Our programs

In 2007, the Earth Institute helped start a special concentration in Sustainable Development for undergraduate students at Columbia. The concentration included a group of specialized courses that complemented what students were already learning in their main areas of study. The strong interest from both students and faculty showed that there was a need for a complete major in Sustainable Development, which was launched in the Fall of 2010.

In 2024, a minor in Sustainable Development was introduced to give more students the opportunity to strengthen their education with essential interdisciplinary skills and knowledge needed to tackle today’s urgent and complex sustainability challenges. That same year, a new major in Climate and Sustainability was launched in partnership with the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DEES). This major is designed for students who want an interdisciplinary education focused on the connections between the climate crisis and sustainability. It combines in-depth study of climate science with courses in the social sciences and other fields that explore the social, economic, and justice aspects of climate change.

Drawing from cutting-edge research and practical work done at Columbia Climate School, graduates of the majors, minor and the special concentration will be uniquely prepared to approach issues of sustainable development and climate from all angles in the public, private and non-profit sectors.