Earth and Environmental Engineering (BS)
The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Earth and Environmental Engineering prepares students for careers in the public and private sector concerned with primary materials (minerals, fuels, water) and the environment. Graduates are also prepared to continue with further studies in Earth/Environmental sciences and engineering, business, public policy, international studies, law, and medicine. The EEE program is accredited as an environmental engineering program by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org. Practice and theory are both critical to the advancement of earth and environmental engineering; the department works actively with students to reach their learning outcomes and research and career goals.
Undergraduate Program Objectives
- Graduates equipped with the necessary tools (mathematics, chemistry, physics, earth sciences, and engineering science) will understand and implement the underlying principles used in the engineering of processes and systems.
- Graduates will be able to pursue careers in industry, government agencies, and other organizations concerned with the environment and the provision of primary and secondary materials and energy, as well as continue their education as graduate students in related disciplines.
- Graduates will possess the basic skills needed for the practice of Earth and Environmental Engineering, including measurement and control of material flows through the environment; assessment of environmental impact of past, present, and future industrial activities; and analysis and design of processes for remediation, recycling, and disposal of used materials.
- Graduates will practice their profession with excellent written and communication skills and with professional ethics and responsibilities.
Undergraduate Student Outcomes
- an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
- an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
- an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
- an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
- an ability to function effectively on teams whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
- an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
- an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
The Curriculum
The first two years of the EEE program are similar to those of other engineering programs. Students are provided with a strong foundation in basic sciences and mathematics, as well as the liberal arts core. Specific to the EEE program is an early and sustained introduction to earth science and environmental engineering, and options for a number of science courses to meet the specific interests of each student. The junior and senior years of the program consist of a group of required courses in engineering science and a broad selection of technical electives organized. The department website at eee.columbia.edu details the required courses and other information.
Several Columbia departments, such as Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Earth and Environmental Sciences (Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory), as well as the Mailman School of Public Health, contribute courses to the EEE program. EEE students are strongly encouraged to work as summer interns in industry or agencies on projects related to Earth and Environmental Engineering.
Earth and Environmental Engineering Program
An overview of the degree track in PDF format can be found here.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester I | ||
| Choose one of the following Mathematics courses: | ||
| CALCULUS I | ||
| HONORS MATHEMATICS A | ||
| Choose one of the following Physics courses: | ||
| INTRO TO MECHANICS ＆ THERMO | ||
| PHYSICS I:MECHANICS/RELATIVITY | ||
| ACCELERATED PHYSICS I | ||
| Choose one of the following Chemistry courses: | ||
| GENERAL CHEMISTRY I-LECTURES | ||
| 2ND TERM GEN CHEM (INTENSIVE) | ||
| INTENSVE ORGANIC CHEMISTRY | ||
| ENGL CC1010 (taken Semester l or ll) | UNIVERSITY WRITING | |
| ENGI E1006 (taken Semester l, ll, lll, or lV) | INTRO TO COMP FOR ENG/APP SCI | |
| PHED UN1001 | PHYSICAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES | |
| ENGI E1102 (taken Semester l or ll) | THE ART OF ENGINEERING | |
| Semester II | ||
| Choose one of the following Mathematics courses: | ||
| CALCULUS II | ||
| HONORS MATHEMATICS B | ||
| Choose one of the following Physics courses: | ||
| INTRO ELEC/MAGNETSM ＆ OPTCS | ||
| PHYSICS II: THERMO, ELEC ＆ MAG | ||
| ACCELERATED PHYSICS II | ||
| Choose one of the following Chemistry courses: | ||
| GENERAL CHEMISTRY II-LECTURES | ||
| INTENSVE GENERAL CHEMISTRY-LAB | ||
| INTENSVE ORG CHEM-FOR 1ST YEAR | ||
| ENGL CC1010 (taken Semester l or ll) | UNIVERSITY WRITING | |
| ENGI E1006 (taken Semester l, ll, lll, or lV) | INTRO TO COMP FOR ENG/APP SCI | |
| PHED UN1002 | PHYSICAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES | |
| ENGI E1102 (taken Semester l or ll) | THE ART OF ENGINEERING | |
| Second Year | ||
| Semester III | ||
| Choose one of the following Mathematics courses: | ||
| APMA E2000 - APMA E2001 | MULTV. CALC. FOR ENGI ＆ APP SCI | |
| Choose one of the following Chemistry/Physics/Biology courses: | ||
| ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I-LECTURES | ||
| INTRO-CLASSCL ＆ QUANTUM WAVES | ||
| PHYSICS III:CLASS/QUANTUM WAVE | ||
| INTRO BIO I: BIOCHEM,GEN,MOLEC | ||
| Choose one of the following Required Nontechnical Electives: | ||
| EURPN LIT-PHILOS MASTERPIECS I | ||
| CONTEMP WESTERN CIVILIZATION I | ||
Global Core (3–4) | ||
| Choose one of the following Required Professional and Technical Electives: | ||
| EARTH'S ENVIRO SYST: CLIM SYST | ||
| EARTH'S ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS: THE SOLID EARTH | ||
| EAEE E2100 | A BETTER PLANET BY DESIGN | |
| ENGI E1006 (taken Semester l, ll, lll, or lV) | INTRO TO COMP FOR ENG/APP SCI | |
| Semester IV | ||
| Choose one of the following Mathematics courses: | ||
| INTRO TO APPLIED MATHEMATICS | ||
| ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS | ||
| EACE E4252 | Foundations of Environmental Engineering | |
| Choose one of the following Required Nontechnical Electives: | ||
| EURPN LIT-PHILOS MASTRPIECS II | ||
| CONTEMP WESTRN CIVILIZATION II | ||
Global Core (3–4) | ||
| ECON UN1105 - ECON UN1155 | PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICS | |
| HUMA UN1121 or UN1123 | MASTERPIECES OF WESTERN ART | |
| STAT GU4001 | INTRODUCTION TO PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS | |
| Third Year | ||
| Semester V | ||
| EAEE E3103 | ENERGY,MINERALS,MATERIALS SYST | |
| EAEE E3200 | TRANSPORT/CHEM RATE PHENOMENA | |
| CHEE E3010 | ||
| Nontech Elective (3 points) | ||
| Semester VI | ||
| EAEE E4003 | AQUATIC CHEMISTRY | |
| EACE E3250 | Hydrosystems Engineering | |
| EAEE E3800 | EARTH ＆ ENVIR ENGIN LAB I | |
| EAEE E3901 | ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY | |
| Tech Elective (3 points) | ||
| Fourth Year | ||
| Semester VII | ||
| EAEE E3998 | UNDERGRADUATE PROJECT I | |
| EAEE E4160 | SOLID ＆ HAZARDOUS WASTE MGMT | |
| Tech Elective (6 points) | ||
| Nontech Elective (3 points) | ||
| Semester VIII | ||
| EACE E3255 | ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL AND POLLUTION REDUCTION | |
| EAEE E3999 | UNDERGRADUATE PROJECT II | |
| Tech Elective (9 points) | ||
| Nontech Electives (6 points) | ||