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The Climate Change Leadership program is designed to prepare you for a meaningful career at the forefront of climate solutions. Fully online and accessible to learners from all academic and professional backgrounds, this thirty-four (34) credit program provides the skills and interdisciplinary knowledge you need to drive impactful change.

The Masters of Climate Change Leadership (CCL) is an online MS degree program. This is a thirty-four (34) credit hour applied and interdisciplinary graduate degree program, designed for students with or without an environmental policy or science background. Students may complete the coursework for the program in two and a half (2.5) academic years, taking one (1) course during each seven (7) week term and one (1) during each fourteen (14) week term, or on an accelerated schedule by increasing the number of courses taken per term.

Program-Specific Electives

MINIMUM GRADE POINT AVERAGE

Matriculated graduate students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (B) or better. Failure to do so will result in academic probation and possible termination from the program. Any student receiving a grade below B- on any individual course has failed that course must re-enroll and repeat the course to achieve a grade of B- or better. Students receiving a grade of F in any course will be immediately placed on academic probation. Any student who receives a grade of F in two (2) or more courses is dismissed from the program.

GRADUATION

Candidates must fulfill all program requirements and are required to earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 to be eligible to graduate. All students must file an Application to Graduate with the registrar’s office via 91Ö±²¥ÊÓƵCompass. Please visit the Office of the Registrar website for complete instructions and the answers to frequently asked questions.

Attendance Policy

Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Sunday at 11:59 p.m. ET of the first week of the A term and B term, and Friday at 11:59 pm ET of the second week of the AB term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean’s Office.

University Withdrawal

Matriculated students intending to withdraw from the University must complete the University Withdrawal and LOA Request form (PDF) online or at the University Registrar’s Office. The form requires signatures from designated academic and administrative personnel.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE (ACADEMIC STOP OUT)

Students may stop-out of their program for up to two (2) semesters. Students need to coordinate stop-outs in advance with their assigned Enrollment and Retention Counselor, and stop-out time is considered part of the time allotted to complete the academic program. Application for readmission is not necessary if the student returns as planned. However, the student who does not return at the specified time or who exceeds two (2) semesters of stop out will be administratively withdrawn and will be subject to readmission procedures. Readmitted students are subject to the re-admittance term’s catalog (this may mean that policies and/or program requirements have been changed or updated since previous admission, and should be reviewed for potential impact on degree requirements, time to complete the degree, and degree planning).

Note: It is the responsibility of the student to contact the Enrollment and Retention Counselor and Student Financial Services to indicate a change of plans. Stop-out time can affect financial aid eligibility and repayment.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY

The 91Ö±²¥ÊÓƵ values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
• Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
• Action that destroys or alters the work of another student.
• Multiple submission of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one (1) course without permission of each instructor.
• Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.

Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the dean, whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in The College of Graduate and Professional Studies Student Handbook.

Student Access Center

The Student Access Center works to ensure that the University promotes respect for individual differences and that no person who meets the academic and technical standards needed for admission and continued enrollment at 91Ö±²¥ÊÓƵis denied benefits or subjected to discrimination due to a disability. Toward this end, and in conjunction with federal and state laws, the University provides reasonable accommodations for qualified students.

Experiential Learning

The CCL program does not grant academic credit for life experiences or previous work experience.

1. Appraise the complexities of climate change and the associated systematic impact to the environment, public health, and business at regional and global scales.
2. Evaluate the issues, sustainability challenges, opportunities, and natural and social-ecological foundations of interdisciplinary work that is at the heart of climate change.
3. Apply a systematic and scientific approach in examining the complex facets of climate change.
4. Demonstrate team-based interdisciplinary leadership knowledge, skills, and dispositions in addressing climate challenges and advancing change across diverse sectors.
5. Demonstrate integration of the scientific method, public health principles, and business acumen through a capstone project addressing climate change.

Upon acceptance, students may apply to transfer up to three (3) course into the Master of Climate Change Leadership program.

To request consideration for transfer credit, a student must provide an official transcript and a course syllabus for each course. Transfer credit is awarded at the discretion of the College of Professional Studies based on specific program details listed below. Requests for approval of transfer credit should be submitted to and will be granted at the discretion of the Program Director.

Transfer courses must:

• Be classified as graduate level.
• Have been taken within five (5) years of application.
• Have been completed with a grade of B or better.
• Be worth three (3) credits.
• Be equivalent to one (1) of the required program courses or an elective course that meets the goals of the student’s education. 

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

• A bachelor’s degree or above from a regionally accredited institution or its equivalent. See International Admissions for details regarding the evaluation of international degrees for grade and degree equivalency.
• Applications are reviewed holistically as a determination of academic readiness. The admissions committee values previous academic performance as indicated on transcripts and considers it as part of the review process.
• Computer with an internet connection, including the hardware and software requirements described in our Technical Requirements. Must also possess sufficient computer skills to navigate the internet as all classes are accessed 100% online.

APPLICATION PROCESS

• Completed online application:
• Goal Statement/Writing Sample.
• Official transcripts reflecting conferral of a bachelor’s degree or above from a regionally accredited institution.

Re-Admission

Students who have been withdrawn from the program for any reason must reapply if they wish to continue their studies. The application procedures, academic policies, and program requirements that are in effect at the time of readmission will apply. Students who re-enroll following withdrawal will have their previous coursework evaluated for applicability to the existing academic requirements. Coursework that is more than five (5) years old may not be accepted for credit in the program.

Students who have been administratively withdrawn from the program may petition for readmission through the reapplication process. The application essay must provide a justification for re-admission that addresses how past issues have been resolved and a plan for the successful completion of the program.

Note: Transcripts for any coursework appearing as transfer credit on the transcript of the conferred degree can be waived if the coursework is unrelated to the degree being sought. The program admissions committee defines all coursework as not eligible for waiver.

PROCEDURES AND POLICIES

• Applications for admission are accepted through UNE’s online application only. Detailed instructions are included in the online application.
• Official transcripts, as well as other documents to support the application, must be submitted to the College of Professional Studies, either electronically or sent to 716 Stevens Ave, Portland, ME, 04103.
• International applicants and applicants with international degrees must have their transcripts evaluated for degree and grade equivalency to that of a regionally accredited US institution. 

International Admissions.

• All applicants to 91Ö±²¥ÊÓƵmust be able to understand and communicate in English to be admitted to the university. 91Ö±²¥ÊÓƵaccepts several methods of English Proficiency, see International Admissions.
• If an applicant cannot prove English Proficiency in another way, scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) are required and must be submitted as a part of the completed application.
• All materials submitted as part of the application become the property of 91Ö±²¥ÊÓƵand will not be returned or released to anyone, including the applicant. This policy includes letters of reference, primary and secondary applications, personal statements, transcripts, and other supporting materials.

POLICY EXCEPTIONS

The CCL Admissions Committee in collaboration with the College of Professional Studies, reserves the right to make exceptions to the admissions criteria and to make changes or exceptions to policies and procedures, on a case-by-case basis, when it deems such a decision is necessary and appropriate.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees for subsequent years may vary. Other expenses include books and housing. For more information regarding tuition and fees, please consult the Financial Information section of this catalog.