Earth and Environmental Engineering

It’s now recognized throughout the world that continuing economic development must be accompanied by the intelligent use of the Earth’s resources. Moreover, the rapid pace of globalization has introduced a host of new environmental problems to be addressed in the 21st century, ranging from the search for reliable energy and water, to the impacts of global warming, to the worldwide transmission of disease through the environment. Earth and environmental engineers can contribute much to these global efforts towards sustainable development by developing new technologies to tackle these large and complex problems.Furthermore, existing technologies that have been developed for resource (minerals, energy, water) utilization and environmental remediation can be applied to emerging challenges like resource recovery from used materials (i.e., recycling) and disease prevention.

The EEE undergraduate program encompasses these technologies and trains engineers who can provide leadership and innovation in the conscientious use of Earth’s resources. Potential employers include private companies and government agencies that deal directly with environmental problems, and also a diverse spectrum of industries that increasingly require environmental expertise, including energy supply, management consulting and financial services. Graduates are also well trained to continue with master's and doctoral studies not only in Earth and environmental engineering and sciences, but also business, public policy, international studies, law, and medicine.

First- And Second-Year Curriculum

Our first- and second-year curriculum is consistent with the Columbia SEAS and liberal arts core requirements. In addition, there are a number of EEE–specific math and science courses. More importantly, there are two courses taught by EEE faculty, which provide an early introduction to Earth and environmental engineering and continuity throughout the four-year EEE curriculum:

• E1100: A Better Planet by Design. Scheduled for first-year spring semester. This is EEE’s professional-level course, so it is not required by the EEE program but highly recommended.
• EAEE E2002: Alternative Energy Resources. Scheduled for second-year fall semester. This course is required by the EEE program.

Junior/Senior Curriculum

Our junior/senior–year curriculum consists of an intensive set of technical engineering courses, with the following objectives:

• Build fundamental skills in applied math and sciences such as fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and statistics.
• Understand traditional environmental engineering topics related to pollution control, transport, and remediation.
• Introduce emerging 21st-century environmental engineering problems related to all three EEE concentration areas: Water Resources and Climate Risks, Sustainable Energy and Materials, and Environmental Health Engineering.
• In-depth focus on one concentration area to be selected by the student, through technical electives.

Concentration Areas

Students select from one of three undergraduate concentration areas, each of which focuses on a particular problem area within EEE. A preapproved course sequence for each concentration is listed below, which includes two science courses during sophomore year (fall semester) and six technical elective courses during junior and senior years. Alternative courses within each concentration may be acceptable, but must be approved by a faculty advisor.

Water Resources and Climate Risks

• PHYS C1403: Introduction to Classical and Quantum Waves (SEM III)
• EESC V2100: Climate System (SEM III)
• EAEE E4006: Field Methods for Environmental Engineering (SEM VI)
• EAEE E4009: GIS for Resource, Environmental, and Infrastructure Management (SEM VII)
• EAEE E4350: Planning and Management of Urban Hydrologic Systems (SEM VII)
• EAEE E4257: Environmental Data Analysis and Modeling (SEM VIII)
• ECIA W4100: Management and Development of Water Systems (SEM VIII)
• CIEN E4257: Contaminant Transport in Subsurface Systems (SEM VIII)

Sustainable Energy and Materials

• CHEM C3443: Organic Chemistry (SEM III)
• EESC V2200: Solid Earth System (SEM III)
• MECE E3311: Heat Transfer (SEM VI)
• EAEE E4001: Industrial Ecology of Earth Resources (SEM VII)
• EAEE E4900: Applied Transport and Chemical Rate Phenomena (SEM VII)
• MECE E4302: Advanced Thermodynamics (SEM VIII)
• EESC W3015: The Earth's Carbon Cycle (SEM VIII)
• MECE E4211: Energy: Sources and Conversion (SEM VIII)

Environmental Health Engineering

• CHEM C3443: Organic Chemistry (SEM III)
• EESC V2100: Climate System (SEM III)
• EAEE E4006: Field Methods for Environmental Engineering (SEM VI)
• EAEE E4009: GIS for Resource, Environmental, and Infrastructure Management (SEM VII)
• EHSC P6300: Environmental Health Sciences (SEM VII)
• EAEE E4257: Environmental Data Analysis and Modeling (SEM VIII)
• EAEE E4150: Air Pollution Prevention and Control (SEM VIII)
• EHSC P6309: Biochemistry Basic to Environmental Health (SEM VIII)

Requirements

1. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). You are urged to visit www.toefl.org as quickly as possible for more information on this examination. A minimum score of 600 (paper-based test) or 100 (Internet-based test) is necessary for admission to Columbia. Your score must be reported directly to Columbia by the testing service, using report code 2116.
2. IELTS (International English Language Testing System). You are urged to visit www.ielts.orgas quickly as possible for more information on this examination. A minimum score of 7.0 is necessary for admission to Columbia. Your score must be reported directly to Columbia Undergraduate Admissions.
3. If you have a 650 or higher on the Critical Reading or Writing sections of the SAT, or a 29 or higher on the English or Reading sections of the ACT, you are exempt from taking an English proficiency examination.
4. An official high school transcript from all high schools attended
5. One high school counselor’s recommendation and school profile
6. The completed Mid-Year Report
7. Autobiographical information
8. $85 application fee or fee waiver request
9. Lists and descriptions of a student’s achievements, activities, employment and summer activities
10. Personal essay
11. Columbia-specific questions
12. SAT or the ACT
13. The appropriate SAT code is 2116 and the appropriate ACT code is 2717
14. Two Teacher Recommendations. For engineering applicants, one must come from a math or science teacher

Scholarships

• Society of Women Engineers Scholarships
• EPA P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity, and the Planet
• EPA Greater Research Opportunities Undergraduate Fellowship
• National Society of Black Engineers
• Harry S. Truman Scholarships
• Xerox Technology Minority Scholarships
• Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship
• NOAA Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship Program