Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology

Ecology, Evolution & Environmental Biology: 

Department website: http://www.e3b.columbia.edu

Office location: 1014 Schermerhorn Ext

Office contact: e3badmin@columbia.edu 

Director of Undergraduate Studies: Dr. Matthew Palmer, 1010 Schermerhorn; mp2434@columbia.edu

Evolutionary Biology of the Human Species Advisor: Dr. Jill Shapiro, 1011 Schermerhorn Extension; jss19@columbia.edu

Director, Administration and Finance: Kyle Bukhari, 1014B Schermerhorn Extension; kb2337@columbia.edu

The Study of Ecology, Evolution & Environmental Biology

The Department of Ecology, Evolution & Environmental Biology (E3B) at Columbia University was established in 2001. Although we are a relatively new department, we have grown rapidly in the past decade. We now have an internationally diverse student body and a broad network of supporters at Columbia and throughout New York City. Our affiliated faculty members come from departments at Columbia as well as from the American Museum of Natural History, the New York Botanical Garden, the Wildlife Conservation Society, and the EcoHealth Alliance. Together, we provide an unparalleled breadth and depth of research opportunities for our students.

In creating E3B, Columbia University recognized that the fields of ecology, evolutionary biology, and environmental biology constitute a distinct subdivision of the biological sciences with its own set of intellectual foci, theoretical foundations, scales of analysis, and methodologies.

E3B's mission is to educate a new generation of scientists and practitioners in the theory and methods of ecology, evolution, and environmental biology. Our educational programs emphasize a multi-disciplinary perspective to understand life on Earth from the level of organisms to global processes that sustain humanity and all life.

To achieve this multi-disciplinary perspective, the department maintains close ties to over 70 faculty members beyond its central core. Thus, many faculty members who teach, advise, and train students in research are based in other departments on the Columbia campus or at the partner institutions. Through this collaboration, the department is able to tap into a broad array of scientific and intellectual resources in the greater New York City area. The academic staff covers the areas of plant and animal systematics; evolutionary and population genetics; ecosystem science; demography and population biology; behavioral and community ecology; and related fields of epidemiology, ethnobiology, public health, and environmental policy. Harnessing the expertise of this diverse faculty and the institutions of which they are a part, E3B covers a vast area of inquiry into the evolutionary, genetic, and ecological relationships among all living things.

Student Advising

DUS for Environmental Biology--Matthew Palmer  mp2434@columbia.edu

DUS for Evolutionary Biology of the Human Species--Jill Shapiro jss19@columbia.edu

Coursework Taken Outside of Columbia 

Information to be added

Undergraduate Research and Senior Thesis 

Information to be added

Department Honors and Prizes

Information to be added

Other Important Information 

Professors

• Marina Cords (also Anthropology)
• Ruth DeFries (also Climate School)
• Maria Diuk-Wasser
• Kevin Griffin (also Earth and Environmental Sciences)
• Shahid Naeem
• Dustin Rubenstein
• María Uriarte

Associate Professors

• Duncan Menge

Assistant Professors

• Andrés Bendesky
• Deren Eaton

Lecturers

• Bekka Brodie
• Matthew Palmer
• Jill Shapiro

Adjunct Faculty/Research Scientists

Columbia University

• Hilary Callahan (Barnard Biology)
• Steven Cohen (SIPA) 
• Lisa Dale
• Adela Gondek (SIPA)
• Paul Hertz (Barnard)
• Darcy Kelley (Biology)
• Allison Lopatkin (Barnard Biology)
• Alba Morales-Jimenez 
• Brian Morton (Barnard Biology)
• Paul Olsen (Lamont-Doherty)
• Dorothy Peteet (Lamont-Doherty)
• Miguel Pinedo Vasquez
• Alison Pischedda (Barnard Biology)
• Robert Pollack
• Marya Pollack
• Paige West (Barnard)
• Natalie Boelman (Lamont-Doherty)

American Museum of Natural History

• Felicity Arengo
• Mary Blair
• Frank Burbrink
• Joel Cracraft
• Suzanne Macey
• Anna MacPherson
• Christopher Raxworthy
• Robert Rockwell
• Nancy Simmons
• Brian Smith
• Jessica Ware

The New York Botanical Garden

• Alex McAlvay
• Michael Balick
• Dennis Stevenson

Wildlife Conservation Society

• Howard Rosenbaum
• Scott Silver
• Patrick R. Thomas

Ecohealth Alliance

• Peter Daszak
• Kevin Olival
• Mindy Rostal

Others

Rachel Cox (Riverdale Country School)

Winslow Hansen (Cary Institute)

Sara Kross (University of Canterbury)

Chad Seewagen (Great Hollow)

Eleanor Sterling (Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology)

Guidance for Undergraduate Students in the Department
 

Program Planning for all Students

Course Numbering Structure 

Guidance for First-Year Students 

Guidance for Transfer Students 
 

Undergraduate Programs of Study
 

The grade of D is not accepted for any course offered in fulfillment of the requirements toward the majors or concentrations.

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Major in Environmental Biology: new requirements for students who declare as of March 2025.

Consult the DUS with any questions as to your requirements.

The major in environmental biology requires 42 points, distributed as follows:

Lower Division Courses

Biological Science Foundations: Two courses of introductory or environmental biology. Any two-course biology sequence must include some coverage of ecology, evolution, and ecosystem science.  The following sequence is recommended.  

EEEB UN2001 ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY I & EEEB UN2002 ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY II

BIOL UN2005 INTRO BIO I: BIOCHEM,GEN,MOLEC, BIOL UN2006 INTRO BIO II:CELL BIO,DEV/PHYS, and BIOL BC1502 INTRO CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOL can substitute for EEEB UN2001. BIOL BC1500 INTRO ORGANISMAL/EVOL BIOL can substitute for EEEB UN2002.  

Physical Science Foundations: Two to four courses in physical sciences totaling at least 8 points. Students should choose one of the following sequences.

CHEM UN1403 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I-LECTURES & CHEM UN1404 GENERAL CHEMISTRY II-LECTURES  (or a more advanced chemistry sequence totaling at least 8 points)

EESC UN2100 EARTH'S ENVIRO SYST: CLIM SYST & EESC UN2200 EARTH'S ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS: THE SOLID EARTH (or a more advanced combination of climate and earth science courses totaling at least 8 points)

PHYS UN1201 GENERAL PHYSICS I, PHYS UN1202 GENERAL PHYSICS II, PHYS UN1291 GENERAL PHYSICS I LAB, PHYS UN1292 GENERAL PHYSICS II LABORATORY (or a more advanced physics sequence totaling at least 8 points)

Quantitative Foundations: Three courses totaling at least 9 points from the following subject areas:

Statistics (EEEB UN3005 INTRO-STAT-ECOLOGY ＆ EVOL BIOL recommended; can substitute with STAT UN1101 INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS or more advanced statistics course).  At least one course in statistics is strongly recommended for the major.

Mathematics (MATH UN1101 CALCULUS I or a more advanced mathematics course)

Computer Science (COMS W1004 Introduction to Computer Science and Programming in Java or a more advanced computer science course). Courses based on computing applications taught outside the computer science department (e.g., courses in GIS) can also satisfy this requirement. Check with major advisor for approval of specific courses.

Upper Division Courses

Advanced electives in Ecology, Evolution, or Environmental Biology:  Five courses. All courses must be at least 3 points and at least one course must have a laboratory component.

These courses are generally 3000-level or above and taught in EEEB, Biology, Barnard Biology, Sustainable Development, Earth and Environmental Science, and Barnard Environmental Science, but courses from other departments can be approved. Appropriate Barnard Biology and Barnard Environmental Sciences at the 2000-level are generally approved. Check with major advisor for approval of specific courses.

Students should complete a senior thesis, which involves completing a research internship (generally in the summer before the senior year) and completing at least one semester of the thesis research seminar, EEEB UN3991 - EEEB UN3992  THESIS RESEARCH SEMINAR. Enrollment in both semesters of the seminar, starting in the spring of the junior year, is recommended.  The thesis is strongly recommended for all majors, but in cases where a student cannot complete a thesis, additional advanced electives or workshop courses can substituted in place of the thesis.  Students should consult with the major advisor about plans for the thesis.

Major in Environmental Biology: for students who entered in or before the 2024-25 academic year. 

Consult the DUS with any questions as to your requirements.

The major in environmental biology requires 50 points, distributed as follows:

Lower Division Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Points
Two terms of introductory or environmental biology such as the following:
EEEB UN2001 & EEEB UN2002	ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY I and ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY II
Two terms of environmental science such as the following:
EESC UN2100	EARTH'S ENVIRO SYST: CLIM SYST
EESC UN2200	EARTH'S ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS: THE SOLID EARTH
Two terms of chemistry such as the following:
CHEM UN1403 & CHEM UN1404	GENERAL CHEMISTRY I-LECTURES and GENERAL CHEMISTRY II-LECTURES
One term of physics such as the following:
PHYS UN1201	GENERAL PHYSICS I
One term of statistics such as the following:
EEEB UN3005	INTRO-STAT-ECOLOGY ＆ EVOL BIOL
BIOL BC2286	STATISTICS ＆ RESEARCH DESIGN
STAT UN1101	INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS
STAT UN1201	CALC-BASED INTRO TO STATISTICS
One term of calculus such as the following:
MATH UN1101	CALCULUS I
MATH UN1102	CALCULUS II
MATH UN1201	CALCULUS III
MATH UN1202	CALCULUS IV

Upper Division Courses

Students must complete five advanced elective courses (generally 3000-level or above) satisfying the following distribution. At least one of these courses must include a laboratory component. For more information and a list of appropriate courses, contact the director of undergraduate studies.

1. Ecology, behavior, or conservation biology;
2. Evolution or genetics;
3. Morphology, physiology, or diversity;
4. Policy or economics;
5. One additional course from the preceding four groups.

Students must also complete a senior thesis, which involves completing a research internship (generally in the summer before the senior year) and completing at least one semester of the thesis research seminar, EEEB UN3991- EEEB UN3992 THESIS RESEARCH SEMINAR. Enrollment in both semesters of the seminar, starting in the spring of the junior year, is recommended.

Students planning on continuing into graduate studies in environmental biology or related fields are encouraged to take organic chemistry and genetics.

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Ecology and Evolution Track within the Environmental Biology Major: for students who entered in or before the 2024-25 academic year. 

Consult the DUS with any questions as to your requirements.

The ecology and evolution track within the environmental biology major requires 50 points, distributed as follows:

Lower Division Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Points
Two terms of introductory or environmental biology such as the following:
EEEB UN2001 & EEEB UN2002	ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY I and ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY II
Two terms of chemistry such as the following:
CHEM UN1403 & CHEM UN1404	GENERAL CHEMISTRY I-LECTURES and GENERAL CHEMISTRY II-LECTURES
Chemistry laboratory such as the following:
CHEM UN1500	GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY
Two terms of physics such as the following:
PHYS UN1201 & PHYS UN1202	GENERAL PHYSICS I and GENERAL PHYSICS II
One term of statistics such as the following:
EEEB UN3005	INTRO-STAT-ECOLOGY ＆ EVOL BIOL
BIOL BC2286	STATISTICS ＆ RESEARCH DESIGN
STAT UN1101	INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS
STAT UN1201	CALC-BASED INTRO TO STATISTICS
Two terms of calculus, or one term of calculus and second advanced course in math or statistics such as the following:
MATH UN1101	CALCULUS I
MATH UN1102	CALCULUS II
MATH UN1201	CALCULUS III
MATH UN1202	CALCULUS IV

Upper Division Courses

Students must complete five advanced elective courses (generally 3000-level or above) satisfying the following distribution. At least one of these courses must include a laboratory component. For more information and a list of appropriate courses, contact the director of undergraduate studies.

1. Three courses in ecology, evolution, conservation biology, or behavior;
2. One course in genetics. BIOL UN3031 GENETICS or BIOL BC2100 MOLECULAR ＆ MENDELIAN GENETICS is recommended;
3. One course in morphology, physiology, or diversity.

Students must also complete a senior thesis, which involves completing a research internship (generally in the summer before the senior year) and completing at least one semester of the thesis research seminar, EEEB UN3991-EEEB UN3992 THESIS RESEARCH SEMINAR. Enrollment in both semesters of the seminar, starting in the spring of the junior year, is recommended.

Students planning on continuing into graduate studies in ecology or evolutionary biology are encouraged to take organic chemistry.

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Major in Evolutionary Biology of the Human Species

The major in evolutionary biology of the human species requires 36 points, distributed as described below.

Students must take a minimum of 20 points from approved biological anthropology courses.  The additional courses may be taken in other departments with adviser approval.  These include up to 6 points of introductory biology/chemistry or calculus (in any combination).  Please speak with the major adviser about the extended list of courses from related areas including Biology, Psychology, Archaeology, Anthropology, Earth and Environmental Science, and Statistics that count toward this program.

For example, students interested in focusing on paleoanthropology would complement the requirements with additional courses in human evolution and morphology, evolutionary biology and theory, archaeology, genetics, and statistics.  Those interested in primate behavior would supplement the requirements with classes in behavioral biology, ecology, and statistics. 

Required Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Points
EEEB UN1010	HUMAN ORIGINS ＆ EVOLUTION
EEEB UN1011	BEHAVIOR BIOL-LIVING PRIMATES

**Alternate options may be possible for all courses other than EEEB UN1010 HUMAN ORIGINS ＆ EVOLUTION and EEEB UN1011 BEHAVIOR BIOL-LIVING PRIMATES.  These will be considered on an individual basis in consultation with the major/concentration adviser.   

Conservation Course

Course List

Code	Title	Points
EEEB UN3240	Challenges and Strategies of Primate Conservation (This is the recommended conservation course but this requirement can be fulfilled with other classes such as Conservation Biology, Zoo Consevation, Ecology, Behavior and Conservation of Mammals, SEE-U in Jordan or Brazil, or other relevant offerings.)

Theoretical Foundation from Archaeology

Select one course of the following:  Nearly all archaeology courses (save for Rise of Civilization) can fulfill this requirement.  Check with the advisor.

Course List

Code	Title	Points
Archaeology
ANTH UN1007	THE ORIGINS OF HUMAN SOCIETY
ANTH UN2028	THINK LIKE AN ARCHAEOLOGIST
ANTH UN2031	Corpse Life: Anthropological Histories of the Dead [Previously Archaeologies of Death and
ANTH UN3823	ARCH ENGAGE: PAST IN PUB EYE

Breadth Requirement

Select a minimum of one course from each of the three sections (may overlap seminar requirement for majors): As noted above, this is a partial listing. There are additional options for all of the categories that follow. They will be considered on an individual basis in consultation with the major/concentration adviser.

Course List

Code	Title	Points
Human Variation/Adaptation/Genetics
EEEB UN3970 Biol Basis Of Human Variation
EEEB GU4340	HUMAN ADAPTATION
EEEB GU4700	RACE:TANGLED HIST-BIOL CONCEPT
BIOL BC2100	MOLECULAR ＆ MENDELIAN GENETICS
BIOL GU4560	EVOL IN THE AGE OF GENOMICS
Primate Behavioral Biology and Ecology
EEEB UN3940	Current Controversies in Primate Behavior and Ecology
EEEB GU4015	ANIMAL COMMUN:PRIMATE PERSP
EEEB GU4134	Behavioral Ecology
EEEB GU4201	ECO, BEHAVIOR ＆ CONSERVATION OF MAMMALS (can count for either breadth requirement or conservation requirement, but not both)
EEEB GU4350	PRIMATE SEXUALITY
EEEB GU4370	Parenting Like A Primate: The Evolution of Parental Care
BIOL BC2272	ECOLOGY
BIOL BC2280	ANIMAL BEHAVIOR
PSYC BC1119	Systems and Behavioral Neuroscience
PSYC UN2420	ANIMAL BEHAVIOR
PSYC UN2450	BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
PSYC S2490	EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY
PSYC BC3372	Comparative Cognition
PSYC UN3450	Evolution of Intelligence, Animal Communication, ＆ Language
PSYC GU4242	Evolution of Language (seminar)
PSYC GU4250	Evolution of Intelligence, Cognition, and Language (Seminar)
Human Evolution/Morphology
EEEB UN3204	Dynamics of Human Evolution
EEEB UN3208	EXPLORATIONS IN PRIM ANATOMY
EEEB UN3215	FORENSIC OSTEOLOGY
EEEB UN3220	THE EVOL OF HUM GROWTH ＆ DEVPT
EEEB UN3910	THE NEANDERTALS
EEEB UN3998	INDEPENDENT STUDY
EEEB GU4200	Introduction to Mammalogy
ANAT BC2573	HUMAN ANATOMY AND MOVEMENT
BIOL BC2278	EVOLUTION
BIOL UN3006	PHYSIOLOGY
BIOL UN3208	Introduction to Evolutionary Biology
BIOL UN3019	Brain Evolution
BIOL BC3360	PHYSIOLOGY

Seminar

Selection at least one of the following seminars.  May also count toward the breadth requirement.

Course List

Code	Title	Points
EEEB UN3204	Dynamics of Human Evolution
EEEB UN3910	THE NEANDERTALS
EEEB UN3940	Current Controversies in Primate Behavior and Ecology
EEEB UN3970 Biol Basis Of Human Variation
EEEB UN3993 & EEEB UN3994	EBHS SENIOR THESIS SEMINAR and EBHS SENIOR THESIS SEMINAR

Additional courses in the student's area of focus to complete the required 36 points overall including a minimum of 20 points of approved biological anthropology courses.

Students intending to pursue graduate study in this field should broaden their foundation by taking an introductory biology course (optimally either EEEB UN2001 ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY I or EEEB UN2002 ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY II) or an advanced evolution course, a genetics course, and a statistics course.  We recommend that those interested in either biological anthropology or bioarchaeology take a foundation cultural anthropology course such as ANTH UN1002 THE INTERPRETATION OF CULTURE, ANTH UN2004 INTRO TO SOC ＆ CULTURAL THEORY, ANTH UN2005 THE ETHNOGRAPHIC IMAGINATION, or ANTH UN3040 ANTHROPOLOGICAL THEORY.  Students interested in forensic anthropology should take chemistry in lieu of of biology (though the latter is recommended as a foundation course for all students).  The adviser makes additional recommendations dependent on the student’s area of focus.

Approved Biological Anthropology Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Points
Paleoanthropology and Morphology
EEEB UN1010	HUMAN ORIGINS ＆ EVOLUTION
EEEB UN3204	Dynamics of Human Evolution
EEEB UN3208	EXPLORATIONS IN PRIM ANATOMY
EEEB UN3215	FORENSIC OSTEOLOGY
EEEB UN3220	THE EVOL OF HUM GROWTH ＆ DEVPT
EEEB UN3910	THE NEANDERTALS
EEEB UN3998	INDEPENDENT STUDY
Primate Behavioral Ecology and Evolution
EEEB UN1011	BEHAVIOR BIOL-LIVING PRIMATES
EEEB UN3940	Current Controversies in Primate Behavior and Ecology
EEEB GU4015	ANIMAL COMMUN:PRIMATE PERSP
EEEB GU4350	PRIMATE SEXUALITY
EEEB GU4370	Parenting Like A Primate: The Evolution of Parental Care
Human Variation
EEEB UN3970 Biol Basis Of Human Variation
EEEB GU4340	HUMAN ADAPTATION
EEEB GU4700	RACE:TANGLED HIST-BIOL CONCEPT
Additional Courses
EEEB UN3240	Challenges and Strategies of Primate Conservation
EEEB UN3993 & EEEB UN3994	EBHS SENIOR THESIS SEMINAR and EBHS SENIOR THESIS SEMINAR

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MINOR IN ECOLOGY, EVOLUTION, AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY

Beginning in fall 2024 E3B is pleased to announce a new minor in Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology.  This minor provides both grounding in the intellectual pillars of the department while affording students the option to explore the broad scope of biodiversity, ecosystems, and environmental and evolutionary biology.  Students may also delve into specific subfields such as conservation biology, botany, behavioral biology and ecology, ecosystem ecology, primatology, or human evolution.  No previous biology background is required.  Ideally, students will take one course by the end of their second year to see if the program is of interest, but juniors and even seniors who develop a curiosity in the subject may complete the minor without difficulty. 

Advising:   Contact the Directors of Undergraduate Programs.  Matt Palmer mp2434@columbia.edu  advises students who have a broad organismal/ecosystem focus corresponding to interests in the EB program; Jill Shapiro jss19@columbia.edu  advises students with a focus on human and non-human primate evolutionary biology and behavior, corresponding to the EBHS program.  In addition to the program advisors, guidance as to offerings and a complete list of courses including prerequisites is available on the E3B website.

REQUIRED COURSES

Minors must take one of the following four introductory courses and any other four 3-4 points E3B courses (this includes the other introductory classes). 

EEEB UN2001  Environmental Biology 1 (offered every fall)

EEEB UN2002  Environmental Biology 2 (offered every spring)

EEEB UN1010 Human Origins and Evolution (offered every fall)

EEEB UN1011 Behavioral Biology of Living Primates (offered every spring)

The four introductory offerings are “gateway” classes.  We recommend that students interested broadly in organismal biology/environmental biology take either Environmental Biology 1 or 2, or both.  Those with a focus on human and non-human primate evolutionary biology and behavior should take either Human Origins and Evolution or Behavioral Biology of Living Primates.  This will maximize the number of upper-level courses that would be open but there is still considerable flexibility.  There are a small number of classes without any prerequisites and students with foundational biology courses from either Columbia or Barnard Biology may fulfill some class prerequisites*.  Advisors will provide guidance as to offerings and a complete list of courses including prerequisites is available on the E3B website.

*BIOL2005/2006 and Barnard BIO BC1501 are similar to EEEB2001 (Environmental Biology 1) and may substitute this for courses requiring the latter as a prerequisite, but must take five other courses in E3B.  Since the BIOL sequence does not include evolution (in contrast to EB1) we highly recommend that they take Environmental Biology 2 or one of the other foundation courses.  Barnard BIO BC1500 is similar to Environmental Biology 2 and so students who have completed this can count it as having satisfied the introductory course requirement, and so can take any five  courses in E3B to complete the minor.

COURSE OPTIONS

UN3001 Saga of Life

UN3005 Intro Statistics Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

UN3087 Conservation Biology

UN3204 Dynamics of Human Evolution

UN3208 Explorations Primate Anatomy

UN3215 Forensic Osteology

UN3220 Evolution of Human Growth and Evolution

UN3240 Primate Conservation

UN3910 The Neandertals 

UN3940 Current Controversies in Primate Behavior

UN3970 Biological Basis of Human Variation

UN3919 Trading Nature

UN3997 Independent Study

UN3998.002 Group Independent Study in Postcranial Osteology

GU4015 Animal Communication: A Primate Perspective

GU4050 Programming and Data Science Skills

 GU4055 Principles and Applications in Modern DNA Sequencing

GU4065 Tropical Biology (Winter Break Course in Kenya)

GU4086 Ethnobotany

GU4100 Forest Ecology

GU4105 Intermediate Statistics for Ecology and Evolution

GU4111 Ecosystem Ecology and Global Change

GU4112 Ichthyology

GU4126 Conservation Genetics

GU4127 Disease Ecology

GU4129 Zoo Conservation

GU4134 Behavioral Ecology 

GU4135 Urban Ecology and Design

GU4140 Ornithology

GU4150 Theoretical Ecology

GU4160 Landscape Ecology

GU4192 Introduction to Landscape Analysis

GU4195 Marine Conservation

GU4200 Introduction to Mammalogy

GU4201 Ecology, Behavior and Conservation of Mammals

GU4210 Herpetology

GU4340 Human Adaptation

GU4350 Primate Sexuality

GU4370 Parenting Like a Primate: the Evolution of Parental Care

GU4550 Plant Ecophysiology

GU4605 Human-Wildlife Conflict

GU4650 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Processes

GU4666 Insect Diversity

GU4670 Introduction to GIS

GU4700 Race: The Tangled History of a Biological Concept

GU4910 Field Botany and Plant Systematics

Summer Only:

S1001 Biodiversity

S1115 The Life Aquatic

S3015 Animal Behavior Through Fieldwork

With advisor approval, students may take a maximum of two courses from a limited set taught by affiliates in other departments.  For example:  DEES GU4560 The Ecology of Tree line in a Changing Climate;  BIOL-BC2240 Plant Evolution and Diversity; BIOL/ANAT BC2574-Laboratory in Human Anatomy; BIOL-BC2272 Ecology; and BIOL BC-3380-Applied Ecology and Evolution.

Examples of focused programs (e.g., biodiversity, botany, conservation, ecology, evolutionary biology, human evolution & morphology, primatology, zoology, etc., available on the E3B Department website https://e3b.columbia.edu/

For students who entered Columbia in or before the 2023-24 academic year

Concentration in Environmental Biology

The concentration in environmental biology differs from the major in omitting calculus and physics from the lower division, requiring three advanced electives rather than five, and omitting the senior seminar with thesis project. It requires 36 points, distributed as follows:

Lower Division Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Points
Two terms of introductory or environmental biology such as the following:
EEEB UN2001 & EEEB UN2002	ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY I and ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY II (or equivalents)
Two terms of environmental science such as the following:
EESC UN2100	EARTH'S ENVIRO SYST: CLIM SYST
EESC UN2200	EARTH'S ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS: THE SOLID EARTH
Two terms of chemistry such as the following:
CHEM UN1403 & CHEM UN1404	GENERAL CHEMISTRY I-LECTURES and GENERAL CHEMISTRY II-LECTURES
One term of statistics. Select one of the following:
EEEB UN3005	INTRO-STAT-ECOLOGY ＆ EVOL BIOL
BIOL BC2286	STATISTICS ＆ RESEARCH DESIGN
STAT UN1101	INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS
STAT UN1201	CALC-BASED INTRO TO STATISTICS

Upper Division Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Points
EEEB UN3087	CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
Two other 3000- or 4000- level courses from the advanced environmental biology courses listed for the major.

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Concentration in Evolutionary Biology of the Human Species

The concentration in evolutionary biology of the human species requires 20 points including the required introductory courses EEEB UN1010 HUMAN ORIGINS ＆ EVOLUTION, EEEB UN1011 BEHAVIOR BIOL-LIVING PRIMATES, an approved conservation course (optimally Primate Conservation) , and three courses for the breadth distribution requirements as described for the major. Students must take a minimum of 15 points from approved biological anthropology courses as described for the major (the two introductory classes count toward that total). The additional courses may be taken in other departments with adviser approval.

Concentrators do not have to complete the theoretical foundation course from archaeology or a seminar.

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Special Concentration in Environmental Science for Environmental Biology Majors

The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences sponsors a special concentration which must be done in conjunction with the environmental biology major. Students should be aware that they must complete the environmental biology major in order to receive credit for the special concentration.

The special concentration in environmental science requires a minimum of 31.5 points, distributed as follows:

Introductory Environmental Science (13.5 points)

Course List

Code	Title	Points
EESC UN2100	EARTH'S ENVIRO SYST: CLIM SYST
EESC UN2200	EARTH'S ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS: THE SOLID EARTH
EESC UN2300	EARTH'S ENVIRO SYST: LIFE SYST (equivalent to EEEB UN2002)

Introductory Science (6 points)

Course List

Code	Title	Points
Two courses in chemistry, physics, mathematics, or environmental biology from the supporting mathematics and science list for the environmental science major.

Advanced Environmental Science (12 points)

Course List

Code	Title	Points
Select four of the following:
EESC UN3015	The Earth's Carbon Cycle
EESC BC3017	ENVIRONMENTAL DATA ANALYSIS
EESC BC3025	HYDROLOGY
EESC GU4008	Introduction to Atmospheric Science
EESC GU4050	GLOBAL ASSMT-REMOTE SENSING
EESC GU4223	SEDIMENTARY GEOLOGY
EESC GU4550	Plant Ecophysiology
EESC GU4835	Wetlands and Climate Change
EESC GU4885	CHEMISTRY OF CONTINENTL WATERS
EESC GU4917	THE EARTH/HUMAN INTERACTIONS
EESC GU4926	INTRO TO CHEMICAL OCEANOGRAPHY

Advanced courses used to fulfill requirements in the environmental biology major cannot count toward requirements for the special concentration.

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Special Concentration in Environmental Biology for Environmental Science Majors

The Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology sponsors a special concentration which must be done in conjunction with the environmental science major. Students should be aware that they must complete the environmental science major in order to receive credit for the special concentration.

The special concentration in environmental biology requires a minimum of 39 points, distributed as follows:

Introductory Environmental Biology and Environmental Science (17 points)

Course List

Code	Title	Points
EEEB UN2001	ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY I
EEEB UN2002	ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY II (equivalent to EESC UN2300)
EESC UN2100	EARTH'S ENVIRO SYST: CLIM SYST
EESC UN2200	EARTH'S ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS: THE SOLID EARTH

Introductory Science (13 points)

Course List

Code	Title	Points
Select one of the following chemistry sequences:
CHEM UN1403 & CHEM UN1404	GENERAL CHEMISTRY I-LECTURES and GENERAL CHEMISTRY II-LECTURES
CHEM UN1604 & CHEM UN2507	2ND TERM GEN CHEM (INTENSIVE) and Intensive General Chemistry Laboratory
One term of statistics such as the following:
EEEB UN3005	INTRO-STAT-ECOLOGY ＆ EVOL BIOL
BIOL BC2286	STATISTICS ＆ RESEARCH DESIGN
STAT UN1101	INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS
STAT UN1201	CALC-BASED INTRO TO STATISTICS
EEEB UN3087	CONSERVATION BIOLOGY

Advanced Environmental Biology (9 points)

Course List

Code	Title	Points
Three additional advanced environmental biology courses (3000-level and above), each chosen from a different curricular area (evolution/genetics, ecology/behavior/conservation, anatomy/physiology/diversity, biology laboratory courses).

Fall 2025

Spring 2025

Of Related Interest

Course List

Code	Title	Points
Economics
ECON GU4625	ECONOMICS OF THE ENVIRONMENT
Earth and Environmental Sciences
EESC UN2330	SCIENCE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVPT
EESC GU4050	GLOBAL ASSMT-REMOTE SENSING
EESC GU4550	Plant Ecophysiology
EESC GU4835	Wetlands and Climate Change
Political Science
POLS GU4730	GAME THEORY ＆ POLIT THEORY