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 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, and continue to develop our relationship with the Columbia Earth Institute, an umbrella construct whose chief mission is to facilitate interactions among the numerous University centers and departments that share an interest in sustainability and the 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.

Ph.D. Degree Requirements

Dual Masters in Earth and Environmental Science Journalism

The dual Master's degree program in Earth and Environmental Science Journalism (E&ESJ) is offered in collaboration with the Columbia University School of Journalism. 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.

Please refer to the Earth and Environmental Science Journalism web site for more details on the program, admission requirements, and application deadlines. (Applicants must apply to two schools for admission to this program, and the application deadlines may differ.)

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.

Please refer to the Climate and Society web site for more details about the program, admission requirements, and application deadline.