I’m Kayla. I went to UC San Diego and had to do the climate stuff folks keep talking about. Some call it the “climate change requirement.” For me, it sat inside my college’s general ed classes and one big Scripps course. I thought it would be dry. It wasn’t. It was a lot. But also, pretty real.
Let me explain.
What I actually took (and finished)
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Seventh College Synthesis (SYN 1–3): Seventh’s theme is “A Changing Planet.” We read, wrote, argued, and built projects about climate and community. My SYN 2 group used ArcGIS StoryMaps to show sea-level rise in Mission Beach. We layered king tide photos over a 2050 sea-level map. We even timed a photo walk at La Jolla Shores during a king tide weekend. Wind in my face, phone in a zip bag, sand in my shoes. Worth it.
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SIO 109: Bending the Curve (at Scripps): Big lecture, bigger topic. Each week we tested a real solution. One lab had us pull our SDG&E “Green Button” energy data and spot the vampire loads in our apartments. I found my game console pulling power all night. Another unit used the En-ROADS simulator. We tested carbon taxes, clean power, and even methane rules. Our final was a two-page memo to a San Diego City Council office on building electrification. Short, clear, no fluff. I liked that.
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A small add-on: In SYN 3, we did a waste audit by Price Center. Gloves, masks, the whole deal. We weighed compost, landfill, and recycling. The hot sauce packets… so many. After that, I actually used the Triton2Go reusables more. Funny how a sticky bin can change you.
The good stuff that stuck
- It felt local. King tides at La Jolla. Pier data from Scripps. Heat risk maps for City Heights. This wasn’t “somewhere else.” It was us.
- Not just facts—choices. En-ROADS let us test what really cuts warming. Carbon tax alone? Not enough. Methane plus clean power plus forests? Much better.
- Hands-on wins. Measuring pH on the Scripps Pier, even as the fog rolled in, beat any slide deck.
- Guest voices mattered. We had a Port of San Diego staffer talk about sea-level rise and insurance. A food recovery lead from HDH walked us through Leanpath data. Real people. Real jobs.
- Curious how high-profile climate talks can reshape your outlook? Read one student’s recap of a campus speaker series in “I Sat, I Listened, I Felt: My Take on Climate Change Speakers.” (https://ourvoices.net/i-sat-i-listened-i-felt-my-take-on-climate-change-speakers/)
What bugged me (because nothing’s perfect)
- Group work chaos. Someone always ghosts. Someone else carries. We made team contracts in Canvas, but still. If you’re craving connections that have nothing to do with grades or Canvas notifications, you could check out a no-pressure adult meetup site like MeetNFuck—it lets local adults match quickly for casual dates, a lighthearted way to socialize when the group-project stress peaks.
- Repeats happen. I heard the Keeling Curve story three times across classes. It’s iconic, sure. But I got it the first time.
- Big lectures feel cold. SIO 109 was huge. Great content, but the back row felt like an airport lounge.
- Planning a weekend away from San Diego? If you end up on the East Coast and crave a no-frills way to meet locals, check out the personals guide at Doublelist Pittsfield—it walks you through setting up a listing, staying safe, and filtering replies so you spend less time scrolling and more time actually meeting people.
How it changed my day-to-day
I started using a switchable power strip. I checked my thermostat at night. I took the Blue Line trolley to UTC twice a week. I even bought a used e-bike off the UCSD Free & For Sale group and rode to Scripps on calm mornings. On windy days, nope—I rode the bus. Small changes add up, but also, I’m not a hero. I still forget my reusable cup. And yes, I still eat late-night fries.
So… is the “requirement” worth it?
Short answer: Yes, mostly.
Longer take: At UCSD, the climate piece isn’t just one rule. It shows up in your college (like Seventh’s SYN classes) and in popular courses like SIO 109. Some majors add a sustainability course, too. People call it a requirement because you can’t dodge the topic. And honestly, you shouldn’t.
Students who want to see how other campuses tackle climate action can browse the stories on Our Voices.
If you like real-world work, you’ll enjoy it. If you hate group projects, brace yourself.
For an extended, syllabus-by-syllabus walkthrough of the coursework—including extra readings and tools—check out this deeper dive on UCSD’s climate requirement. (https://ourvoices.net/ucsds-climate-change-requirement-my-honest-take/)
Real examples that helped me learn
- Policy memo: I wrote to a San Diego council office about heat pumps in rentals. Two pages. Clear ask. I cited local rebate numbers and asthma rates.
- Mapping lab: We used Cal-Adapt to show future heat days around El Cajon. Our map made the lack of tree cover obvious. Hard to unsee.
- Behavior trial: I ran a two-week test at home—plant-forward dinners, no beef. I tracked cost and protein. Black beans won. My roommate still grilled carne asada. We both lived.
Little tips I wish I’d known
- Pick SYN sections with field visits. King tide walks teach fast.
- In big lectures, sit front-middle. You’ll ask one question and stay awake.
- Set roles early for group work. Scheduler, writer, map lead, editor. Saves friendships.
- Borrow software from campus (ArcGIS, MATLAB) instead of paying. It’s free for students.
- For SIO 109, keep a one-page “fact sheet” you update weekly. It makes the final memo easy.
Pros and cons, plain and simple
- Pros: Local focus, hands-on labs, real tools, strong writing practice.
- Cons: Heavy group work, repeats across classes, huge lectures.
My bottom line
I’ll give UCSD’s climate requirement feel a solid 4 out of 5. It made me look at my city, not just a chart. It pushed me, sometimes too hard, but mostly in a good way. And you know what? I still think about those king tides when I walk the beach. The water doesn’t argue. It just keeps coming.