Earth & Environmental Science Journalism

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to submit letters of recommendation to the Graduate School of Journalism and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences?

You should include three letters of recommendation in your application to the Graduate School of Journalism, and three letters of recommendation in your application to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. You may submit the same letters, or different letters, to the two schools. If you choose to submit the same letter to both schools, please provide the recommended with cover sheets for both GSAS and GSJ, along with two addressed envelopes, to ensure that each school reviews a complete application. It may be in your best interest to submit different letters to the two schools: the Earth and Environmental Sciences admissions committee will be looking for your expertise and potential in science, whereas the Journalism admissions committee will be looking for evidence of skill and experience in writing and communications.

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Do I need to take the GRE's? If so, which parts? and when?

The Graduate School of Arts & Sciences requires the General Test of the Graduate Record Exam. For E&ESJ applicants, the department of Earth & Environmental Sciences encourages, but does not require, a Subject (Advanced) Test. The subject test could be in geology, math, engineering, biology, chemistry, or physics.

The Journalism School does not require any GRE's. If you do have your GRE scores sent to the Journalism School, they will be added to your file and considered as an extra credential.

The GRE scores submitted to the GSAS must be less than 5 years old. When you report your scores, use code 2162 for Columbia University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, abbreviated to "Columbia U Grad Sch Art Sci" in the ETS listing of Institution Codes.

The GRE's are administered by the Educational Testing Service, Box 955, Princeton, New Jersey 08541.

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What if I don't have an undergraduate degree in natural or physical sciences?

Our admissions guidelines state that under exceptional conditions, we will consider applicants whose formal undergraduate major was outside of the natural or physical sciences. Basically, our admissions committee will look for a background which is sufficiently strong in science that the student will be able to thrive in the science courses during the first year of the E&ESJ curriculum, and will be able to self-educate himself/herself on new developments in science throughout his or her career. The required science background includes at least one college-level year with grade of B or better in four out of five of the following: chemistry, math (calculus and/or statistics), physics, geosciences and biological sciences. If a student is missing one of these basic science prerequisites, but has a strong application otherwise, the requirement can sometimes be made up during the science year of the E&ESJ program. For example, an entrance deficiency in physics can be made up by taking environmental geophysics, introduction to geophysics, or remote sensing. The admissions committee looks at the specific science courses which you have taken and how well you have done in them, as well as related research or work experience. And we will look for evidence of a deep and unquenchable curiosity about how the Earth works. We have had E&ESJ students with undergraduate degrees in Economics, Philosophy, and Law.

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I am just beginning my undergraduate studies (or I am a high school student researching options for my undergraduate college). What can I do to be best prepared to apply to, and benefit from, the E&ESJ program several years from now?

The E&ESJ program looks for students with strong undergraduate training in natural or physical science, math or engineering. In addition to a major in one of these fields, we look for breadth in basic sciences, documented by one year of college-level coursework with grade of B or better in four out of five of the following: math, geosciences, biological sciences, physics and chemistry.

Beyond taking science courses and getting good grades, there are many ways to take advantage of your undergraduate years. Get as much writing experience as you can, including student journalism, non-fiction writing courses, and writing for a local paper. Perfect your spelling and grammar. Look for summer or term-time jobs or internships that involve communicating with the public about science, nature or the environment, for example working in a nature center, park, elementary or high school, tutoring center, or the media. Keep up on current events; a science or environmental reporter needs to be able to spot the links between the story he or she is working on and recent developments in politics, business, and popular culture. Read popular books and articles about science, nature or the environment, and as you read, try to pinpoint and articulate why certain articles or certain authors are more effective than others. Look for opportunities to get involved in scientific research projects. Look for opportunities to get out into the field, such as a field ecology or field geology course, or a research project involving fieldwork. Cultivate your curiosity. Travel; see different parts of the Earth, different environments, how people live in different parts of the world. Practice talking to all sorts of different kinds of people, and asking them questions, encouraging them to talk about themselves, their work, their concerns; interviewing is a skill that some E&ESJ students have found difficult.

Letters of recommendation count heavily in the admissions decisions of ours and other competitive graduate programs. The best letters come from people who know you well and care enough to write a detailed, thoughtful letter, which means that they have had a substantial interaction with you, probably over the course of several years.

With respect to your choice of undergraduate school, it helps if you apply from a college our admissions committee is familiar with, a college which has sent us good students in the past. But really, once you get past a certain quality threshold among colleges, the particular school you choose isn't nearly as important as how pro-actively and creatively you have taken advantage of the college opportunities.

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Is an Environmental Sciences major good preparation for the E&ESJ program?

An environmental sciences degree can provide a great background for the E&ESJ program and for a career in Environmental Journalism. However, environmental science programs differ so much from school to school that the admissions committee of the Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences always looks closely at the specific courses that an applicant has taken when the undergrad major was Environmental Sciences. In particular, the committee like to see a solid background in basic science underlying the environmental courses. The desired background includes one college year in four out of five of the following: chemistry, math (calculus and/or statistics), physics, geosciences and biological sciences. "Geosciences" includes sciences of the solid earth, oceans, and atmosphere. If a student is missing one of these basic science prerequisites, but has a strong application otherwise, the requirement can be made up during the science year of the E&ESJ program. For example, an entrance deficiency in physics can be made up by taking environmental geophysics, introduction to geophysics, or remote sensing.

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What if I already have a master's degree (or a PhD) in natural or physical sciences?

For someone who has a recent graduate degree in Earth or Environmental Science, the first year of the E&ESJ program could be somewhat redundant, and it might be better to apply directly to the J-School for the standard M.S. program. For someone who has been out of school for quite a while, or who has a graduate degree in another field of science, the E&ESJ program could be a great launching pad for a rewarding career change. The J-School has a long track record of educating career-switchers who have already had one productive career in teaching, law, business, medicine, and many other professions.

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Do I need to have journalism experience?

No. The Journalism School receives applications from people with an amazingly wide range of backgrounds. One recent class included 11 attorneys, more than 30 teachers, two pilots and several MDs. There are usually about a dozen students enrolled with technical degrees (biology, engineering, computer science, physics, etc.). Some applicants already have extensive experience in journalism, but many do not. In the case of applicants with little or no journalism experience, the admissions committee looks for other evidence of writing ability, including writing-intensive coursework, the application essays, and the J-school writing test (especially the writing test). An E&ESJ applicant with a weaker journalism background will be expected to offer a stronger background in science.

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I am an experienced journalist seeking to strengthen my work in the environmental area. Can I take only the environmental science part of your program?

It is not possible to take only the science part of our program. However, there are many other programs for experienced journalists who wish to improve their knowledge in the environmental field. Check the website of the Society of Environmental Journalists.

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Can you give me a profile of the average successful applicant?

A profile of our average successful applicant... now there is an tough question worthy of a future journalist. Our average successful applicant would be 2 to 5 years past undergrad graduation, and have a science degree with good grades from a good school, perhaps with some research experience. Something in his or her background would indicate sustained interest in communicating about science or the environment--for example, student journalism, or working at a nature center, or working as an editor, or working as a science teacher. The years since graduation would have been spent in exploring themselves and the world, through travel and employment in interesting jobs. E&ESJ students tend to be more people-oriented than your average science student, and they tend to be passionate about their chosen career path. Successful E&ESJ applicants tend to have great letters of recommendation from people who have been deeply touched by their connection with the applicant. This average profile masks quite a bit of variability. We have admitted applicants straight out of college, and applicants 10-20 years out of college. We admitted one applicant who had a PhD in science, and a few applicants whose BA's were in humanities or social sciences.

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What is the writing test all about?

The writing test administered by the School of Journalism is required of all applicants to the M.S. program. The exercise is given at the School of Journalism during December and January, and under the aegis of alumni elsewhere during the same time period. Information on registering for the test will be sent to all applicants once the application has been received by the Admissions Office. Applicants residing abroad should find a mentor (e.g. professor, supervisor) to administer the exam.

You can view a recent year's writing test. Please note this test is just a sample and is not meant to be used for THIS application year.

The writing test, especially Part II, has proven to be a stumbling block for a number of otherwise well-qualified E&ESJ applicants. Our best advice is to subscribe to a good quality daily newspaper and read it cover to cover, every day.

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I will be travelling outside the U.S. in January/February/March. Will I still be able to do the writing test and phone interview?

You can take the J-school writing test overseas. Usually the J-school will arrange for a alumnus or alumna of the school to give the exam. If that can't be done in your locale, they will ask you to arrange for a responsible proctor such as a professor at a local university. E&ESJ applicants whose paper dossiers look promising are interviewed by telephone. We are willing to phone overseas, but you need to arrange to be by a phone at a prearranged date and time, where the connection is pretty reliable and we can call you.

The most important thing is to make sure that you are reachable during January-April so that questions and information arising during the admission process reach you promptly, including information about the writing test and interview. These days a lot of the admissions information goes by email, so if you can arrange to check email every few days via a webmail account, that should keep you in the loop. It's also a good idea to provide the phone number for a parent or other responsible person who will know how to track you down if questions arise about your application.

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Can I visit the campus and meet faculty members and current students?

Yes.

Visits to the Lamont campus are arranged on an individual basis, by contacting the office of the Department of Earth & Environmental Science (DEES), email: eesj@ldeo.columbia.edu, phone: (845)365-8550. Friday is a good day to visit, because you can sit in on the Case Studies in Earth & Environmental Science Journalism seminar, which is attended by all of the first year students in the E&ESJ program.

Visits to the Journalism School can be arranged through the admissions office. The Journalism School encourages you to attend an Information Session for prospective applicants which includes a Q&A session, faculty lecture, tour of the building, and small group sessions with professors in broadcast, newspaper, magazine and new media concentrations. Contact the J-School admissions office to register for one of these sessions.

It is sometimes possible to arrange an informal visit to J-school at other times; inquire with the DEES office at eesj@ldeo.columbia.edu, phone: (845)365-8550.

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Can non-U.S. students apply to E&ESJ?

Non-U.S. Students are welcome in the Earth and Environmental Science Journalism Program. So far, we have had international students from Japan, Canada, China, and India. The Bulletins of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the Graduate School of Journalism discuss various issues of interest to international students, including visas and financial aid. If you are a non-native speaker of English, you should be aware that a very high level of fluency in written and spoken English is necessary to succeed in the program at the School of Journalism. The graduate school of Journalism does not accept the 3-year undergraduate degree, such as are given in India, Australia, Singapore, Pakistan, and some other countries.

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Can I study in the E&ESJ program via distance learning?

We don't have any mechanism to complete the degree through distance learning, nor do we permit credit to be transferred from another university. An important aspect of the E&ESJ science year is to become familiar with the culture and community of a world-class scientific research institution, through informal contacts, formal coursework, and interviews with scientists. An important part of the journalism year is intensive practice in writing on a broad variety of topics against tight deadlines (e.g. go cover this meeting a city hall this morning and bring me the story by 5 pm). Neither of these learning goals lends itself to distance learning.

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Can I do the E&ESJ program in the reverse order, the journalism year first and the science year second?

We do not offer the option to do the E&ESJ program in the reverse order, journalism first and science second. We think you should learn about science and the earth and environment first, and then go out and tell the public about interesting developments in a field you know a lot about. Also, we want to launch you out of Columbia on a trajectory as a journalist, not as an apprentice scientist. If the last thing you did in your masters program was a science research project, your natural direction from there would be to continue with more research, more study of science.

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Would the science master's be intensive enough and "legit" in the academic/professional world of science?

Our program is specifically designed to train science-savvy journalists, not media-savvy scientists. If you were to finish our program and decide that, after all, you'd rather be a scientist than a journalist, you'd have to go back for a PhD-- the entry level degree for research scientists. The Columbia Earth & Environmental Sciences masters, with its research component, would count favorably in your application to most PhD programs.

I'm having trouble deciding whether to go into a PhD program in science or the E&ESJ program.

Journalism and research science have much in common as far as requirements and rewards. Good journalists and good scientists must be intensely curious, somewhat skeptical, and doggedly persistent. Both must be good self-educators, who enjoy learning new things and can do so efficiently. Journalism and scientific research, when done well, both involve a search for truth, and thus both require high standards of personal integrity. Both careers require hard work, irregular hours, and neither is likely to make you rich.

Both careers offer you entree into an international community of interesting colleagues. You can feel passionate about your profession, and maybe you will be able to make the world a better place. If you're good at your job, both careers offer a fair bit of autonomy, the opportunity to set your own agenda and follow your own interests.

There are some differences, though. Some questions to think about:

Before making your decision, use your researcher/reporter skills to find out as much as possible about both options. Quiz scientists and PhD students about their lives and work and prospects. Call up the science or environment reporter at your local newspaper. Check out the website of the Society of Environmental Journalists and the National Association of Science Writers. Read "A Field Guide for Science Writers", 1997, D. Blum and M. Knudson, editors, Oxford Univ. Press.

And remember, a working life these days can be more than 40 years long, which is an improbably long time to do just one thing. If you really want to, you can do both science and writing for the public, one after the other -- in either order.

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Will I be able to do original research on how the media covers the environment?

The E&ESJ program trains journalists and science writers, rather than media scholars. The two masters projects are: (a) a work of scientific research, and (b) a journalistic work. There is no scholarly thesis involved. A PhD in communications, rather than a professional masters, is usually the most appropriate degree for someone whose career goal is to do research on the media.

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What is the difference between the E&ESJ dual degree program and the MA program at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism?

The MA program at the Graduate School of Journalism is designed for individuals who already have attained a high degree of professional competency as journalists. This can be documented through a master's degree in journalism from Columbia or a peer institution, or a demonstrated record of substantial professional achievement. The E&ESJ degree, in contrast, is designed for students who have little or no background in journalism, but do have a substantial background in science. E&ESJ students complete the M.S. degree in journalism, which provides graduate level training building up from the basics of journalistic practice.

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Is it possible to have a focus (i.e. marine biology) for the Earth & Environmental Sciences portion of the degree, or is the degree designed to be all-encompassing?

The coursework part of the E&ESJ science year is designed to be broad, and to expand the student's knowledge base in directions not covered in undergraduate work. However, for their required science research project, E&ESJ students often choose to deepen an area of personal interest. Abstracts of E&ESJ science research projects completed to date are available online for your perusal.

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What are the tuition and fees?

During the first year of the program, E&ESJ students are enrolled in and pay tuition to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. During their second year, E&ESJ students are enrolled in and pay tuition to the Graduate School of Journalism. Details are at:

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What kind of financial aid is available?

The situation differs during the two years of the E&ESJ program, because of policy differences between the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (your home during year 1) and the Graduate School of Journalism (your home during year 2).

During the summer between your science year and journalism year, while you are working full time on your science research project, you will receive a stipend from a National Science Foundation grant. The stipend provides $2444/month for 3 months of effort, for a total of $7332 per E&ESJ student. The NSF grant is intended to provide research experience to aspiring science journalists, and also provides funds for research costs, and travel to present your results at a scientific meeting. In addition, there are some special scholarships and many external fellowships for which you may be eligible. Some of these are listed on the website of the GSAS Financial Aid Office where you can also access a searchable database of such opportunities. In the past, we have been able to arrange excellent and relevant work-study jobs for E&ESJ students, such as preparing Web-based curriculum materials for undergraduate environmental sciences courses or working in the L-DEO Communications Office. If you are eligible for work-study, and want such a job, please let the E&ESJ program know during the summer before you matriculate, so that we can try to organize a placement suitable for your background.

The Graduate School of Journalism awards financial aid based on both merit and need. The typical grant award at the J-school is less than half the tuition, so you should still plan on contributing to the cost of your second year through loans or personal resources. Applicants accepted for the E&ESJ program are notified of their J-school financial aid package for year 2 of the dual degree program soon after they are accepted, so they can factor this information in their decision.

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Do you encourage students to seek out journalism internships either concurrent with or following graduation from the program?

The journalism school allows but not does not encourage internships during the academic year, because the year is already so full. Quite a few E&ESJ students have done internships immediately following graduation, including at Audubon magazine, Earth & Sky on National Public Radio, Science Friday on National Public Radio, and Newsday.

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What do you do to help graduates find jobs?

The Graduate School of Journalism has a proactive and effective Office of Career Services. They offer individual counseling to work on cover letters, resumes and general career planning, a weekly email update of impending internship and fellowship deadlines, a career opportunity conference, a monthly newsletter of journalism employment opportunities, and a mentoring program that matches students with graduates in the New York City metropolitan region. The Office of Career Services is available to help alumni throughout their careers, as well as currently enrolled students.

E&ESJ alumni have found jobs at science-oriented publications (e.g. Scientific American, EOS, Geotimes), environment-oriented publications (e.g. On Earth, Plenty), mainstream media (e.g. the New York Times, Houston Chronicle, Wall Street Journal), and as science writers for university research labs and museums.

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