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Earth and Environmental Engineering
MS in Carbon Management
Master's Programs
In-Person
Master the mechanisms, technologies, and processes to sustainably resolve the global energy crisis.
As global energy demand rises, managing carbon dioxide emissions and ensuring secure energy access are two of humanity's most pressing, interconnected challenges. We must find adaptable engineering solutions to address these issues while considering climate change, economic growth, and ecosystem stability.
Our MS in Carbon Management program equips future environmental engineers with the tools to balance carbon management and sustainable resource production. The multidisciplinary curriculum covers carbon capture, utilization, storage, low-carbon energy systems, and business and policy perspectives.
You'll explore natural and engineered carbon management processes across the Earth's carbon reservoirs, including the atmosphere, land, ocean, and subsurface. Hands-on assignments and team projects will deepen your understanding of physical-chemical mechanisms, life cycle assessments, and integrative solutions. Guided by world-leading faculty, you’ll engage in research and benefit from exposure to cutting-edge topics through guest speaker colloquiums. The program’s flexible structure allows you to tailor your studies to reflect your career goals.
Why Get your Master's in Carbon Management at Columbia?
Experience the rigorous intellectual climate of an Ivy League institution while studying in the supportive atmosphere of a smaller, specialist engineering department - all in the heart of New York City.
As a student here, you'l benefit from:
As a student here, you'l benefit from:
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Impactful Career Opportunities
This program will provide you with the engineering expertise and strategic vision needed to drive sustainable solutions that tackle the global energy crisis, cut carbon emissions, and ensure long-term ecological stability.
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Additional Certificate in Carbon Management
You will receive a Certificate in Carbon Management as well as an MS degree from the Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering.
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Research Opportunities
You’ll undertake hands-on research and collaborate with faculty to help develop solutions and technologies that address multiscale carbon capture, conversion, utilization, and storage research.
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Access to the Lenfest Center for Sustainable Energy
The MS program is part of the Lenfest Center for Sustainable Energy. As well as access to pioneering research, you’ll have opportunities to attend specialist carbon management events held by the Center, including colloquiums, research conferences and guest lectures.
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Problem-Solving Skills
Our classes will teach you to critically examine challenging industrial problems and proposed solutions through the application of numerical, experimental, and theoretical frameworks.
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Multidisciplinary and Diverse Cohort
You will be learning with peers from a wide range of disciplines, professional experiences, and geographic locations. This exposure will help you develop a broad and interdisciplinary understanding of carbon management and its extensive societal implications.
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Comprehensive Career Support
Our dedicated Assistant Director of Graduate Career Placement can provide you with expert advice both during your studies and after graduation. You’ll receive personalized career guidance, application support, tailored workshops, and access to exclusive job opportunities within the earth and environmental engineering sector and beyond.
What will I learn?
The MS Carbon Management curriculum has been designed to reflect the core research areas of the Lenfest Center for Sustainable Energy. As well as core courses, you will choose a combination of elective courses to ensure your degree aligns with your career goals - whether that’s in industry or in preparation for further education.
Course List
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Core Courses
- A Better Planet by Design
- Carbon Capture
- Carbon Storage
- CO2 Utilization and Conversion
- Introduction to Carbon Management
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Electives
- Alternative Energy Resources
- Closing the Carbon Cycle
- Earth and Environmental Engineering Research
- Earth and Environmental Engineering Thesis
- Earth Resources and Sustainable Development
- Energy Sources and Conversion
- Energy System Economics and Optimization
- Humans and the Carbon Cycle
- Industrial Ecology of Manufacturing
- Machine Learning for Environmental Engineering
- Solar Fuels
- Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
- Uncertainty/Risk – Civil Infrastructure Systems
Requirements
Our program is highly competitive and the requirements reflect the rigorous nature of our training. The requirements to both apply for and complete our MS in Carbon Management at Columbia University are listed below.
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Application Requirements
Mandatory requirements:
- Online application form
- A bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field from an accredited institution
- Transcripts from every post-secondary institution attended
- Three letters of recommendation
- Resumé or CV
- Personal statement
- $85 non-refundable application fee
- International applicants, or applicants whose undergraduate degree was received in a country in which English is not the official spoken language, must submit:
- Results of an English language test. Accepted tests include the Test of English as a Foreign Language iBT (TOEFL) - including TOEFL iBT Home Edition, International English Language Testing System Academic (IELTS), Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic), or Duolingo English Test (DET). The ETS School Code for the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science is 2111.
- Translation of the official transcript(s) and degree/diploma certificate(s) if the institution(s) attended does not issue transcripts in English. The translation must be conducted by a reputable service provider.
Optional requirements:
- Any publications that you have written
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test Scores (School Code: 2111)
- You may be invited to an interview
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Degree Requirements
To graduate from our MS Carbon Management program, you must complete:
- 30 credits of graduate coursework
- Additional undergraduate level science courses depending on your academic background
- The combination of credits can either be:
- 24 credits of lecture courses and 6 credits of research culminating in a Master’s Thesis.
- 27 credits of lecture courses, 3 credits of research which involves assisting a faculty member with ongoing analytical or experimental research, and a term paper describing your part in that research.
- 30 credits of lecture courses approved by the Advisor. However, a thesis is strongly recommended.
Your academic plan of studies must be approved by the faculty by the second month of your first semester at Columbia.
Graduate Funding
What matters most to us is your ability to thrive at Columbia.
We offer plenty of financial options to support you through your journey with us. Learn more about the graduate funding opportunities available at Columbia, including fellowships, part-time academic positions, loans, and more.
Careers & Outcomes
As a Carbon Management graduate, you’ll be part of a new generation of engineering and geoscience professionals who are working together to address pressing carbon management challenges. You will be well-equipped to pursue careers in the energy industry, decarbonization and environmental consulting firms, technology startups, environmental and energy NGOs, as well as local, national, and international government agencies.
Our alumni have found positions with top employers including:
- 350Solutions
- Patch
- Carbonvert
- Zachry Group
The MS program is also an excellent springboard for further graduate studies. The curriculum allows you to take independent research in preparation for our doctoral program.
Department Faculty
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Shaina Kelly | Image
Ngai Yin Yip | Image
Daniel Steingart |
Student Research Opportunities
At Columbia, you don’t have to wait until you graduate to start making a contribution. There are lots of opportunities to gain hands-on experience through research projects and summer internships.
Our faculty-run laboratories always need students to support them with their cutting-edge research spanning across areas such as electrochemical energy, carbon capture, climate modeling, materials recycling, and more.
See Student Research Opportunities
Entrepreneurship Opportunities
Considering launching a startup during your studies or after you graduate? Columbia Engineering Innovation, Design & Entrepreneurship team can help you develop the business acumen to successfully launch your venture.
The team offers specialist entrepreneurship courses, bootcamps, networking opportunities and spaces for prototyping and testing. They also organize competitions with opportunities to win seed funding.
Related Programs
Dual MS in Climate and MS in Carbon Management
The Climate School offers interdisciplinary dual degree programs with the MS in Climate. Dual programs award two degrees in less time than pursuing the degrees separately.
PhD in Earth and Environmental Engineering
Our PhD opportunities enable you to work together with our leading faculty to solve some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.