The Earth and Environmental Sciences Ph.D. program is a full-time program offered through the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences; 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. A terminal M.A. is not offered. All students must sign on for the full Ph.D. program (and will acquire the MA degree along the way). Applicants for the Ph.D. program must have completed at least a Bachelor's degree.

Students who wish to do graduate work at the American Museum of Natural History must fill out 2 applications -- one for admission to the Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences and one for fellowship support from the American Museum of Natural History. The Museum application can be obtained from Maria Rios-Dickson (mrios@amnh.org)

Deadlines:

Spring Term: only encouraged in special circumstances with the approval of the Dean.

Fall Term: January 3rd. Applications received after January 3rd will be considered for late awards at the discretion of the University.

Requirements:

• We require applicants to have an undergraduate major in one of the following disciplines:
  • biology
  • chemistry
  • geoscience
  • engineering
  • environmental sciences/policy
  • mathematics
  • physics
• At least one college year (two semesters) with a grade of B or better in each of the following disciplines:  chemistry, mathematics, physics, and earth science. Additional competence is required for graduate work in certain disciplines.
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test (Columbia University GSAS GRE Code: 2162);
• GRE Advanced Tests are recommended in one of the following: chemistry, physics, biology, or mathematics.
• International Students Only:  All applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), except those who hold a secondary school certificate or university degree from one of the following countries: Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Great Britain, and New Zealand, or where English is the language of instruction. The Educational Testing Service (ETS),  which develops and administers the GRE and TOEFL, maintains a list of International Testing Centers.  Additional details for international applicants are available on the website of the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.  Useful information for admitted students can be found on the International Students page of the department website

Our Admissions Committee's job would be easier if every applicant had at least two courses with good grades in all of the basic sciences. But given the nature of our interdisciplinary program, our applicants enter with varied scientific backgrounds; deficiencies are dealt with during the student's first year.

Advanced Standing:

Credit for work done elsewhere is given at the discretion of the University. A maximum of 30 points of advanced standing and two Residence Units may be credited towards the Ph.D. degree for graduate work completed elsewhere. (No credit is granted toward the MA). Advanced standing toward the PhD will be considered for all students who enter our program with an external Master's degree. A maximum of 30 credits is possible; advanced standing is considered after one year in residence at Columbia.

A Completed Application Includes:

1. transcripts of all previous post-secondary education;
2. a personal statement of academic purpose;
3. three recent letters of recommendation;
4. GRE (Graduate Record Examination) (Columbia University GSAS GRE Code: 2162);
5. if applicable, an acceptable TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score;
6. and an application fee.

Online Application Procedures:

The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) is no longer printing applications. All prospective students must apply using the GSAS online application. The Admissions section of the GSAS website provides a wealth of information on all aspects of application process, including detailed FAQs.  The application deadline is January 3rd.

Supporting Materials:  Please use the cover sheets provided in the Downloadable Forms section of your online application when mailing any supporting materials for your application.  These forms contain the specific AY number for the account you use to submit your application. If you cannot attach or use one of the forms, if possible, write the AY number on each document you submit. There will be a delay in processing your application materials submitted without the AY number. All supporting materials should be sent to:

Columbia University
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Office of Admissions
108 Low Memorial Library, MC 4303
535 West 116th Street
New York, NY 10027, USA

(212) 854-8903

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

All prospective students should visit the Admissions pages of the GSAS website and the department's Frequently Asked Questions page.

The American Museum of Natural History application can be obtained from: mrios@amnh.org

Information on the GRE or TOEFL is available from:

Educational Testing Service
20 Nassau Street
Princeton, NJ 08540

(609) 771-7670

All other questions may be addressed to:

Carol Mountain
Senior Administrative Manager
Dept. of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Room 106 Geoscience Bldg.
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
P.O. Box 1000
Palisades, NY 10964
Phone: (845)365-8551
Fax: (845)365-8163

Email inquiries to Missy Pinckert: missy@ldeo.columbia.edu