The objective of the science component of Columbia College’s Core Curriculum is identical to that of its humanities and social science counterparts, namely to help students “to understand the civilization of their own day and to participate effectively in it.” The science component is intended specifically to provide students with the opportunity to learn what kinds of questions are asked about nature, how hypotheses are tested against experimental or observational evidence, how results of tests are evaluated, and what knowledge has been accumulated about the workings of the natural world.

Three courses (at least 10 points) must be completed to meet this portion of the Core Curriculum.

Students normally take SCNC C1000 Frontiers of science in their first-year in the term in which they are not taking ENGL C1010 University writing.

For the remainder of the requirement students may choose any two courses from the list of approved courses below. These courses may be taken in the same department or in different departments. However, at least one course must be taken in the Departments of Astronomy; Biological Sciences; Chemistry; Earth and Environmental Sciences; Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology; Physics; or Psychology.

Students who wish to request an exception to these policies must petition the Committee on Science Instruction (202 Hamilton) prior to their final term at the College.

Courses Approved for the Science Requirement

Unless otherwise indicated, students may not use Barnard College courses to fulfill the Columbia College science requirement.

Students who wish to have a course not included on the list below count toward fulfilling the science requirement must petition the Committee on Science Instruction (202 Hamilton) prior to registration for the term in which they intend to take the course.

Students should pay careful attention to the prerequisites and instructor approvals required for certain courses. Prerequisite and instructor approval requirements can be found in the course descriptions for each course located in specific departments' sections of this bulletin.

While students are not required to complete a two-term sequence, students may choose to do so. For this reason, the Committee on Science Instruction has indicated recommended sequences below. Unless otherwise noted, the first course in the sequence must be taken before the second course in the sequence.

Courses Designed for Nonscience Majors:

Astronomy [ASTR]:

ASTR C1234 The universal timekeeper: an introduction to scientific habits of mind, I

ASTR C1235 The universal timekeeper: an introduction to scientific habits of mind, II

ASTR C1403 Earth, moon, and planets 

ASTR C1404 Beyond the solar system

ASTR C1420 Galaxies and cosmology

ASTR C1610 Theories of the universe: from Babylon to the big bang

ASTR BC1753 Introduction to astronomy, I

ASTR BC1754 Introduction to astronomy, II

ASTR C1836 Stars and atoms

Recommended Sequences:

ASTR C1234-C1235

ASTR C1403 and either C1404, C1420, BC1754, or C1836

ASTR BC1753 and either C1404 or BC1754

Biology [BIOL]:

BIOL C1002 Theory and practice of science: biology

BIOL C1015 Molecular biology and evolution for nonscientists

BIOL W1130 Genes and development

Computer Science [COMS]:

COMS W1001 Introduction to information science

Earth and Environmental Engineering [EAEE]:

EAEE E1100 A better planet by design

Earth and Environmental Sciences [EESC]:

EESC V1001 Dinosaurs and the history of life: lectures and lab

EESC V1003 Climate and society: case studies

EESC V1011 Earth: origin, evolution, processes, future: lectures and lab

EESC V1030 Oceanography

EESC V1053 Planet Earth

EESC V1201 Environmental risks and disasters

EESC V1401 Dinosaurs and the history of life: lectures

EESC V1411 Earth: origin, evolution, processes, future: lectures

EESC V1412 Introduction to Earth sciences, II: lectures

EESC V1600 Earth resources and sustainable development

EESC W3018 Weapons of mass destruction

Recommended Sequences:

EESC V1011 and either V1012 or V1412

EESC V1411 and either V1012 or V1412

Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology [EEEB]:

EEEB W1001 Biodiversity 

EEEB V1010 Human species

EEEB V1011 Behavioral biology of the living primates

Recommended Sequences:

EEEB W1001-W3087 (see Additional Courses Approved for the Science Requirement)

EEEB V1010-V1011

Electrical Engineering [ELEN]:

ELEN E1101 The digital information age

Mathematics [MATH]:

For descriptions of the following courses, which may be used as courses in mathematics in partial fulfillment of the science requirement, see Departments of Instruction—Philosophy.

PHIL V3411 Symbolic logic

PHIL W4431 Introduction to set theory

PHIL G4424 Modal logic

Physics [PHYS]:

PHYS C1001 Physics for poets, I

PHYS C1002 Physics for poets, II

Recommended Sequences:

PHYS C1001-C1002

Psychology [PSYC]:

PSYC W1001 The science of psychology

PSYC W1010 Mind, brain, and behavior

Recommended Sequences:

PSYC W1001 and either W1010 or any PSYC course numbered 22xx or 24xx or any 3-point course numbered 32xx, 34xx, 42xx, or 44xx (see Additional Courses Approved for the Science Requirement).  2600-level psychology courses may not be used to fulfill the science requirement.

PSYC W1010 and either W1001 or any PSYC course numbered 22xx or 24xx or any 3-point course numbered 32xx, 34xx, 42xx, or 44xx (see Additional Courses Approved for the Science Requirement).  2600-level psychology courses may not be used to fulfill the science requirement.

science [scnc]:

SCNC W1800 From the conservation of energy to energy conservation

Statistics [STAT]:

STAT W1001 Introduction to statistical reasoning

Additional Courses Approved for the Science Requirement:

Most of the following courses have required prerequisites and/or require instructor approval. Prerequisite and instructor approval requirements can be found in the course descriptions for each course located in specific departments' sections of the on-line bulletin.

Astronomy [ASTR]:

Any 3-point course numbered 2000 or higher

Biology [BIOL]:

Any 3-point course numbered 2000 or higher

Chemistry [CHEM]:

CHEM C1403 General chemistry, I

CHEM C1404 General chemistry, II

CHEM C1500 General chemistry: laboratory

CHEM BC1601 General chemistry, I

CHEM BC1602 General chemistry, II

CHEM C2407 Intensive general chemistry: lecture

CHEM C2507 Intensive general chemistry: laboratory

Any course numbered 3000 or higher

Computer Science [COMP]:

COMS W1003 Introduction to computer science and programming in C

COMS W1004 Introduction to computer science and programming in JAVA

COMS W1005 Introduction to computer science and programming in MATLAB

COMS W1007 Object-oriented programming and design in JAVA

COMS W1009 Honors introduction to computer science

Any 3-point course numbered 3000 or higher

Earth and Environmental Sciences [EESC]:

EESC V2100 Earth’s environmental systems: the climate system

EESC V2200 Earth’s environmental systems: the solid Earth system

EESC V2300 Earth’s environmental systems: the life system

EESC W2330 Science for sustainable development

Any course numbered 3000 or higher

Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology [EEEB]:

EEEB W2001 Environmental biology, I

EEEB W2002 Environmental biology, II

EEEB W3087 Conservation biology

Any course numbered 3000 or higher except W4321 and W4700.

Mathematics [MATH]:

Any 3-point MATH course numbered 1100 or higher

For descriptions of the following courses, which may be used as courses in mathematics in partial fulfillment of the science requirement, see Departments of Instruction–Philosophy.

PHIL G4801 Mathematical logic, I: the completeness result

PHIL G4802 The incompleteness results in logic

Physics [PHYS]:

PHYS F1201 / V1201 / W1201 General physics: without calculus

PHYS F1202 / V1202 / W1202 General physics: without calculus

PHYS V1301 Honors general physics: with calculus

PHYS V1302 Honors general physics: with calculus

PHYS C1401 Introduction to mechanics and thermodynamics

PHYS C1402 Introduction to electricity, magnetism, and optics

PHYS C1403, Introduction to classical and quantum waves

PHYS C1601 Physics I: mechanics and relativity

PHYS C1602 Physics II: thermodynamics, electricity, and magnetism

Any 3-point course numbered 2000 or higher

Psychology [PSYC]:

Any 3-point course numbered 32xx, 34xx, 42xx, or 44xx

Statistics [STAT]:

Any 3-point course except STAT C3997

Special Summer Program:

The following special program fulfills two of the three terms of the science requirement.

Center for Environmental Research and Conversation [CERC]:

Summer ecosystem experience for undergraduates: locations change yearly. Check with the center in the spring semester for details.