
    - MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
    - MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
- MATH 134 Calculus I Honors
  requires MATH 115 (minimum grade A) or MATH 118 (minimum grade A) or Math Placement - Advanced 2, score 20 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 5
  - MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
  - MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
- MATH 135 Calculus II Honors
- MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics
  requires MPT General - Scaled Score, score 152 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 143 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 55 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 3 or College Algebra (CA), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or MATH 112
  - MATH 112 Functions and Algebraic Methods (shown above)
- MATH 157 Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics
  requires MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 148 or MATH 156 or MATH 114 or MATH 118 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 2.30 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 2.3 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 2.3 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2
  - MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
  - MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
  - MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
MATH 114 Precalculus I
requires MPT General - Scaled Score, score 153 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 143 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 55 or MATH 112 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 3 or College Algebra (CA), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70
- MATH 112 Functions and Algebraic Methods (shown above)
MATH 115 Precalculus II
requires MATH 114 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65
- MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus
requires MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 70
MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I
requires MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 153 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 5 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 2.30 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 80
- MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
- MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II
requires MATH 124 or MATH 134 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 4 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 4
- MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
- MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
MATH 134 Calculus I Honors
requires MATH 115 (minimum grade A) or MATH 118 (minimum grade A) or Math Placement - Advanced 2, score 20 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 5
- MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
- MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
MATH 135 Calculus II Honors
MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus
requires Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 4 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 4 or (Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 2 and Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 3)
MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics
requires MPT General - Scaled Score, score 152 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 143 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 55 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 3 or College Algebra (CA), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or MATH 112
- MATH 112 Functions and Algebraic Methods (shown above)
MATH 157 Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics
requires MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 148 or MATH 156 or MATH 114 or MATH 118 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 2.30 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 2.3 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 2.3 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2
- MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
- MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
- MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
ENVS 203 Physical Geography
HNRS 215 Colloquium in Physical Geography
GEOL 211 Physical Geology
requires MATH 114 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or MATH 124 or MATH 125 or MATH 134 or MATH 135 or MATH 138 or MATH 156 or MATH 157 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 1.70 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65
- MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
- MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
- MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
- MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
- MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
- MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
- MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
- MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
- MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
- MATH 157 Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
HNRS 212 Colloquium in Geology
requires MATH 114 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or MATH 124 or MATH 125 or MATH 134 or MATH 135 or MATH 138 or MATH 156 or MATH 157 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 1.70 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149
- MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
- MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
- MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
- MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
- MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
- MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
- MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
- MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
- MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
- MATH 157 Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
GEOL 101 Introduction to Geology
requires MATH 107 or MATH 108 or MATH 112 or MATH 114 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or MATH 124 or MATH 125 or MATH 134 or MATH 135 or MATH 138 or MATH 156 or MATH 157 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 143 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 153 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 2 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Statistics AP Exam, score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 1.70 or College Algebra (CA), score 1.70 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 30
- MATH 107 Mathematical Reasoning and Its Applications (shown above)
- MATH 108 Math Applications & Reasoning (shown above)
- MATH 112 Functions and Algebraic Methods (shown above)
- MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
- MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
- MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
- MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
- MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
- MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
- MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
- MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
- MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
- MATH 157 Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
GEOL 211A Physical Geology Review
requires (MATH 114 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or MATH 124 or MATH 125 or MATH 134 or MATH 135 or MATH 138 or MATH 156 or MATH 157 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 1.70 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65) and (GEOL 101 (minimum grade B-) or HNRS 158 or HNRS 212 or SCED 202 (minimum grade B-))
- MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
- MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
- MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
- MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
- MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
- MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
- MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
- MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
- MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
- MATH 157 Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
- GEOL 101 Introduction to Geology (shown above)
- HNRS 212 Colloquium in Geology (shown above)
- SCED 202 Matter and Energy in Earth Systems

From Banner's catalog for Spring 2027. Banner lists only the requisites it enforces, so check the catalog entry too.

Required by (3)

ESCI 361, ESCI 443, ESCI 497A

What it leads to

Courses that list it as a prerequisite, then the courses that list those, 2 levels deep.

ESCI 361 Water Quality
- ESCI 429 Stream Ecology
- ESCI 431 Watershed Biogeochemistry
- ESCI 453 Science and Management of Contaminated Sites
- ESCI 454 Science, Management and Outreach of Contaminated Sites
- ESCI 460 Contaminant Fate and Transport (continues on its page)
- ESCI 560 Contaminant Fate and Transport
ESCI 443 Ecological Images
ESCI 497A Riparian Conservation

Syllabi and course websites

None listed yet.

Suggest a syllabus link

Instructors

Instructor	Sections	Terms
Reidy Liermann, Catherine	8	Winter 2022 to Winter 2026
Shaw, Erika	3	Spring 2022 to Fall 2024
Flower, Aquila	1	Winter 2024
Ladd, Tanika	1	Fall 2026
Longtine, Mark	1	Spring 2026
Taylor, Audrey	1	Fall 2025
Wangsness, Emily	1	Spring 2027

Every offering in the listed terms (16 sections)

Term	Sec	CRN	Type	Meets	Instructor	Enrolled	Delivery
Spring 2027	0	23653	Lecture	TR 12:00pm-1:50pm · ES 413	Wangsness, Emily	0/25	Face to Face Instruction
Fall 2026	0	42383	Lecture	TR 10:00am-11:50am · ES 413	Ladd, Tanika	34/35	Face to Face Instruction
Spring 2026	0	23365	Lecture	MWF 2:30pm-3:50pm · ES 100	Longtine, Mark	36/35	Face to Face Instruction
Winter 2026	9Z1	13902	Lecture	T 5:00pm-7:50pm · O-PT	Reidy Liermann, Catherine	0/5	Distance Instr-OnLine
Winter 2026	91G	13903	Lecture	T 5:00pm-7:50pm · O-PL	Reidy Liermann, Catherine	9/13	Distance Instr-OnLine
Fall 2025	0	42704	Lecture	TR 10:00am-11:50am · ES 100	Taylor, Audrey	34/55	Face to Face Instruction
Fall 2024	0	43561	Lecture	TR 10:00am-11:50am · ES 100	Shaw, Erika	35/55	Face to Face Instruction
Winter 2024	VV1	14183	Lecture	R 5:00pm-7:50pm · O-EV	Reidy Liermann, Catherine	3/10	Distance Instr-OnLine
Winter 2024	9Z1	14184	Lecture	R 5:00pm-7:50pm · O-PT	Reidy Liermann, Catherine	2/10	Face to Face Instruction
Winter 2024	91G	14185	Lecture	R 5:00pm-7:50pm · O-PL	Reidy Liermann, Catherine	3/10	Face to Face Instruction
Winter 2024	0	13635	Lecture	TR 10:00am-11:50am · ES 100	Flower, Aquila	20/20	Face to Face Instruction
Spring 2023	01	22858	Lecture	TR 2:00pm-3:50pm · ES 100	Shaw, Erika	66/70	Face to Face Instruction
Spring 2022	01 Introduction to Global Change	23405	Lecture	T 10:00am-11:15am · ES 100 TBA · ONLINE ASNC	Shaw, Erika	44/75	Hybrid
Winter 2022	VV1 Introduction to Global Change	14286	Lecture	T 5:00pm-6:50pm · O-EV	Reidy Liermann, Catherine	9/12	Distance Instr-OnLine
Winter 2022	9Z1 Introduction to Global Change	14296	Lecture	T 5:00pm-6:50pm · O-PT	Reidy Liermann, Catherine	2/2	Distance Instr-OnLine
Winter 2022	91G Introduction to Global Change	14290	Lecture	T 5:00pm-6:50pm · O-PL	Reidy Liermann, Catherine	14/12	Distance Instr-OnLine