General Information: Center for the Core Curriculum, 202 Hamilton; 854-2453
Current List: http://www.college.columbia.edu/bulletin/core/science.php
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.
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.
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
ASTR C1403 and either C1404, C1420, BC1754, or C1836
ASTR BC1753 and either C1404 or BC1754
BIOL C1002 Theory and practice of science: biology
BIOL C1015 Molecular biology and evolution for nonscientists
BIOL W1130 Genes and development
COMS W1001 Introduction to information science
EAEE E1100 A better planet by design
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
EESC V1011 and either V1012 or V1412
EESC V1411 and either V1012 or V1412
EEEB W1001 Biodiversity
EEEB V1010 Human species
EEEB V1011 Behavioral biology of the living primates
EEEB W1001-W3087 (see Additional Courses Approved for the Science Requirement)
ELEN E1101 The digital information age
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
PHYS C1001 Physics for poets, I
PHYS C1002 Physics for poets, II
PSYC W1001 The science of psychology
PSYC W1010 Mind, brain, and behavior
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.
SCNC W1800 From the conservation of energy to energy conservation
STAT W1001 Introduction to statistical reasoning
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.
Any 3-point course numbered 2000 or higher
Any 3-point course numbered 2000 or higher
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
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
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
EEEB W2001 Environmental biology, I
EEEB W2002 Environmental biology, II
EEEB W3087 Conservation biology
Any course numbered 3000 or higher except W4321 and W4700.
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
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
Any 3-point course numbered 32xx, 34xx, 42xx, or 44xx
Any 3-point course except STAT C3997
The following special program fulfills two of the three terms of the science requirement.
Summer ecosystem experience for undergraduates: locations change yearly. Check with the center in the spring semester for details.
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