Science in Columbia College

It is an exciting time to study science at Columbia. Our faculty work at the frontiers of science and have been responsible for many of the most significant scientific discoveries in all branches of the biological, natural and physical sciences. They are internationally recognized for their contributions, with seven Nobel Laureates among the current faculty and 87 total Nobel Laureates including past Columbia professors and alumni. Faculty have received other prestigious recognitions such as The Kavli Prize, The Crafoord Prize and the National Medal of Science.

Science Research at Columbia

Science undergraduates at Columbia have direct access to some of the greatest scientific minds in the world. They have an almost unlimited range of opportunities to undertake cutting-edge research in research facilities both at the Morningside Heights campus and at the University’s Medical Center, as well as at Columbia-affiliated research centers including:

• The Zuckerman Mind, Brain, & Behavior Institute
• The Earth Institute
• Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
• Nevis Laboratories
• Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center

Opportunities to engage with research also exist across undergraduate departments, New York City and even globally. Examples include the Biology department's Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, internship opportunities at the American Museum of Natural History and the opportunity to study psychology in the UK with the Global Behavioral Science (GLOBES) program.

Learn more about science research directly from our students!

Science and the Core

Science students at Columbia benefit from the Core Curriculum. Every first-year Columbia College student takes "Frontiers of Science," which introduces students to ideas at the forefront of scientific research. Additionally, the centrality of the Core Curriculum is emphasized by the recognition that scientific and technical knowledge must be supported and directed by ideas and values. The Core teaches students to think about complexity and ambiguity in a way that is conscious of these values, and in a world where science and technology continually deliver innovation, no individual is better prepared to take a leadership role in science than one who has spent time weighing the great humanistic questions that have shaped our civilization.