Pursue a Master of Science in Applied Climate Studies

Design your career to make an impact on climate change.

Learn over 4 semesters of online courses, applied experiences and residencies
Conduct team-based climate research for organizational partners in various sectors
Join us for three 12-day on-campus residencies
Engage with and explore climate solutions on our 1,000+ acre working landscape

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“Approach climate problems with an interdisciplinary perspective and develop holistic and applied solutions — instead of relying solely on technological fixes.”
Dr. Joshua Arnold, Chair of the Environmental Studies department

“Warren Wilson College’s emphasis on environmental stewardship and global citizenship deepened my understanding of the connection between human rights and the natural environment, guiding me to pursue solutions at the intersection of these critical areas.”
Ruby Chorbajian ’03, Head of Development at the Climate Group in London, UK

A degree that empowers you to take action

At Warren Wilson College, the Master of Science in Applied Climate Studies is designed to give you the skills you need to make a meaningful impact on climate change on your terms. Whether that’s through policy, risk mitigation, or a leadership role at a climate organization, our program will position you to take confident action.

Dr. Keith McDade, Director of the Master of Science in Applied Climate Studies program looks up from his computer and smiles at a group of students.

Develop practical skills that give you career flexibility

Our program is designed to give you practical skills and real-world experience. Improve your skills in story-telling, data analysis and communication, stakeholder engagement, and project management that can be applied in a wide range of workplaces and community settings aiming to address climate change.

Expand your career opportunities

The world needs committed climate professionals now more than ever. Our program gives you the flexibility to lead change via a variety of career pathways, including:

Resilience Officer
Energy Manager
Climate Data Analyst
Sustainability Coordinator
Project Coordinator, Climate
Climate Program Director
Associate, Climate Programs
Climate Risk Team Member
Climate Communications Specialist
And Many Other Emerging Opportunities

This is more than a program. It’s a community.

Meet some of the team

This is a moment of great consequence–the world needs an increasing number of committed climate professionals to effectively lead change toward a better future. We can meet this moment and take effective action through a dedicated community of workforce-ready learners and do-ers on a journey to building a better world.

Dr. Keith McDade

Director of the MACS Program and Professor of Environmental Studies

As a geographer, I often find my research and teaching at the intersection of the social and natural sciences. Students in my courses on geographic information systems focus on data analysis and visualization of geodata, much of which is either directly or indirectly related to climate change.

Dr. David Abernathy

Professor of Global Studies and Data Science

My work focuses on gender, disaster, and climate change, especially in the global context. I look at the intersection of gender justice and climate justice related topics.

Dr. Siti Kusujiarti

Professor of Sociology

The climate crisis is also an ethical crisis. As a teacher of ethics, I try to help students investigate the ethical character of that crisis.

Dr. Todd May

Nielsen Professor of the Humanities, Philosophy

Law and policy may not be sexy, but they’re incredibly important for climate work, from the grassroots community scale to the global.

Dr. Amy Knisley

Professor of Environmental Studies, Associate Academic Dean

In the field of sustainable agriculture everything we do is focused on climate adaptation and making our agricultural systems and farmers more resilient.

Dr. Joshua Arnold

Assistant Professor of Sustainable Agriculture

Economics provides a lens to approach complex collective action problems, such as the impacts of climate change.

Jack Igelman, MS

Instructor of Economics

Understanding climate change impacts on Earth’s ecosystems has and will continue to play a key role in helping humanity address the climate crisis. As an ecologist, I work with students to employ a range of field, genetic, and statistical tools to characterize these impacts. Our work informs ongoing efforts to conserve biodiversity and adapt to changing environmental conditions.

Dr. Alisa Hove

Associate Professor of Biology

I work with materials that are applicable in renewable energy technologies, applying computational chemistry techniques to advance the understanding and design of functional materials used in wind turbines, solar cell, fuel cell, hydrogen generation, waste heat recovery, and digital devices.

Dr. Yuemei Zhang

Assistant Professor of Chemistry

Why Warren Wilson College?

Warren Wilson College sits on the edge of Asheville, North Carolina, affectionately known as Climate City. Surrounded by 1.6 million acres of national forests, Asheville is home to some of the oldest rivers and most biodiverse lands in the world, and our campus is responsibly co-existing in this ecology.

Warren Wilson boasts a decades-long legacy of leadership in climate change action, stewardship of the land, and strong environmental programs. We are a proud charter signatory of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, have divested 100% from fossil fuel companies in our endowments, have a mobile microgrid and electric tractors powered by solar PV, and have been honored by Sierra Magazine, the National Wildlife Federation, and the Princeton Review for our sustainability efforts.

But the quality of education we provide hinges on more than our accolades. The inclusive, justice-minded community we’ve built makes learning accessible and meaningful. Our students feel like they belong, not only in this beautiful place but in our dynamic community.

Learn from climate professionals, experts and activists

Each member of our faculty has a profound connection to their field of study. From Dr. David Abernathy’s applied climate work in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and data analysis at the intersection of the social and natural sciences to Dr. Siti Kusujiarti’s deep commitment to exploring the intersection of gender justice and climate justice, experiences drive the pursuit of both teaching and learning. At Warren Wilson, we challenge students to bring their whole selves to their studies. This degree is no exception.

Position yourself as a leader

Through a number of hands-on projects, you’ll develop career-ready skills. Become a leader capable of planning, implementing, and managing effective, just, and equitable climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.

Apply an enhanced understanding of climate science to address causes and inform strategies
Develop skills and understanding related to climate data, society, policy, communication, governance and decision making
Gain practical experience in leadership, management, and data science tools to use in private, public and non-profit sectors

Two students are paying attention to the professor speaking in a classroom.

The Center for Working Lands

Our 1000-acre campus of farm, forest, garden, and green spaces offers you the chance to explore and experiment with cutting-edge land management practices that can both enhance decarbonization efforts and address climate resilience. Students in the Applied Climate Studies (MACS) program will have multiple opportunities to engage with faculty, staff, and other students on experiments, demonstrations, and exploration of practices on our working lands–and then bring these ideas and new understandings into the world to more effectively address climate change.

Learn More

A student drives an Electric Tractor through a pasture with a beautiful mountain range in the background.

The difference you make starts here

As we build our premiere cohort, we are committed to enrolling students who will feel at-home and passionate about the program. To get started, one of our program associates will chat with you personally about your goals and our program, so you can make a confident decision about beginning your Master of Science in Applied Climate Studies with our 12-day Summer Residency in 2025.

We can’t wait to meet you.

Learn More

Talk with a program associate

Let’s see if we’re a good fit

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