Pop into Climate and AI This Fall with One-Credit Online Courses

Over the course of seven weeks, Stony Brook faculty will offer students introductions to two hot-button issues: climate change and artificial intelligence.

The one-credit asynchronous online courses will give students different perspectives on the two issues through academic modules led by university faculty from different disciplines.

Enrollment is open now for:

• CIS 101 Pop-Up: Climate Change and You
• CIS 102 Pop-Up: AI and You

Climate Change and You runs the first half of the semester, August 25 to October 10.

AI and You runs the second half, October 15 to December 8.

Students must enroll in one or both courses before the add/drop deadline, 4 pm Monday, September 8. They can sign up via SOLAR.

"These courses represent a truly interdisciplinary approach to complex issues that are shaping and will continue to shape lives and societies around the world and individual and global interactions," said Amy Cook, vice provost for academic affairs and professor of English. "Students will gain a multifaceted understanding of these complex issues from experts on our faculty from diverse disciplines: health, social and natural sciences, engineering, the arts, and the humanities."

The climate course was introduced as the first pop-up course in the Spring 2025 semester. Popular with students, it quickly reached its enrollment cap of 50 undergraduates.

"Last spring was our pilot phase, where we sought to gauge student interest in these kinds of course offerings and work with faculty experts to build and refine modules offered rewarding learning experiences that scaffolded well with the other parts of the course," said Kevin Reed, associate provost for climate and sustainability programming and professor at the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, who was the lead instructor of the spring climate course. "We received positive feedback from our students and used that feedback and other metrics to refine the course, and to inform the design of the AI pop-up."

Both courses were developed with support from the instructional design experts in the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.

Students in CIS 101: Climate Change and You will explore the science, politics, ethics in decision-making and impact on individuals.

In addition to a brief history, CIS 102: AI and You will explore how AI technology is impacting digital literacy, art and creativity, society, climate and energy, health, and education. Students in the course will learn about AI's potential and limitations as well as strategies for using AI tools effectively.