Instructor assists two students and points to calculations on the board

History

In 2007, the Earth Institute helped to create the special concentration in sustainable development for undergraduate students. The concentration was designed as a cluster of specialized courses that complemented the expert training in existing disciplinary majors at Columbia. The energy and interest that the special concentration generated from faculty and students foretold the need for a full major in sustainable development, which was launched in the fall of 2010.

Graduates must develop a strong foundation in the natural and social sciences and expertise in critical areas such as food, water, health and climate change. They are trained in important skill areas such as economic and GIS modeling, and taught to draw from interdisciplinary perspectives in science, policy and the process of decision making.

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

Programs

One of the first degree programs of its kind in the United States, Columbia University’s 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.

The special concentration is intentionally more flexible than the major. 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.

The Sustainable Development minor is designed to enable more students to augment their education with critical interdisciplinary skills and knowledge needed to address the urgent and complex challenges of sustainable development.

Five courses are required for the minor.

The Climate and Sustainability major is an interdisciplinary collaboration between the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DEES) in the School of Arts and Sciences and the Undergraduate Program in Sustainable Development (UPSD) in the Columbia Climate School. It is open to all students in Columbia College and the School of General Studies.

The Climate and Sustainability major is designed for students who are interested in an interdisciplinary educational experience focused on the intersection of the climate crisis and sustainability. The program balances depth in climate science courses with depth in the social science and interdisciplinary subjects that address the social, economic, and justice dimensions of the climate crisis. Students take classes on the climate system, earth history, climate adaptation and mitigation while also learning about climate policy, law, and justice. The major prepares students for the widely expanding climate job market in areas that include finance, insurance, urban design, and sustainability management as well as for professional degrees in law, business, and policy.

A minimum of 15 courses and a practicum (for a total of approximately 47 points) are required to complete the major.