Bachelor of Arts in Earth Science (Columbia College)

The undergraduate major in Earth and environmental sciences provides an understanding of the natural functioning of our planet and considers the consequences of human interactions with it. Our program for majors aims to convey an understanding of how the complex Earth system works at a level that encourages students to think creatively about the Earth system processes and how to address multidisciplinary environmental problems. The breadth of material covered provides an excellent background for those planning to enter the professions of law, business, diplomacy, public policy, teaching, journalism, etc. At the same time, the program provides sufficient depth so that our graduates are prepared for graduate school in one of the Earth sciences. The program can be adjusted to accommodate students with particular career goals in mind.

The department's close affiliations with the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS), the Earth Institute at Columbia (EI), and several departments within the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences afford opportunities for student participation in a wide variety of current research programs. Summer employment, research, and additional educational opportunities are available at Lamont and GISS. The department encourages majors to become involved in a research project by their junior year.

All majors and concentrators, when planning their programs of study, should regularly consult the directors of undergraduate studies and make themselves aware of the requirements for their particular program.

Applicants must present evidence that they are prepared for college work in the humanities, mathematics, social sciences, foreign languages and natural sciences. Accordingly, the College strongly recommends the following preparation: Four years of English literature and composition

• Three to four years of mathematics
• Three to four years of history and social studies
• Three to four years of one foreign language (ancient or modern)
• Three to four years of laboratory science

The vast majority of successful applicants to the College have taken five academic courses per term for all four years of secondary/high school. Student must have 650 or higher on either the Critical Reasoning or Writing sections of the SAT, 700 or higher on the Evidence Based Reading and Writing section of the redesigned SAT and 29 or higher on the English or Reading sections of the ACT

English Language Requirement

Applicant must have minimum score of 600 (paper-based test) or 100 (Internet-based test) and minimum IELTS score of 7.0