Programs of Study

Drawing from cutting-edge research and practical work done at the Earth Institute, graduates of the major and the special concentration will be uniquely prepared to approach issues of sustainable development from all angles in the public, private and non-profit sectors. 

The Major

One of the first degree programs of its kind in the United States, Columbia University’s new undergraduate major in sustainable development is founded on the principle that students must be trained in a variety of disciplines in order to be effective leaders in the field of sustainable development. The program is designed to ensure that graduates, upon completion of the degree, will understand the basics of the natural and social sciences and will be equipped to address complex problems across a wide range of challenges facing humanity.

A minimum of 15 courses and a practicum are required, for a total of approximately 47 points, to complete the major. Students will take courses within the following framework:

I. Sustainable Development Foundation (three courses)

SDEV W1900 Introduction to Sustainable Development Seminar (Fall, Spring)
SDEV W2300 Challenges of Sustainable Development (Spring)
EESC W2330 Science for Sustainable Development (Fall)

II. Basic Disciplinary Foundation (five courses)

One of the following science sequences:
EEEB W2001-W2002 Environmental Biology I and II
CHEM C1403-C1404 General Chemistry (Fall, Spring)
PHYS V1201-V1202 General Physics (Fall, Spring)
EESC V2100, V2200 or V2300 Earth Science (Fall, Spring)
EAEE E1100-E2002 Engineering Science (Spring, Fall)

Two social science courses to be chosen from an approved list in conjunction with the program adviser:
ECON W1105 Principles of Economics (Fall)
SDEV W2000 Intro to Environmental Law (Spring)
SDEV W3400 Human Populations and SDEV (Fall)
POLS V1501 Introduction to Comparative Politics or V1601 International Politics (Fall, Spring)
SOCI W1000 The Social World
ANTH V1002 The Interpretation of Culture (Fall, Spring)

One of the following Quantitative Foundations courses:
Statistics
EESC BC3017 Environmental Data Analysis (Fall)
STAT W1211 Introduction to Statistics (with calculus)
STAT W2024 Applied Linear Regression Analysis (Fall)
STAT W2025 Applied Statistical Methods (Spring)
STAT W2026 Statistical Applications Methods II (Fall)
STAT W3026 Applied Data Mining (Fall)
STAT W3105 Introduction to Probability Models (Fall)
STAT W3107 Introduction to Statistical Inference (Spring)
STAT W4105 Introduction to Probability (Fall)
STAT W4107 Statistical Inference (Fall, Spring)
STAT W4315 Linear Regression Models (Fall, Spring)
STAT W4606 Elementary Stochastic Processes (Fall, Spring)
MATH V2010 Linear Algebra (Fall, Spring)

III. Analysis and Solutions to Complex Problems (two courses)

EAIA W4200 Alternative Energy Resources (Fall)
SDEV W3330 Ecological and Social Systems for Sustainable Development (Next offered Fall 2013)
PUBH W3100 Fundamentals of Global Health (Spring)
SDEV W3200 Global Food Systems
SDEV W3360 Disasters and Development (Next offered Spring 2014)
SDEV W3410 Urbanization and Sustainability (Fall)
SDEV W3355 Climate Change and Law (Spring)
SDEV W3366 Energy Law (Fall)
ECIA W4100 Management and Development of Water Resources (Spring)
The Summer Ecosystems Experience for Undergraduates (SEE-U) Summer Program

IV. Skills/Actions (two courses)

EAEE E4257 Environmental Data Analysis and Modeling (Spring)
SDEV W3390 GIS for Sustainable Development (Spring, Fall)
SCNC W3010 Science, Technology and Society (Spring)
SDEV W3450 Spatial Analysis and Modeling for Sustainable Development (Spring, Fall)
EESC W4050 Global Assessment Remote Sensing (Fall)
SDEV W2320 Economic and Financial Methods for Sustainable Development (Fall)
SOCI W3010 Methods for Social Research (Spring)
SUMA K4100 Sustainability Management (Fall, Spring)

V. Electives (a practicum and two courses)

One of the following practicums:
SUMA K4734 Earth Institute Practicum (Fall)
INAF U4420 Oil, Rights and Development (Spring)

Two of the following:
Additional courses from Analysis and Solutions to Complex Problems
Additional courses from Skills/Actions
Senior Thesis Seminar (EESC W3901 and EESC BC3800)
Upper division courses from the list as approved by program adviser

VI. Capstone Workshop (one course)

SDEV W3280 Workshop in Sustainable Development (Fall, Spring)
SDEV W3550 Bangladesh Workshop (Next offered Spring 2015)

Though a Bachelor of Arts degree, the major focuses heavily on the sciences and is meant to provide students with a working knowledge of issues on a range of interacting subject areas. After declaring the major, students will be assigned an academic advisor with expertise in an area of sustainable development, who will be able to advise them on class selection and answer questions about course mapping and career development.

A full list of required courses and electives can be found in the downloadable program information packet for the major and is accessible through the bulletins of Columbia College and the School of General Studies.

Sample Major Course Schedules
  1. Analysis and Solutions to Complex Problems
  2. Skills/Actions
  3. Senior Thesis
  4. Junior Year Abroad

The Special Concentration

The special concentration is intentionally more flexible than the major, given that students have their major classes as well. However, its structure allows students to benefit from the program’s cross-disciplinary courses and to build the expertise that will allow them to address the fundamental issue of how to move toward a trajectory of sustainability.

A minimum of nine courses and a practicum are required for the special concentration. Students will take courses within the following framework:

I. Sustainable Development Foundation (three courses)

SDEV W1900 Introduction to Sustainable Development (Fall, Spring)
SDEV W2300 Challenges of Sustainable Development (Spring)
EESC W2330 Science for Sustainable Development (Fall)

II. Natural Science Systems (one course)

One of the following natural science courses:
PHYS V1201 General Physics I (Fall)
CHEM C1403 Chemistry I (Fall)
EAEE E1100 A Better Planet by Design (Spring)
EEEB W1001 Biodiversity (Fall)
EEEB W2002 Environmental Biology II (Fall)
EESC V1201 Environment Risks and Disasters (Spring)
EESC V2100 Earth's Environment Systems: Climate (Fall, Spring)
EESC 1011/1411 Earth: Origin, Evolution, Processes, Future (Fall)
EESC V1003 Climate and Society: Case Studies (Fall)

III. Human Science Systems (one course)

One human science course to be chosen from an approved list in conjunction with the program adviser:
ECON W1105 Principles of Economics (Fall)
SDEV W2000 Intro to Environmental Law (Spring)
SDEV W3400 Human Populations and SDEV (Fall)
POLS V1501 Introduction to Comparative Politics or POLS V1601 International Politics (Fall, Spring)
SOCI W1000 The Social World (Fall, Spring)
ANTH V1002 The Interpretation of Culture (Fall, Spring)

IV. Analysis and Solutions to Complex Problems (two courses)

EAIA W4200 Alternative Energy Resources (Fall)
SDEV W3330 Ecological and Social Systems for Sustainable Development (Next offered Fall 2013)
PUBH W3100 Fundamentals of Global Health (Spring)
SDEV W3200 Global Food Systems
SDEV W3355 Climate Change and Law (Spring)
SDEV W3360 Disasters and Development (Next offered Spring 2014)
SDEV W3366 Energy Law (Fall)
SDEV W3410 Urbanization and Sustainability (Fall)
ECIA W4100 Management and Development of Water Resources (Spring)
The Summer Ecosystem Experiences for Undergraduates (SEE-U) Program

V. Skills/Actions (one course)

EAEE E4257 Environmental Data Analysis and Modeling (Spring)
SDEV W3390 GIS for Sustainable Development (Spring, Fall)
SCNC W3010 Science, Technology and Society (Spring)
SDEV W3450 Spatial Analysis and Modeling for Sustainable Development (Spring, Fall)
EESC W4050 Global Assessment Remote Sensing (Fall)
SDEV W2320 Economic and Financial Methods for Sustainable Development (Fall)
SOCI W3010 Methods for Social Research (Spring)
SUMA K4100 Sustainability Management (Fall and Spring)

VI. Practicum

One of the following practicums:
SUMA K4734 Earth Institute Practicum (Fall) 
INAF U4420 Oil, Rights and Development (Spring)

VII. Capstone Workshop (one course)

SDEV W3280 Workshop in Sustainable Development (Fall, Spring)
SDEV W3550 Bangladesh Workshop (Next offered Spring 2015)

Students following the old requirements may take classes from the new special concentration requirements.  Analysis and Solutions to Complex Problems courses will fulfill the old Stresses and Solutions requirement and new Skills/Actions courses will fulfill the old Skills requirement. A full list of required courses and electives can be found in the downloadable program information packet for the special concentration and is accessible through the bulletins of Columbia College and the School of General Studies.