Environmental Biology 1
ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY
404 Altschul Hall
212-854-5618
212-854-5760 (fax)
Department Assistant: Catherine Cook
Mission
The mission of the Environmental Biology major is to provide students
with an understanding of the structure, function and interrelationships
of diverse living systems within the context of earth’s changing
environment. It addresses some of the most important issues of our
time—climate change and declining biological diversity--and efforts to
address these problems. To this end, students take courses in both the
Environmental Science and Biology departments, including laboratory
and field courses that help them learn how to design and test hypotheses,
use modern scientific equipment, interpret data, and evaluate and solve
problems. Students learn scientific communication skills by critiquing
research articles, writing laboratory reports and research papers, and
participating in oral presentations and debates.
Environmental Biology students are encouraged to become involved in
research under the guidance of a faculty member at Barnard or elsewhere
in New York City. Our urban setting, the proximity to the Hudson River,
and the numerous affiliations we maintain with Columbia University
through Lamont#Doherty Earth Observatory, the Earth Institute, and
the School of Public Health, as well as Black Rock Forest, the American
Museum of Natural History, and other institutions, allow us to offer
undergraduates unparalleled opportunities for student research and
educational experiences. Upon successful completion of our program,
our students are well prepared to pursue successful careers in research,
teaching or the allied health sciences. The Environmental Biology major
is appropriate for students interested in careers as diverse as university-
level research and teaching, curatorial work and research in natural
history museums and parks, environmental education, and decision-
making in environmental policy, law, public health, and government
agencies.
Student Learning Outcomes
• Discuss the structure, function, and interrelationships of key
environmental systems: climate, earth, life
• Demonstrate an appreciation of the many different life forms on
planet Earth
• Design and execute an independent scientific analysis, including the
formulation of a testable hypothesis and assembling a logical chain
of reasoning ranging from observation to inference
• Locate, integrate, and evaluate information from multiple and
disparate sources
• Apply appropriate analytical and quantitative approaches including
calculating statistics and displaying data to interpret relationships,
trends and make predictions about past and future changes
• Resolve uncertain, complex problems in the lab and field
• Clearly communicate analyses, interpretations and significance
through variable media: oral presentation, poster, proposal, research
or review article, report
The program in Environmental Biology is jointly administered by the
departments of Biology and Environmental Science, and students
should maintain contact with the advisers in both departments. A major
in Environmental Biology provides a strong background for students
interested in the intersection of Biology and Environmental Science. The
major is suitable for students who intend to pursue a research career in
conservation biology, ecology, or environmental biology as well as for
students interested in environmental law or policy. Students who elect
the Environmental Biology major will enroll in introductory and advanced
courses in Biology and Environmental Science and related fields. All
Environmental Biology majors complete a senior essay either in the
Biology or Environmental Science departments.
Students may substitute courses taught at Columbia (in the Departments
of Biology, E3B, Earth and Environmental Sciences, or Statistics) or
at other institutions with the prior approval of both major advisers.
Students interested in Environmental Biology often choose to spend a
semester abroad in the field. Courses completed in such programs may
be accepted in fulfillment of some major requirements.
Students may also pursue an interdisciplinary program by electing a
major in either Biology or Environmental Science and a minor in the other
discipline, or by planning a double major.
There is no minor in Environmental Biology.
Advisers: Hilary Callahan (Biological Sciences), Paul Hertz (Biological
Sciences), Brian Mailloux (Environmental Science), Krista McGuire
(Biological Sciences), Martin Stute (Environmental Science)
Requirements for the Major
For requirement details, see Environmental Biology Major Worksheet,
envbioworksheet.doc.
Introductory Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Science with
Laboratory
BIOLBC1500 Introduction to Organismal and
Evolutionary Biology
3
BIOLBC1501 Introductory Lab in Organismal and
Evolutionary Biology
2
BIOLBC1502 Introduction to Cell and Molecular
Biology
3
BIOLBC1503 Introductory Lab in Cell and Molecular
Biology
2
EESCUN2100 Earth's Environmental Systems: The
Climate System
4.5
EESCUN2200 EARTH'S ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS:
THE SOLID EARTH
4.5
CHEMBC2001 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I 5.00
CHEMBC3230
- CHEMBC3328
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I-LEC
and Introductory Organic Chemistry
Laboratory
5-5.5
orCHEMBC2002 General Chemistry II
Ecology Lecture
BIOLBC2272 Ecology 3
orBIOLBC3380 Applied Ecology and Evolution
Ecology Laboratory
BIOLBC2873 Laboratory in Ecology 3
Organismal Biology Lecture
Select one of the following: 3
BIOLBC2240 Plant Evolution and Diversity
BIOLBC2262 Vertebrate Biology
BIOLBC3320 Microbiology
Biology Lecture
