Laboratory Science Requirement:

Barnard students may complete the Laboratory Science Requirement in Environmental Science with the two semester course, EESC BC 1001-1002, Introduction to Environmental Science* or they may choose any two of the following Environmental Science courses:
BC1001, Introduction to Environmental Science (first semester only)
V1001, Dinosaurs and the History of Life
V1011, Introduction to Earth Sciences
S1011, Introduction to Earth Sciences (summer)
V2100, Earth’s Environmental Systems: Climate
V2200, Earth’s Environmental Systems: Solid Earth
V2300, Earth’s Environmental Systems: The Life System

*EESC BC1001 is not required for the major but may be used as an elective; it is a prerequisite for EESC BC1002, offered in the spring. Potential majors with a strong science foundation should consider taking EESC V2100 in the fall.

Science Requirement credit from coursework done elsewhere
Students must submit transcript information and lab notes to Professor Bower, the instructor for BC1001, in order to fulfill the Science Requirement with a laboratory course completed at another accredited institution. Lab science courses completed elsewhere must meet for at least three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week. Lab courses taken over the summer must meet for a total of at least 5 weeks and both lecture and laboratory sections must meet for a minimum of 35 hours each.

AP Credit in fulfillment of the Lab Science Requirement
Students with an AP score or 4 or 5 receive 3 points of academic credit and one semester of the lecture portion of the science requirement (the equivalent of EESCBC1001) and the prerequisite for EESC BC1002.

To complete the Lab Science Requirement, a second semester of a lecture and lab course must be taken as well as an additional lab course such as EESC BC3013, Shorelines and Streams, EESC BC3014, Field Methods, or EESC BC3016, Environmental Measurements. Students receiving AP credit may not enroll in EESC BC1001 for completion of their second semester of the requirement. Upon examination of AP lab notes by Professor Bower, the instructor for BC1001, exempted AP students may receive an additional 1.5 points of credit and possible exemption from one semester of the lab portion of the requirement. (Note that AP credit is not applied to fulfill major requirements.) For more information on AP credit, see the AP Credit page of the on-line Catalogue.

SEE-U and the Science Requirement
Students may also complete the lab science requirement by combining the Columbia SEE-U summer program with EESC BC1002 or another laboratory course approved by the Environmental Science Department Chair. Barnard students receive 5 points of transferable credit upon completion of the SEE-U program. See below for more information about SEE-U and other kinds of credit.

SEA Semester and the Science Requirement
Students may complete the lab science requirement by combining the SEA Semester program with an Environmental Science laboratory course approved by the Environmental Science Department Chair. Barnard students can receive 17 transferable credits for SEA Semester.

SEA Semester

Barnard students can receive 17 transferable credits for SEA Semester. Students may complete the lab science requirement by combining the SEA Semester program with an Environmental Science laboratory course approved by the Environmental Science Department Chair.

Minors in Environmental Science can receive 2 courses worth (1 lab, 1 lecture) of credit towards the minor requirement.

Environmental Science and Environmental Policy Majors can receive 3 courses worth of major credit, among the following:

Oceanography (3 semester hours) = can substitute for V2100, Climate (if taken before Climate)
Practical Oceanography I (4 semester hours) = one major elective course
Practical Oceanography II (4 semester hours = one major elective course
(or Practical Oceanography I & II together fulfill 1 semester of other basic science for the major requirement)
Nautical Science (3 semester hours) = one major elective course

Environmental Biology Majors should see the department regarding credit.

SEE-U (as of 2005)
Barnard students receive 5 points of transferable credit upon completion of the SEE-U program. They may complete the lab science requirement by combining the Columbia SEE-U summer program with EESC BC1002 or another laboratory course approved by the Environmental Science Department Chair.

Environmental Science minors who have completed SEE-U receive credit for 1 laboratory course of the minor requirement.

Environmental Science majors who have completed SEE-U receive credit for a major elective.

Environmental Policy majors who have completed SEE-U receive credit for the biology course segment of the Natural Science Foundation requirement (EESC BC 1002, not BC1001).

Environmental Biology Major should see the department regarding credit.


Placement in Courses for Majors and Potential Majors
Please see Major Course requirements. The following are some notes on placement.

Exploring Environmental Science--where to begin?
Students with a strong science background who are interested in majoring in Environmental Sciences are advised to take Earth's Environmental Systems: Climate (EESC V2100) followed by Earth's Environmental Systems: Solid Earth (EESC V2200). These two courses are required for all Environmental majors.

Students interested in exploring Environmental Science or who are concerned about their science background, could take Environmental Science I (EESC BC1001x) in the fall. In the spring, they can decide between Environmental Science II (EESC BC1002y) for non-majors, or shift into the major sequence of EESC V2100. EESC BC1001 is not required for the major but may be used as an elective; it is a prerequisite for EESC BC1002, offered in the spring. EESC BC1002y does not count for major credit.

Which introductory Biology class should you take?
As stated in the catalog, you can enroll in the 2000-level classes with an AP score of 4 or higher. But you should also know that if you have had prior experience in Biology and are at all adventurous, you are also advised to enroll directly in BIOL BC 2002 (Physiology, Ecology, and Evolutionary Biology) in the fall. If you have had other science courses already you should consider this option. Environmental Science majors are definitely encouraged to take the 2000 level sequence with the lab.

The 1001 course is really designed for students with little preparation and an uncertain commitment to studying science. For example, if you have not had biology since 9th grade and are uncertain about your abilities or interest, then the 1000 level course is probably the place to start.

Note that the Biology Department does offer an optional take-home placement exam that you can pick up in the Biology Office, 1203 Altschul. If you can answer half the questions, the 2000 sequence is right for you.


Which introductory Chemistry class should you take?
We recommend that majors in Environmental Science take CHEM BC2001 (General Chemistry) early in their academic career.

For a limited number of students with a weaker background in Chemistry, but would like to continue with Organic Chemistry, the Chemistry Department offers the prepatory lecture course CHEM BC1002y, (Molecules and Matter: Fundamentals of Chemistry). Major credit in any of the Environmental Sciences is not given for this course. Majors should speak with their major adviser as well as a member of the Chemistry Department.

Which introductory Physics class should you take?
We think that the best course for Environmental Science majors to take is PHY BC 1206-7 here at Barnard. The course is calculus-based, and the support system the Physics Department offers is very strong. Camaraderie develops among the students, there is plenty of team problem-solving, and the class-size is manageable (40-50), providing a real small college experience. The other students in the class are likely to be astro, physics, chem, and biochem majors, along with a couple of interesting others. Perhaps youUre not ready for it now, but you might be once youUve had the time to take the calculus pre-requisites.

The PHY 1201-2 sequence offered by CU is very large, pre-med and algebra-based. If youUre interested in taking this class, you might want to discuss it first with Tim Halpin-Healy. You might also want to consider taking the first semester in the spring (off sequence), when the class sizes tend to be smaller.

Environmental Science majors and potential majors should shop and compare to appreciate the very big differences between the CU course and the Barnard offering. You could try sitting in on both courses for a lecture or two when you are trying to make your decision.