Introductory and Core Curriculum
In addition to providing for science-degree candidates, Columbia University and its affiliates offer a variety of stimulating courses for high school students, college students in non-science disciplines, and the general public. Broaden your knowledge of the Earth and the environment through the following courses:
Introduction to Earth and Environment
Introduction to Earth Sciences I, II
How the Earth works, from the motions of continents, earthquake, and volcanic processes, to the controls on past climate, and to what we can know about the future of Earth.
Environmental Science I, II
An introduction to environmental science, and to key environmental issues such as global and local capacities to satisfy human demands of land, water, energy, minerals, and waste disposal.
Planet Earth - Earth and Environmental Science
An accelerated look at how the Earth works. Basic concepts of earth science beginning with an understanding of plate tectonics.
Geological excursion to Death Valley, California
An opportunity for first-year and sophomore students with little or no background in the Earth and environmental sciences to see geology in action, and to look back more than a billion years through geological time.
Life Systems
Environmental Biology I: Molecules to Cells
Environmental Biology II: Organisms to Ecosystems
Introductory biology for majors in biology or environmental biology with an emphasis on the ecological and evolutionary context of modern biology.
Earth's Environmental Systems: The Life System
An examination of the relationship of biodiversity and evolution to the physical earth; environmental change and ecosystems and causes and effects of extinction through geologic time (dinosaurs and mammoths) and today. Prerequisite: Earth's Environmental Systems: Climate (ENS V 2100).
Engineering
Earth Resources and the Environment
This introductory-level course focuses on sustainable development and management of Earth resources (water, mineral, fuels and land).
Introduction to GIS Technology for Visualization and Analysis of Environmental Data
The Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering and the Earth Engineering Center offer this introductory course in visualization and analysis of environmental data.
Specialized Courses
Earth's Environmental Systems: Climate
A comprehensive introduction to the Earth's climate, studying the formation of winds, storms, and ocean currents. In addition, we will explore the effects of human activity by examining such topical issues as global warming. Prerequisite: High school algebra.
Earth's Environmental Systems: The Solid Earth System
Plate tectonics: origin and development of continents, ocean basins, and mountain systems on land and sea. Prerequisite: Earth's Environmental Systems: Climate (ENS V 2100).
Black Rock Forest Summer Program
A 3-week-long summer field experience program in collaboration with the Institute on Climate and Planets. High school students and educators team up with scientists on crucial research taking place at Black Rock Forest, a scenic area comprising several different ecosystems and plant/animal habitats about 50 miles north of New York City.
Eun Soo Lim, a student in Columbia's Climate and Society master's program, is advising Oak Harbor, WA, on how to cut greenhouse gases.