New Mathematics and Climate Joint Major

Recognizing that the global climate crisis demands increasingly sophisticated quantitative tools, Harvey Mudd College has announced the launch of a new joint major in mathematics and climate. Developed in collaboration with the College’s Hixon Center for Climate and the Environment, the interdisciplinary program aims to equip the next generation of STEM leaders with the mathematical fluency required to model, analyze and address the complexities of a changing planet.

“The changes in the Earth’s climate are foremost in many of our students’ minds, so it is important that the Center’s curricular offerings continue to grow to meet their needs,” says Tom Donnelly, Hixon Center director. “We will educate our students about the science, impact and mitigation of climate change, and help to prepare them for a future in which they will make critical contributions to addressing its implications for humanity. I am particularly thrilled that we have climate and mathematics professor Robert Sanchez here to anchor the new joint major.”

Mathematical models underpin both our understanding of global climate change and the assessment of potential paths forward. By blending rigorous mathematical theory with comprehensive climate science, the joint major will train students to translate complex data into actionable environmental solutions. Graduates of the program will be well-prepared to uphold the College’s mission as they develop skills, confidence and intention in applying advanced mathematical theory to understand and address one of the most important interdisciplinary problems of our time.

Distinct from traditional, specialized atmospheric and oceanic dynamics programs, the curriculum is designed to help students develop a holistic understanding of climate change. The coursework places a heavy emphasis on the intricate interactions within and between physical and human systems.

The program’s design is the result of extensive conversations with HMC faculty, alumni, leaders in climate science, and experts in climate change communication. These external consultations yielded a consistent recommendation: Train students deeply across both disciplines while ensuring they maintain a broad view of societal impact.

Students pursuing the joint major will complete foundational coursework in discrete mathematics, statistics, differential equations, analysis and computational mathematics. To tailor the major to their specific career paths, students will select advanced math electives such as statistical theory, partial differential equations, dynamical systems or operations research.

Because the current Core curriculum does not fully prepare all students for advanced climate dynamics, the major builds a deliberate bridge to climate literacy. Students will navigate a curated menu of climate courses that fulfill requirements across multiple dimensions of climate and environmental science, alongside critical foundational training in thermodynamics.

“We are super excited for students to participate in this major,” says Sanchez. “Each component of the joint major has significant depth, so students will be well prepared for careers in climate modeling, environmental risk analysis, data science and operations research. We also intentionally kept the major electives flexible so that students could explore how math is applied to fields ranging from oceanography to ecology.”

The mathematics and climate program expands Harvey Mudd’s growing portfolio of interdisciplinary environmental degrees. It joins the College’s other climate-related joint majors: chemistry and climate, biology and climate, computer science and climate.