A GUIDE TO EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AT COLUMBIAUNIVERSITY
OFFICE OF ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH PROGRAMS
THE EARTH INSTITUTE AT COLUMBIAUNIVERSITY
September 2008
Overview
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS
Undergraduate Special Concentration in Sustainable Development
B.A. Earth and Environmental Sciences
B.A., Concentration and Post-baccalaureate – Environmental Biology
Post-baccalaureate Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology
B.S. Earth and Environmental Engineering
B.A. Environmental Biology (Barnard)
B.A. Environmental Science (Barnard)
B.A. Environmental Policy (Barnard)
Summer Ecosystem Experiences for Undergraduates (SEE-U)
MASTERS PROGRAMS
M.A. Conservation Biology
M.A. / M.S. Earth and Environmental Science Journalism
M.S. Earth Resources Engineering
M.A. Climate and Society
M.P.H. Environmental Health Sciences
M.P.A. Environmental Science & Policy
M.P.A. in Development Practice
M.I.A. / M.P.A. Environmental Policy Studies
M.I.A. / M.P.A. International Energy Management and Policy
DOCTORAL PROGRAMS
Ph.D. Program in Sustainable Development
Ph.D. Earth and Environmental Engineering
Ph.D. Earth and Environmental Sciences
Ph.D. Atmospheric and Planetary Science (APS)
Ph.D. Environmental Health Sciences
Ph.D Programs, Department of Ecology Evolution and Environmental Biology (E3B)
Ph.D. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Ph.D. Evolutionary Primatology
CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS
Environmental Policy Certificate
Conservation Biology Certificate
The Evening Certificate in Conservation Biology for Professionals
FELLOWSHIPS
The Marie Tharp Visiting Fellowship
OTHER GRADUATE CREDIT-BEARING PROGRAMS
Teacher Training Institute
Overview
ColumbiaUniversity and its affiliates offer an array of varied undergraduate, masters, and doctoral programs in the field of environmental studies and sustainable development. Currently, there are over twenty academic programs that are associated with the Earth Institute that represent one of the largest collections of environmental education programs in the world.
This guide provides a brief overview of all of the educational programs at Columbia that address environmental and sustainable development issues. The overview of each program contains a brief description of the program, information about its admission and/or academic requirements, and a list of connected faculty. All of the information about the academic programs was obtained from departmental websites and/or from the programs’ viewbooks.
Columbia undergraduates who are interested in sustainable development and environmental studies have the option of pursuing a:
- Special Concentration in Sustainable Development
- B.A. in Earth Science
- B.A. in Environmental Science
- B.A. in Environmental Biology
- B.S. in Earth and Environmental Engineering
Students who already have a Bachelors degree can pursue a:
- Post-baccalaureate in Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology
Barnard undergraduates can obtain a:
- B.A. in Environmental Science
- B.A. in Environmental Biology
- B.A. in Environmental Policy
Graduate students interested in continuing their education in environment or sustainable development may choose from the following eight master degrees:
- M.P.A. in Environmental Science and Policy
- M.P.H. in Environmental Health Sciences
- M.I.A. in Environmental Policy
- M.I.A. in International Energy Management and Policy
- M.P.A. in Environmental Policy
- M.P.A. in International Energy Management and Policy
- M.A. in Climate and Society
- M.A. in Conservation Biology
- M.A./M.S. in Earth and Environmental Science Journalism
- M.S. in Earth Resources Engineering
Graduate students may also obtain a certificate in Environmental Policy or Conservation Biology.
Those interested in pursuing a doctoral degree in Earth and Environmental Science or sustainable development will find a series of multidisciplinary Ph.D. program options offered by the university. Doctoral programs currently offered include:
- Ph.D. in Sustainable Development
- Ph.D. Eng.Sc.D in Earth and Environmental Engineering
- Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Science
- Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
- Ph.D. in Evolutionary Primatology
- Dr.P.H., Ph.D. in Environmental Health Sciences
- Ph.D. in Atmospheric and Planetary Science
The Earth Institute, through its Office of Academic and Research Programs, works to assist these schools and departments, as well as to stimulate interaction among students and faculty. This is accomplished through the following activities:
- A campus-wide student advisory council and research assistant program
- An intern program in units of the Earth Institute
- A small research project travel grant program
- A program to support field trips in environmental courses.
- Periodic meetings of academic program directors and department chairs
- Environmental career fairs
- Open houses for prospective students
- Co-curricular programming
- Administrative support for start-up programs
- Helping maintain the education pages of the EI website
ColumbiaUniversity is in the process of building new environmental and sustainable development education programs and adding environmental and sustainable development education to existing programs. Through the Earth Institute, a wide range of conferences, lectures and seminars are presented each year on issues related to environmental science, policy and sustainable development.
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS
Undergraduate Special Concentrationin Sustainable Development
Kevin Griffin, Interim Program Director – – 845-365-8371
Louise Rosen, Director, Office of Academic and Research Programs at the Earth Institute – – 212-854-3142
The Earth Institute, in collaboration with ColumbiaCollege and the departments of Earth and Environmental Science, Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, International and Public Affairs, and Earth Engineering,offers a Special Concentration in Sustainable Development. The broadest definition of sustainable development is that each generation should be able to meet its material needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainable development signifies the ability of the world to narrow the gap between the rich and the poor, and the ability of all to pursue further progress in overall human well-being. The world as a whole, and each major sub-region, ought to be able to accomplish these goals without causing irreparable harm to ecosystems and the vital services they provide, depleting essential resources, or posing unjustifiable risks to future generations.
Courses of Instruction
For courses of instruction, please see:
Program of study:The Special Concentration in Sustainable Development is not a stand-alone concentration; it is intended to serve as a complement to the disciplinary specialization and methodological training inherent in a concentration or major.
Students wishing to complete a special concentration in sustainable development will work with a program advisor to decide upon course selection and sequencing.
The special concentration will allow students to draw upon classes in a wide range of disciplines including political science, anthropology, environmental science and economics. The courses required for the special concentration are designed to provide Columbia students with an understanding of the theory and practice of sustainable development, provide experience with complex development challenges through direct engagement, and help students imagine and create alternative futures for our rapidly changing world.
Undergraduate Requirements for a Special Concentration in Sustainable Development
Please note: If the course code is followed by an “X”, that course is offered in the Fall 2008 semester. If the course code is followed by a “Y”, that course is offered in the Spring 2009 semester.
Courses: A total of nine courses plus one practicum are required:
- 5 Courses Focusing on Systems (each course for 3-4.5 points)
- Science of Sustainable Development, EESC W2330y
- 1 Course in Science Systems
-EAEE E1100y,A Better Planet by Design
-EEEB W1001x,Biodiversity
-EEEB W2002y,Environmental Biology II
-EESC V1201y,Environment Risks and Disasters
-EESC V2100x, y, Earth’s Environment Systems: Climate
-Summer Ecosystem Experiences for Undergraduates
- 1 Course in Economic Systems
-ECON W1105x, y, Principles of Economics
-ECON W3211y,Intermediate Microeconomics
- SDEV W3300x, Challenges of Sustainable Development
- 1 Systems Elective (choose either a 2nd science systems course or one of the following):
-EESC 1011/1411x, Introduction to Earth Science
-EESC V1003x , Climate and Society: Case Studies
-HIST BC3525x, 20th Century Urbanization
-SOCI V2225x, Globalization: Empirical and Theoretical Elements
Courses not offered in Academic Year 2008-2009:
ANTH V3004, Introduction to Environmental Anthropology
HIST 3424, The Politics of the American Environment 1865-Present
SOCI W3290, Environmental Sociology
- 2 Courses Focusing on Stresses and Solutions (each course for 3 points)
1
-ANTH V3660x, Gender, Culture and Human Rights
-ANTH V3924x,Anthropology and Disaster
-ANTH V3950x, y, Anthropology of Consumption
-CIEE E4163x, Environmental Engineering: Wastewater
-CIEE E4252x, Environmental Engineering
-CIEE E3250y, Hydrosystems Engineering
-CIEE 3255y, Environmental Control and Pollution Reduction Systems
-EAEE E2002x/INAF W4200x, Alternative Energy Resources
-EAEE E3103x, Energy, Minerals, Materials Systems
-EAEE E3901y, Environmental Microbiology
-EAEE E4001x, Industrial Ecology: Earth Resources
-EAEE E4350x, Planning/Management of Urban Hydrologic Systems
-EAEE W4100y, Management & Development of Water Systems
-EAEE E4150y, Air Pollution Prevention and Control
-EAEE E4160y, Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
-ECON V4080x, Globalization, Incomes and Inequality
-ECON G4301x, Economic Growth and Development
-ECON 4321x, Economic Development
-ECON G4421x, Topics on Problems of Emerging Market Economies Seminar **
-ECON W4465x, Gender and Applied Economics
-ECON W4500y, International Trade
-ECON U4737x, Economics of the Environment
-ECON G4527y, Economic Organization and Development of China
-ECON W2257y, The Global Economy
-ECON W4370y, Political Economy
-EEEB W3087y, Conservation Biology
-EEEB W4700x, Race: The Tangled History of a Biological Concept
-EEEB W4122x,Fundamentals of Ecology and Evolution
-EEEB G4130x,Restoration and Urban Ecology **
-EESC BC3033x, Waste Management
-EESC W4008x, Introduction to Atmospheric Science
-EESC W4400x, Dynamics of Climate Variability and Climate Change
-EESC W4917x, The Earth/Human Interactions
-HIST BC3414x, United States in the World
-HIST W3665x, Economic History of Latin America
-HIST W3760x, Main Currents in African History
-HIST W4400y,America and the Natural World: 1800-Present
-HIST W4584x, History of African-American Health and Health Movements
-HIST W4663y, Gender and Sexualities: Latin America
-HRTS W3001x, Introduction to Human Rights
-INAF U4545x, Contemporary Diplomacy*
-INAF U4710x, Extractive Industry: Rights and Development*
-INAF U4763y, Policy Analysis of Development*
-INAF U6060x, International Energy Systems and Business Structures**
-U6242 Energy Policy**
-INAF U6760x, Managing Risks: Natural and Other Disasters**
-PH P6300x,Environment Health Sciences
-PLAN 4151x, Foundations of Urban Economic Analysis
-PLAN 4208x, Quantitative Techniques
-PLAN 4304x,Introduction to Housing
-PLAN 4329x, Disaster Planning
-PLAN 4579x, Environmental Planning
-PLAN 4501x, Local Economic Development Planning
-PLAN 4540x, Interdisciplinary Planning for Health
-PLAN 4609x, Introduction to International Planning
-PLAN 4620x, Public Financing of Urban Development
-POLS V3619y, Nationalism and Contemporary World Politics
-POLS BC3805y,International Organizations **
-POLS G4626, Global Justice and Democracy
-Policy U8778x,Urban Energy Systems and Policy**
-SCNC W3010y, Science, Technology and Society
-SOCI V2230x, Food and the Social Order
-SOCI W3235x, Social Movements
-SOCI W3945x, Seminar: Inequality and Public Policy
-SOCI W3960y, Law, Science and Society
-URBS V3310x, Science and Technology in the Urban Environment
-URBS V3550y,CommunityBuilding and Economic Development**
-Approved upper level courses focusing on issues such as Poverty, Health, Population, Transportation, Resources
Courses not offered in Academic Year 2008-2009:
-ANTH V3971, Environment and Cultural Behavior
-ANTH V3973, Environment and Development
-CIEE/EAEE 3260, Engineering for Developing Communities,
-ECON BC 3011, Inequality and Poverty
-ECON BC3029, Development Economics
-EEEB W4086, Ethnobotany: The Study of People and Plants
-EEEB G4136, Tropical Agriculture and Sustainable Development
-EESC BC3025, Hydrology (alternate years)
-EESC BC3032, Agriculture and UrbanLand Use (alternate years)
-EESC BC3040, Environmental Law
-HIST W3441, Making of the Modern American Landscape
-INAF U6243, International Relations of the Environment*
-PLAN 4008, History and Theory of Planning
-PLAN A4319, Introduction to Environmental Planning
-PLAN 4518, New Patterns of Metropolitan Development
-PLAN 4392, Politics of Planning
-POLS G4415, Political Economy and Sociology of Global Capitalism
-POLS V3615, Globalization and International Politics
-POLS BC3414, Colloquium on Women, Gender, and the Third World
-URBS 3565, Urban Planning in Developing Countries
1
- 1 Skills Course (3 point course)
-EAEE E4009x, y, GIS-Res, Env.Infrastructure Management
-EAEE E4257y, Environmental Data Analysis & Modeling
-EESC BC3017x, Environmental Data Analysis
-SOCI V3212x, y, Statistics for Social Research
-SOCI V3213x, y,Methods for Social Research
-URBS V3200x,GIS Methods and Case Studies
-Summer Ecosystem Experiences for Undergraduates
- Practicum (1 required, 1 point course), or Practice (please see Internship Substitution Application Form)
-INAF U4734x, SIPA-EI Practicum in Env. Science and Policy
-INAF U4420y, Oil, Rights and Development
-INAF U4728y, Practicum in International Energy Management and Policy**
-SDEV W3500x, EI-Lamont Sustainable Development Practicum
-Summer Ecosystem Experiences for Undergraduates (if applicable)
- 1 Required Synthesis Course: Sustainable Development Workshop (NEW 4 points; this course should be taken in the 3rd or 4th year of study)
NOTE: Approved science classes taken for the special concentration may be used to fulfill General Studies and ColumbiaCollege requirements. Under certain circumstances, up to three additional courses counted toward the special concentration may also be counted toward the student’s major or another concentration. You will need to get the approval of your advisor and the Program Director for any course you would like to count toward another major or concentration. Students may petition to count as related courses those not listed.
*Seniors only
** Students must petition for entry to course
B.A. Earth and Environmental Sciences
Program Director: Walter C. Pitman III – – (845) 365-8397
Program Director: Nicholas Christie-Blick – – 845-365-8821
Administrator: Mia Leo - - (845) 365-8633
Undergraduate Program Coordinator: CarolS.Mountain – – (845) 365-8551
Admission Deadline: Early - November 1st, Regular - January 1st
Program website:
Mission
The undergraduate program in Earth and Environmental Sciences offers both a major and a concentration in either Earth Science or Environmental Science, and two special concentrations, in Environmental Biology for Environmental Science majors, and in Environmental Science for Environmental Biology majors.
Our program for majors aims to convey an understanding of how the complex Earth system works at a level that will encourage students to think creatively about Earth system processes and how to address multidisciplinary environmental problems. The breadth of material covered provides an excellent background for those planning to enter the professions of law, business, diplomacy, public policy, teaching, journalism, etc. At the same time, the program provides sufficient depth so that our graduates will be prepared for graduate school in one of the Earth sciences. The program can be adjusted to accommodate students with particular career goals in mind.
Environmental Science Major
The environmental science major curriculum provides an introduction to a variety of environmentally related fields. Environmental science majors are required to take three semesters of introductory courses, and to obtain a grounding in basic physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics. Here, students are allowed some choice depending on interest. With this introduction to the Earth's environment and equipped with a knowledge of the basic sciences, students are prepared to choose a set of upper-level courses in consultation with an undergraduate adviser. All environmental science majors are required to complete a research project, providing a practical application of mastered course work. This research culminates in the writing of a senior thesis. The research and the thesis are usually done at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory with guidance from a faculty member or research scientist (free shuttle bus between Morningside and Lamont for undergraduates). However, other options are also possible.
Environmental Science majors have an option to complete the special concentration in environmental biology for environmental science majors.
Earth Science Major
The major in earth science follows a similar rationale and requires the same introductory courses with a focus on the solid earth and less emphasis on the ocean, atmosphere, and biosphere. Field experience, normally between the junior and senior year, is required, but with two options. One is a six- to eight-week summer course, for which arrangements are made through another university. Few programs have sufficient students to mount such a course on their own. A second option, involving a smaller commitment of time, and offered through the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, is paired with a research project and senior thesis comparable to that required for the major in environmental science.
Concentration
Our program for concentrators serves students who want more exposure to science than is provided by introductory-level courses, and who may be contemplating professional careers rather than planning to pursue graduate-level work in science. The program aims to provide concentrators with experience in data analysis and a thorough introduction to the Earth's systems.
The concentration in environmental science and the concentration in earth science are designed to give students an understanding of "how the Earth works" and an introduction to the methods used to investigate earth processes, including their capabilities and limitations. Concentrators often join the social professions (e.g., business, law, medicine, etc.) and take with them a stronger scientific background than is normally required of Columbia undergraduates. They take the same introductory courses as the majors, but fewer basic science and upper-level courses are required.
In addition to the environmental science and earth science concentrations, the department sponsors a special concentration which must be done in conjunction with the environmental biology major. Students should be aware that they must complete the environmental biology major in order to receive credit for the special concentration. There is also a special concentration in environmental biology for environmental science majors sponsored by the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology.
All majors and concentrators, when planning their programs of study, should regularly consult the directors of undergraduate studies, who can be contacted through the department office on the fifth floor of Schermerhorn. The requirements listed for the different majors and concentrations are special to this department and must be read in conjunction with the general requirements for the bachelor's degree. Declaration of the major must be approved by the department and filed in the departmental office.
Major in Earth Science Requirements (46.5 credits)
Introductory Earth Science:
One of the following: V2200 Solid Earth or V1011 Intro. Earth Sci.1
AND one of the following:
V2100 Climate, V2300 Life
Introductory Science
One of the following Chemistry courses:
C1403 Gen. Chemistry 1or BC1601 Chemistry 1
One of the following Physics courses:
V1301 Gen. Physics 1; C1401 Intro to Mechanics and Thermo,
C1601 Mechanics/Relativity or C2801 Acc. Physics 1;
The following Mathematics course: V1101 Calculus 1A