Environmental Biology
1203 Altschul Hall  
854-2437 

Advisers: Paul E. Hertz (Biological Sciences), Stephanie Pfirman (Environmental Science)

For a complete list of faculty on leave see:
 http://www.barnard.edu/provost/facleavelist.html

The program in Environmental Biology is jointly administered by the departments of Biology and Environmental Science, and students should maintain contact with the advisers in both departments. A major in Environmental Biology provides a strong background for students interested in the intersection of Biology and Environmental Science. The major is suitable for students who intend to pursue a research career in conservation biology, ecology, or environmental biology as well as for students interested in environmental law or policy. Students who elect the Environmental Biology major will enroll in introductory and advanced courses in Biology and Environmental Science and related fields. All Environmental Biology majors complete a senior essay.

Students may substitute courses taught at Columbia (in the Departments of Biology, E3B, Earth and Environmental Sciences, or Statistics) or at other institutions with the prior approval of both major advisers. Students interested in Environmental Biology often choose to spend a semester abroad in the field. Courses completed in such programs may be accepted in fulfillment of some major requirements.

Students may also pursue an interdisciplinary program by electing a major in either Biology or Environmental Science and a minor in the other discipline, or by planning a double major.

There is no minor in Environmental Biology.

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Environmental Biology
1203 Altschul Hall  
854-2437  

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR

1. Introductory Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Science with laboratory:

BIOL BC 1500, 1501, 1502, 1503   Introductory Biology
EESC V 2100 and 2200 Introductory Env Science
CHEM BC 2001 and either 2002 or 3328 and 3230 General/Organic Chemistry

2. One lecture course in Ecology:

BIOL BC 2272                                                 Ecology

3. One laboratory course in Ecology:

BIOL BC 2873                                                 Laboratory in Ecology

4. One lecture course organismal biology chosen from the following:

BIOL BC 2240                                                 Plant Evolution and Diversity
or BC 2250                                                       Invertebrate Zoology
or BC 3260                                                       Vertebrate Evolution
or BC 3320                                                       Microbiology

5. One additional lecture course in Biology (not including those listed above under organismal biology).

6. One course in Environmental methodology:

EESC BC 3014                                                 Field Methods
or BC 3016                                                       Environmental Measurements
or BC 3025                                                       Hydrology

7. One additional lecture course in Environmental Science.

8. One course in data handling:

BIOL BC 2286                                                Research Design and Analysis
or EESC BC 3017                                           Environmental Data Analysis

9. A senior essay completed in one of the following courses:

BIOL BC 3590                                               Senior Seminar
or BC 3591/3595                                            Guided Research
or EESC BC 3800x and 3801y                        Senior Research Seminar

Note: Calculus, Physics, and a second year of Chemistry are recommended for students planning advanced study in Environmental Biology.

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Barnard Catalogue 2008-2009