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For Barnard Students

Welcome Barnard students!

If you are a Barnard College student wishing to study at Biosphere 2, you've come to the right place!

Here you will find general and academic information about the programs offered at Biosphere 2, as well as instructions on how to go about getting information, choosing a program, and applying to spend a semester or summer out in the Sonoran Desert and Catalina mountains of Oracle, Arizona!

Eligibility and Requirements

  1. have a plan for completing the general education requirements for the degree;
  2. have no outstanding incompletes;
  3. have a good academic record;
  4. have worked out, in consultation with the major and study abroad advisers, a plan for the completion of all major and college requirements for graduation.

Academic Credit

Columbia University's Biosphere 2 offers several undergraduate programs, including semester and summer programs. For academic program and course information, please click here.

Barnard College students will get general credit for all courses taken at the Biosphere, and these courses will be listed on your Barnard transcript.

Earth Semester
BP 3120: Earth Systems Science: 4 points
BP 3150: Ecological Systems: 4 points
BP 3200: Human Role: 3 points
BP 3910: Planetary Management: 3 points
BP 3999: Research: 2 points

 Credit Toward Barnard Requirements:
• Earth Semester (including Earth System Science and/or Ecological Systems) = 1 semester Lab Science, needs to be paired with EESC BC1001, V2100, V2200, or V2300
• Human Role = Social Analysis
• 4 courses toward a minor in Environmental Science
• 4 courses toward a major in Environmental Science or Environmental Biology

Universe Semester
Science Majors (choose 16 points)
BP 1902: Seminar: 1 point
BP 2003: Stellar Astrophysics: 3 points
BP 2004: Galactic and
Extragalactic Astrophysics: 3 points
BP 3104: Astrophysics of the
Solar System: 3 points
BP 3648: Observational Astronomy: 3 points
BP 3999: Research: 4 points
BP 3461: Order and Disorder: 3 points
BP 2603: Waves, Optics and
Modern Physics: 3 points
Liberal Arts Majors (choose 16 points)
BP 1403: Earth, Moon, Planets: 3 points
BP 1404: Beyond Solar System: 3 points
BP 1902: Seminar: 1 point
BP 3648: Observational Astronomy: 3 points
BP 3999: Research: 3-6 points
Earth Semester course: 4 points

Credit Toward Barnard Requirements:
Any of the lecture classes = Quantitative and Deductive Reasoning
Observational Astronomy + 2 lecture classes = 2 semesters Lab Science
4 courses toward a minor in Astronomy
4 courses toward a major in Astronomy

 

Planning, Preparation and How to Apply

The following steps will help you prepare as well as apply for a semester or summer at Biosphere 2. Please note that the process outlined below is specific to Barnard College students, so please follow the instructions carefully!:

  1. First, review the website to select a program of study! http://www.columbia.edu/biosphere
  2. Get clearance: Make sure you are cleared by the Study Abroad Adviser who will need to fill out the "Statement of Good Standing" portion of the application for semester and summer programs alike.
  3. See your adviser or the Study Abroad Adviser. They will help you decide which program is best for you, as well as when it makes sense for you to go. Most Barnard students study at Biosphere 2 either as second semester sophomores or first semester juniors. All years and majors attend summer sessions.
  4. Attend general information sessions to learn more about academic programs and credit for your major. You will also have the chance to meet and speak with Columbia students who have attended Biosphere programs.
  5. Apply: Follow the instructions on applying for the program you have chosen. You may apply either on-line or submit a paper application. The application may be accessed at: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/biosphere2/application.html.
    Please note that there is only one application to fill out regardless of which program you have chosen to attend.
  6. Post Admission: Complete and submit the Barnard College study leave, waiver and pre-approved course forms which can be accessed at: http://www.barnard.edu/dos/study_abroad/b4leaving.html.

 

 

For further information, please contact:

Louise Rosen,
Director of Recruitment, Columbia Earth Institute
[email protected]

Study Abroad Adviser
Dean Janet F. Alperstein
3009 Broadway
New York, N.Y. 10027
[email protected]
http://www.barnard.edu/dos/study_abroad