What are the dates of the course?
This course is self-paced – you can enroll anytime, and complete the course materials any time before August 31, 2022.
Are there due dates for the assignments?
For self-paced courses, edX suggests due dates for assignments and exams as a way to help you stay on track. These due dates are suggestions to help you plan and pace your studies. You can submit assignments or exams any time up until the final end date of the course. Learn more about edX suggested due dates here.
If you see an assignment you have not completed is Past Due, or you see a message that you have missed a suggested deadline on the course homepage or Dates tab, you can shift your due dates. You can shift your due dates using the Shift due dates button on the course homepage or Dates tab. This will not affect any of the progress you have made in the course so far.
I see that all the due dates are set in UTC. What is UTC?
All of the due dates and times are presented in UTC, which is Coordinated Universal Time, set equivalent to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). To convert the time in UTC to your time zone, please use a time zone converter, such as World Time Server.
How long will this course take?
Though it varies by person, this course should take 4-6 hours of work per module. This includes watching all of the video chapters for the module, completing the chapter questions, doing the accompanying readings and the Discussion Activities.
How can I assess my learning?
This course contains video chapter questions, discussion activities, and a Final Reflection. Verified learners also have access to a midterm exam, as well as an extra step for the Final Reflection.
VERIFIED LEARNERS: the midterm exam counts for 50% of your final grade, and the Final Reflection counts for the other 50%. You must pass with a 70% or above to receive your Verified Certificate.
Whether or not you are pursuing a certificate, you are encouraged to complete all of the assessments, as they are your opportunity to gauge how well you understand the material. Each video chapter will have a series of corresponding comprehension questions. You will have two attempts at each question if it has multiple answers, and only one attempt if the question has only two answers or is true/false. Discussion activities ask you to engage with the content in a new way, and give you the chance to discuss it with your fellow learners.
Visit the "Assessments and Grading" page for more information.
Am I eligible for a certificate?
In order to be eligible to purchase a Verified Certificate signed by Prof. Sachs, you will need a 70% average in the class. You can decide to purchase a Verified Certificate up to 10 days from the close of the course.
Is this course free?
Yes. There is no course fee associated with taking this course, and it is open to all. There is a fee, however, associated with the purchase of a Verified Certificate. EdX offers financial assistance to those who qualify. To apply for financial assistance to purchase a Verified Certificate, complete the edX Financial Assistance Application.
What resources will I need for this class?
A strong internet connection will be helpful, but we will try to ensure materials are available for slower bandwidths as well. The course is optimized to run on the most recent versions of most browsers, and Google Chrome and Safari have been shown to work the best with the platform. No other computer programs or books are necessary. All the readings will be provided as links.
What kind of background do I need for this course? Do I need a climate science background?
The course is open to all and is accessible to students without prior background or experience in the topics; you do not need to have studied energy or climate beforehand. However the content within the course is dense and complex, structured at a higher level, so we expect most of our students to be at an undergraduate or master's level.
Can I take this class for university credit?
No. While we encourage any professors to incorporate this material into their own courses, you cannot take this course on its own for university credit.
How can I engage with the course beyond the chapter videos, readings, and assessments?
Since this course is being offered in a self-paced format, the SDG Academy course team will not be responding to questions and facilitating discussion on the Discussion Boards. However, the Boards will be still be an open space, so we encourage you to use it to post thoughts, ask questions, and engage in discussion with fellow students.
Who do I contact with questions?
For any further communication and questions about the course, email us at courses@sdgacademy.org. Since this email is used for multiple courses, please specify that you are inquiring about the “Climate Action” course. For technical questions about the platform, please visit the edX Help Center.