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Environmental Science Major

Requirements

  1. Earth's Environmental Systems: Climate, EESC UN2100 with lab
  2. Earth's Environmental Systems: Solid Earth, EESC UN2200 with lab
  3. General Chemistry I, CHEM BC2001 with lab
  4. Introduction to Organismal and Evolutionary Biology, BIOL BC1500 + Laboratory, BIOL BC1501
  5. Two other courses in chemistry, physics and/or biology
  6. Two courses in calculus, statistics, data analysis, and/or economics
  7. Four environmental elective courses 
  8. Senior Research Seminar EESC BC3800x, BC3801y (2 semesters)

For additional details, please view this worksheet: EnvSci Major Worksheet.
To declare a Major in Environmental Science, make an appointment to meet with Brian Mailloux in the Environmental Science Department and complete a Major Declaration form in Slate.

Advice

Students with a strong science background who are interested in majoring in Environmental Science are advised to take Earth's Environmental Systems: Climate (EESC UN2100) followed by Earth's Environmental Systems: Solid Earth (EESC UN2200) early on. These two courses are required for all Environmental Science majors. Students wishing to begin with Earth Systems courses may want to use the Projected Program Worksheet I to help you map out your major requirements

If you are interested in exploring Environmental Science or are concerned about your science background, you could take Environmental Science I (EESC BC1001x) in the fall. In the spring, you can shift into the major sequence of EESC UN2100. Please note that EESC BC1001x is not required for the major, but does count toward the major as an elective. Students wishing to begin with an Introductory course, may want to use the Projected Program Worksheet II to help you map out your major requirements

We recommend that Environmental Science majors take General Chemistry (CHEM BC 2001) and Introduction to Organismal and Evolutionary Biology, BIOL BC1500x (formerly BC2002x) plus the corresponding lab, BIOL BC1501 (formerly BIO BC2003), early in their academic career at Barnard in order to prepare for upper level courses with prerequisites. However, we do not recommend taking both these courses in the same semester. If you want advice on taking an Introductory Biology or Physics course, read Placement in Courses for Majors and Potential Majors in the Credit & Placement section of Academic Recommendations.

Students wishing to go on to graduate school or careers in the earth and physical sciences are recommended to take at least two semesters each of calculus, physics and chemistry. Those considering 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 minors in these fields or the Environmental Biology major.

Students might want to consider a semester or summer program at the SEE-U, SEA Semester at Woods Hole, the School for Field Studies  the Organization for Tropical Studies, or some other field or internship program. In addition, we recommend that those students planning to go abroad in the junior year elect to do so in the Fall Semester rather than the Spring Semester in order to take best advantage of senior seminar research planning and programming.

Students should check the catalogue and the department for additional information on the major, minor and courses offered by Barnard and Columbia. Classes with grades less than C- or taken pass/fail can not be counted towards the major.

See also Senior Research Seminar for information on senior thesis requirements completed in the Environmental Science Department.