PLEASE NOTE: This information may be subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, please contact the program staff directly.
A GUIDE TO EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN ENVIROMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
OFFICE OF ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH PROGRAMS
THE EARTH INSTITUTE, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
September 2009
Overview…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… / 4UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS……………………………………………………………….……... / 6
Undergraduate Special Concentration in Sustainable Development………………………………….. / 6
B.A. Earth and Environmental Sciences…………………………….……………………………………. / 111
B.A. Concentration and Post-baccalaureate – Environmental ………..……………………….……… / 20
Post-baccalaureate Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology…………………… / 21
B.S. Earth and Environmental Engineering…………………………………………….….…………….. / 26
B.A. Environmental Biology (Barnard) ……………………………………………………………………. / 29
B.A. Environmental Science (Barnard)…………………………………………………………………… / 31
B.A. Environmental Policy (Barnard)……………………………………………………………………... / 34
Summer Ecosystem Experiences for Undergraduates (SEE-U)………………………………….…… / 37
MASTERS PROGRAMS…………………………………………………………………………………… / 39
M.A. Conservation Biology……………………………………………………….……...…..………..…… / 39
M.A. /M.S. Earth and Environmental Science Journalism………………..………….……….……….... / 43
M.S. Earth Resources Engineering……………………………………………………………….……… / 46
M.A. Climate and Society……….………………………………………………………………….…...…. / 49
M.P.H. Environmental Health Sciences….…………………………………………..…………….…….. / 53
M.P.A. Environmental Science and Policy…….………………………………….……………………… / 58
M.P.A. in Development Practice….………………………………………………………………….……. / 61
M.I.A./M.P.A Energy and Environment………………………………………………….…………...…… / 65
DOCTORAL PROGRAMS….…………………………………………………………………………….. / 71
Ph.D. Programs in Sustainable Development……………………………………………………...…… / 71
Ph.D. Earth and Environmental Engineering……………………………………………………………. / 75
Ph.D. Earth and Environmental Sciences….…………………………………………………………….. / 77
Ph.D. Atmospheric and Planetary Science (APS)….……………………………………………...……. / 82
Ph.D. Environmental Health Sciences……………………………………………………….…………… / 84
Ph.D. Programs, Department of Ecology Evolution and Environmental Biology (E3B)...... …. / 87
Ph.D. Ecology and Evolutionary ….……………….…………………………………………… / 87
Ph.D. Evolutionary Primatology…….……………………………………….………………….. / 91
CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS...…………………………………………………………………………….. / 95
Environmental Policy Certificate…………….…………………………..………………………………… / 95
Conservation Biology Certificate…………………………………………………………………………… / 96
The Evening Certificate in Conservation Biology for Professionals…..……………………………..… / 97
FELLOWSHIPS………………………………………………………………………………………………. / 98
The Marie Tharp Visiting Fellowship…………………………….………………………...……………… / 98
OTHER GRADUATE CREDIT-BEARING PROGRAMS…...…………………………………..………. / 99
Teacher Training Institute…………………………………………………..………………………………. / 999
Overview
Columbia University 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 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 program view books.
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 eleven master degrees:
· M.P.A. in Development Practice
· M.P.A. in Environmental Science and Policy
· M.P.H. in Environmental Health Sciences
· M.I.A in Environmental Policy
· M.P.A. in Environmental 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. in 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
· Annual meeting of academic program directors and department chairs
· Environmental career fairs
· Open Houses for prospective students
· Co-curricular programming
· Administrative support for start-up programs
· Maintaining the education pages of the Earth Institute website
· A year-long Earth Institute Practicum
Columbia University 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 Concentration in Sustainable Development
Kevin Griffin, Interim Program Director – – 845-365-8371
Catherine Aldrich, Program Manager, Office of Academic and Research Programs at The Earth Institute – – 212-854-9610
The Earth Institute, in collaboration with Columbia College 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: http://www.college.columbia.edu/bulletin/depts/sustdev.php?tab=courses
http://www.gs.columbia.edu/index_majors.htm
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 semester. If the course code is followed by a “Y”, that course is offered in the Spring 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 for 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
§ Challenges of Sustainable Development, SDEV W3300x, y
§ 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
· 2 Courses Focusing on Stresses and Solutions (each course for 3 points)*
- ANTH V3660x, Gender, Culture and Human Rights
- ANTH V3924x, Anthropology and Disaster
- ANTH V3950x, y, Anthropology of Consumption
- ANTH V3971, Environment and Cultural Behavior
- ANTH V3973, Environment and Development
- CIEE E4163x, Environmental Engineering: Wastewater
- CIEE E4252x, Environmental Engineering
- CIEE E3250y, Hydrosystems Engineering
- CIEE 3255y, Environmental Control and Pollution Reduction Systems
- CIEE/EAEE 3260, Engineering for Developing Communities
- 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 BC 3011, Inequality and Poverty
- ECON BC3029, Development Economics
- 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 W4086, Ethnobotany: The Study of People and Plants
- EEEB W4122x, Fundamentals of Ecology and Evolution
- EEEB G4130x, Restoration and Urban Ecology **
- EEEB G4136, Tropical Agriculture and Sustainable Development
- EEEB W4700x, Race: The Tangled History of a Biological Concept
- EESC BC3025, Hydrology (alternate years)
- EESC BC3032, Agriculture and Urban Land Use (alternate years)
- EESC BC3033x, Waste Management
- EESC BC3040, Environmental Law
- 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 W3441, Making of the Modern American Landscape
- 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 U6243, International Relations of the Environment*
- INAF U6760x, Managing Risks: Natural and Other Disasters**
- PH P6300x, Environment Health Sciences
- PLAN 4008, History and Theory of Planning
- PLAN 4151x, Foundations of Urban Economic Analysis
- PLAN 4208x, Quantitative Techniques
- PLAN 4304x, Introduction to Housing
- PLAN A4319, Introduction to Environmental Planning
- PLAN 4329x, Disaster Planning
- PLAN 4392, Politics of Planning
- PLAN 4518, New Patterns of Metropolitan Development
- 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 BC3414, Colloquium on Women, Gender, and the Third World
- POLS V3615, Globalization and International Politics
- POLS V3619y, Nationalism and Contemporary World Politics
- POLS BC3805y, International Organizations **
- POLS G4415, Political Economy and Sociology of Global Capitalism
- 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, Community Building and Economic Development**
- URBS 3565, Urban Planning in Developing Countries
Approval for other upper level courses not on this list focusing on issues such as Poverty, Health, Population, Transportation, and Resources can be attained by meeting with the Program Director and completing a Course Approval Application Form available on the Earth Institute’s website.
Please note: Not all courses listed above are listed/offered each semester
· 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, y EI-Lamont Sustainable Development Practicum
- Summer Ecosystem Experiences for Undergraduates (if applicable)
· Workshop in Sustainable Development, W3280y
(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 Columbia College 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 from 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
Academic Department Administrator: Mia Leo – – (845) 365-8633
Undergraduate Program Coordinator: Carol S. Mountain – – (845) 365-8551 / 212-854-9705
Admission Deadline Must apply to Columbia College or the School of General Studies: Check application deadlines at their websites.
Program website: http://eesc.columbia.edu/undergraduate/index.html
Mission
The undergraduate program in Earth and Environmental Sciences offers both a major and a concentration in either Earth science or environmental science, and a special concentration in environmental science for environmental biology majors. A comparable special concentration in environmental biology is available to environmental science majors in the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology