Master of Climate Change (MCC)

The program information below was valid for the spring 2022 term (May 1, 2022 - August 31, 2022). This is the archived version; the most up-to-date program information is available through the current Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

The Graduate Studies Academic Calendar is updated 3 times per year, at the start of each academic term (January 1, May 1, September 1). Graduate Studies Academic Calendars from previous terms can be found in the archives.

Students are responsible for reviewing the general information and regulations section of the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

Program information

  • Admit term(s) 
    • Fall
  • Delivery mode 
    • On-campus
  • Length of program 
    • Full-time: 3 terms (12 months)
    • Part-time: 8 terms (32 months)
  • Program type 
    • Master's
    • Professional
  • Registration option(s) 
    • Full-time
    • Part-time
  • Study option(s) 

Admission requirements

  • Minimum requirements 
    • Students must have completed a four‐year honours Bachelor degree (or equivalent) in a humanities, social science, health, engineering, science, or business discipline with an overall average of at least 75% in the final 20 courses (or last 2 years).
    • In some instances, students with a three‐year degree are accepted into a "qualifying period" whereby they take one or two terms of prescribed undergraduate courses and then, if grades on these are high enough (usually 75%), the student is allowed to proceed into the MCC program. Please contact the Department Coordinator for more information on qualifying years.
  • Application materials 
    • Résumé
    • Supplementary information form
    • Transcript(s)
  • References 
    • Number of references:  3
    • Type of references: 

      normally from academic sources, but may be from professional sources.
  • English language proficiency (ELP) (if applicable)

Degree requirements

    Master's Research Paper option:

  • Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)
  • Courses 
    • Students must successfully complete the following graduate level courses (0.50 unit weight per course):
    • 3 required courses:
      • GEMCC 601 Climate Change: Physical Science Basis
      • GEMCC 602 Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation
      • GEMCC 603 Climate Change Mitigation
    • 2 climate change electives:
      • Students are able to tailor their program of study based on their individual interests by completing 2 climate change designated electives which can be chosen from, but are not limited to, the following list. The availability of climate change designated electives varies year‐to‐year, including newly approved courses.
        • GEMCC 610 Climate Prediction, Modeling and Scenarios
        • GEMCC 620 Climate Data and Analytics
        • GEMCC 622 Climate Change, Natural Hazards and Disaster Risk Reduction
        • GEMCC 630 Land Use and the Carbon Cycle
        • GEMCC 640 Climate Change Governance: From Global Treaties to Local Innovation
        • GEMCC 644 Climate Resilient Canadians and Health Systems
        • GEMCC 650 Business and Climate Change
        • GEMCC 652 Climate Change and Community Planning
        • GEMCC 660 Carbon Accounting and Management
        • GEMCC 690 Climate Change Projects
    • 2 open electives chosen from the climate change designated electives list, partnering programs within the Faculty of Environment (that are willing to allow the student to enroll in a course), and graduate programs offered by other Faculties (that are willing to allow the student to enroll in a course).
    • Failure to maintain a course average of at least 75% will result in an automatic review of the student's status in the program. The review committee will consist of the Program Director and the Graduate Officer. The review committee may require that the student withdraw from the program.
  • Link(s) to courses
  • Master’s Research Paper
    • The Master's Research Paper will normally be completed in the Spring (third) term. Each student undertaking the research paper option will identify a topic and a suitable advisor in the first two terms in the program. The student will develop a research proposal for approval by their advisor. The research paper should be approximately 12,000 words/50 pages in length. The research paper is evaluated by the advisor and one reader designated by the Program Director.

    Coursework option:

  • Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)
  • Courses 
    • Students must successfully complete the following graduate level courses (0.50 unit weight per course):
    • 3 required courses:
      • GEMCC 601 Climate Change: Physical Science Basis
      • GEMCC 602 Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation
      • GEMCC 603 Climate Change Mitigation
    • 2 climate change electives:
      • Students are able to tailor their program of study based on their individual interests by completing 2 climate change designated electives which can be chosen from, but are not limited to, the following list. The availability of climate change designated electives varies year‐to‐year, including newly approved courses.
        • GEMCC 610 Climate Prediction, Modeling and Scenarios
        • GEMCC 620 Climate Data and Analytics
        • GEMCC 622 Climate Change, Natural Hazards and Disaster Risk Reduction
        • GEMCC 630 Land Use and the Carbon Cycle
        • GEMCC 640 Climate Change Governance: From Global Treaties to Local Innovation
        • GEMCC 644 Climate Resilient Canadians and Health Systems
        • GEMCC 650 Business and Climate Change
        • GEMCC 652 Climate Change and Community Planning
        • GEMCC 660 Carbon Accounting and Management
        • GEMCC 690 Climate Change Projects
    • 2 open electives chosen from the climate change designated electives list, partnering programs within the Faculty of Environment (that are willing to allow the student to enroll in a course), and graduate programs offered by other Faculties (that are willing to allow the student to enroll in a course).
    • Failure to maintain a course average of 75% or better results in an automatic review of the student's status in the program. The review committee will consist of the Program Director and the Graduate Officer. The review committee may require that the student withdraw from the program.
  • Link(s) to courses
  • Graduate Studies Practicum
    • A research or policy/planning focused internship/Graduate Studies Practicum is available for students to integrate theoretical and practical knowledge and experience they gain and reflect upon it in a written report that will be evaluated by the Program Director. Requests to undertake the four‐month internship must be approved by the Program Director. It is the student’s responsibility to identify potential organizations with which to undertake their internship. Students will prepare an internship proposal, outlining how the work of the organization relates to the Master of Climate Change program and the professional experience sought through the internship. A letter of support from the organization indicating the role and location of the internship and willingness of the direct supervisor to mentor the intern will be submitted to the Program Director. Upon completion of the internship, the student will submit a written report (no more than 25 pages) to the Program Director that summarizes the work experience gained (day to day activities, specific projects and key accomplishments) and reflects on linkage to the program curriculum and professional development goals.
Department of Geography and Environmental Management website
Master of Climate Change (MCC) future students program page