Professor: Stephanie Pfirman (Chair, Alena Wels Hirschorn '58 and Martin Hirschorn Professor of Environmental and Applied Sciences), Martin Stute (Associate Chair and Ann Whitney Olin Professor of Environmental Science)
Assistant Professor: Brian Mailloux
Senior Lecturer: Peter Bower
Lecturer: Terryanne Maenza-Gmelch (Laboratory Director)
Senior Associate: Diane Dittrick (Laboratory Director)
Adjunct Professors: Mark Becker, Timothy Kenna, Cynthia Rosenzweig
For a complete list of
faculty on leave see:
http://www.barnard.edu/provost/facleavelist.html
Environmental Science provides a scientific basis for management of earth systems. It focuses on the interaction between human activities, resources, and the environment. As human population grows and technology advances, pressures on earth's natural systems are becoming increasingly intense and complex. Environmental Science is an exciting field where science is used to best serve society. The department offers two majors, Environmental Science and Environmental Policy. A third major, Environmental Biology, is offered in conjunction with the Department of Biological Sciences.
The curriculum recognizes the need for well-trained scientists to cope with balancing human requirements and environmental conservation. Majors acquire an understanding of earth systems by taking courses in the natural sciences, as well as courses investigating environmental stress. Students learn to critically evaluate the diverse information necessary for sound environmental analysis. Our courses foster an interdisciplinary approach to environmental problem-solving.
Internships or some type of work or field experience are extremely valuable in preparing students for a career in Environmental Science. We strongly encourage students to consider an internship in the summer before the senior year because it may lay the foundation for the senior thesis.
Students wishing to go on to graduate school or careers in earth science and the physical sciences should take at least two semesters each of calculus, physics, and chemistry. Those interested in graduate school or careers in biological/chemical fields are recommended to take calculus as well as upper-level courses in biology and chemistry, and may wish to consider enrolling in an Environmental Biology major or minors in these fields. Students interested in pursuing further work in environmental policy, economics, environmental law, journalism, or teaching may consider majoring in Environmental Policy or pursuing a double major, a special major, or a major/minor combination in relevant fields.
Part A. The
following four courses with labs:
EESC V 2100 Earth's Environmental Systems: Climate
EESC V 2200 Earth's Environmental Systems: Solid Earth
CHEM BC 2001 General Chemistry I
BIOL BC 1500 Physiology, Ecology, and Evolutionary Biology
BIOL BC 1501 Biodiversity Laboratory
Part B. Two other courses in chemistry, physics, and/or biology (see department web site for a list of approved courses).
Part C. Two courses in calculus, statistics, data analysis, and/or microeconomics (see department web site for a list of approved courses).
Part D. Four courses in environmental science and decision-making (see department web site for a list of approved courses).
Part E. A senior
thesis completed by the following course sequences:
EESC BC 3800x and 3801y Senior Research Seminar
Students wishing to minor in Environmental Science should have a plan approved by the Environmental Science Department chair. Five courses are required, including 2 laboratory science courses (such as EESC BC 1001, BC 1002, V 2100, V 2200, V 2300) and 3 electives that form a coherent program in conjunction with the student's major field. In some cases, courses in other sciences can be substituted with approval of the chair.
Students wishing to minor in Environmental Science who are interested in field programs and seek minor credit must contact the department Chair, Stephanie Pfirman. The only current field program within Columbia University is SEE-U. There is no minor in Environmental Biology or Environmental Policy.
Advisers: Stephanie Pfirman (Environmental Science Department), Richard Pious (Political Science), Rajiv Sethi (Economics), Paige West (Anthropology), TBA (Urban Studies)
Environmental Policy is a growing field at the intersection of science and society. It focuses on political institutions, societal processes, and individual choices that lead to environmental stress, as well as the impact of environmental stress on institutions, processes, and individuals, and the development of approaches to reduce environmental impact.
The Environmental Policy major is designed to equip students to play effective roles as citizens or career professionals who can actively engage in environmental decision-making and policy. Majors learn to analyze and evaluate environmental, political, and economic systems and public policies in the context of environmental concerns. The major begins with foundations in the natural sciences, social sciences, and quantitative analysis, followed by upper level electives in both the natural and social sciences. Student research at the junior level is required in Political Science, Anthropology or History, and at the senior level in Environmental Science. Many exciting opportunities for student research exist on this campus and in the greater metropolitan community. Majors have their primary affiliation with the Environmental Science Department (Stephanie Pfirman) and a second advisor chosen from Political Science (Dick Pious), Economics (Rajiv Sethi), Anthropology (Paige West), or Urban Studies (TBA).
Environmental Policy graduates go on to a variety of careers, including national and international environmental policy, law, economics, journalism, business, public administration, government agencies, corporations, multilateral institutions, nongovernmental organizations, academia, and consulting firms.
There is no minor in Environmental Policy.
1. Natural Science
Foundation (three courses with labs):
EESC V
2100 Earth's Environmental Systems: Climate with lab
CHEM BC
2001 General Chemistry I with lab
BIOL BC 1500, 1501 Physiology, Ecology, and Evolutionary Biology with Biodiversity Lab
BIOL W 2002, EESC V 2300, or Columbia SEE-U Summer Program
2. Second semester of one of the three natural science foundation courses, Biology, Chemistry, or Environmental Science (see department web site for a list of approved classes).
3. Quantitative Assessment
(two courses):
EESC BC
3017 Data Analysis
and
either EESC BC 3016, EAEE E 4009, EESC W 4050, or URBS V 3200
4. Decision-making
Foundation(three courses):
ECON
BC1002 Introduction to Economics
or ECON
W1105 Principles of Economics
POLS V
1601 International Politics
ANTH V
3004 Introduction to Environmental Anthropology
or ANTH V
1010 Human Species-Place in Nature
5. Natural Science Elective in an upper level course in natural science (see department web site for a list of approved classes).
6. Social Science Elective in an upper level course in social science (see department web site for a list of approved classes).
7. Junior research colloquium or other research experience in the social sciences or psychology (see department web site for a list of approved classes).
8. Senior Thesis