Graduate Programs
The graduate division
of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences offers a Ph.D. degree
in Earth and Environmental Sciences, a dual Masters degree program in Earth
and Environmental Science Journalism, and a new Masters degree program in
Climate and Society. We are also seeking to expand existing cooperative programs
with Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs and School of
Engineering and Applied Science. We have begun a new relationship with the
Earth Institute, an umbrella construct whose chief mission is to facilitate
interactions among a large number of centers and departments with common
interests in the wise stewardship of the planet.
Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Sciences
The Ph.D. program aims to train broadly educated Earth scientists for careers in academia, research, government, and industry; along the way, our students move swiftly from receiving knowledge to creating it. All the facilities and equipment necessary for modern studies in the Earth sciences are available for the use of students in the department whose research is conducted at one of three affiliated institutions: the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, the American Museum of Natural History, or the Goddard Institute for Space Studies. The Ph.D. program is a full-time program; students who can attend classes only in the late afternoons and evenings and on Saturdays or during the Summer Session may not matriculate in this department.
Applicants to the Ph.D program are eligible for the newly created IGERT Joint Program in Applied Mathematics and Earth & Environmental Science which awards fellowships for graduate students interested in acquiring exceptionally strong mathematical skills and a deep understanding of the key scientific problems that need to be addressed in the earth and environmental sciences. If you fit this description and are interested in this interdisciplinary opportunity, mention it in your personal statement in your application and check out the IGERT website for more details.
Ph.D. Degree Requirements
Dual Masters in Earth and Environmental Science Journalism
The dual Master's degree program in Earth and Environmental Science Journalism (EESJ) is the Department's only terminal Masters program. The newly established program, offered in collaboration with the Columbia University School of Journalism, has attracted considerable attention in recent years. The goal of this program is to produce graduates with a rare blend of scientific knowledge and journalistic skills. Students in the program acquire experience and knowledge in the earth sciences plus a well-honed set of investigative skills through graduate level studies in the earth sciences and through journalism coursework.
The first year consists of science coursework and a case studies class that focuses on major controversies in scientific and environmental reporting. Students complete a masters thesis by the end of their first year, before entering the Journalism School. The second year of the program is an intense journalism curriculum with a focus on environmental reporting; students will complete a second thesis for the Journalism School by the end of the program.
Applicants considering the dual Masters degree program should consult the website of the Earth and Environmental Science Journalism program.
Masters in Climate and Society
The twelve-month M.A. Program in Climate and Society trains professionals and academics to understand and cope with the impacts of climate variability and climate change on society and the environment. This rigorous program emphasizes the problems of developing societies.
Applications are due March 1, 2007.
Applicants considering this program should consult the Climate and Society web page for information about the program and admissions requirements.
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