A major declared after arrival
Columbia College students typically declare their major in the spring of the sophomore year. The pages read describe no separate admission to Sustainable Development.
Undergraduate · Columbia College
Columbia Sustainable Development: a science-led major declared after arrival
Columbia admits students to Columbia College or to Columbia Engineering, and Sustainable Development is a major offered by the Earth Institute with Columbia College and other schools. The Bulletin says the major focuses heavily on the sciences, which separates it from a conventional economics or political-science route and from an engineering degree. This guide covers how the major is built, how it is entered and what Columbia says about testing, and it makes no claim of a separate admission to Sustainable Development.
Official information · read 1 November 2026, no entry-year label
What Columbia says about Columbia Sustainable Development
Taken from the Columbia Bulletin entry for Sustainable Development and Columbia Undergraduate Admissions' Academics, Testing and International Applicants pages, read on 1 November 2026. The pages carry no entry-year label, so for a 2028-entry application every statement below is evidence for the previous cycle and may change; check Columbia's pages for the 2028-entry details.
Run by the Earth Institute
The Bulletin says the Earth Institute offers the major and a special concentration in collaboration with Columbia College, General Studies, SIPA and three departments.
Heavily science-based
The Bulletin says the major focuses heavily on the sciences and gives a working knowledge of interacting subject areas.
At least 15 courses and a practicum
The Bulletin says the major requires a minimum of 15 courses and a practicum, with foundation courses taken first.
The SAT or ACT is required from August 2027
Columbia says it will require first-year students to submit ACT or SAT results; it accepts A levels and the IB.
Official sources
- Columbia Undergraduate Admissions: Academicsundergrad.admissions.columbia.edu
- Columbia Bulletin: Sustainable Developmentbulletin.columbia.edu
- Columbia Undergraduate Admissions: Testingundergrad.admissions.columbia.edu
Read on 1 November 2026 on the Columbia Bulletin entry for Sustainable Development and Columbia Undergraduate Admissions' Academics, Testing and International Applicants pages, which describes 2027 entry. The pages carry no entry-year label. Columbia's Earth Institute and Climate School websites, the full requirements list, the course descriptions, deadlines and financial aid were not read and are not stated.
The major
What the Bulletin says the major is
The Bulletin describes sustainable development as an emergent interdisciplinary field and says the programmes aim to give theory and practice, a critical look at historical antecedents and direct experience of complex challenges. The major focuses heavily on the sciences. Its foundation courses, Science for Sustainable Development and Challenges of Sustainable Development, are taken in the first year, and the major then needs a minimum of 15 courses and a practicum. The Bulletin also names a companion degree that lets students earn a bachelor's and a master's in five years. This guide does not describe the course lists.
Is it the right major?
Sustainable Development, Columbia Engineering or a conventional major
Columbia describes the schools separately, so the school choice is made at application and the major after arrival. Avandy's comparison is general.
Sustainable Development fits if
you want environmental and sustainability questions studied across sciences and policy, with an Earth Institute adviser.
Columbia Engineering fits if
you want to design and build technical systems. Admission to Columbia College or Engineering is a separate choice at application, covered in Avandy's Columbia College or Engineering guide.
A conventional economics or political-science major fits if
you want a single social-science discipline rather than a science-led interdisciplinary programme.
Admission and testing
Columbia College, an SAT or ACT and A levels or the IB
Columbia says students apply to either Columbia College or Columbia Engineering. It accepts all secondary school curricula, including the IB and Cambridge A Levels, and reviews applications within the context of the curriculum. It says that starting in August 2027 it will require first-year students to submit ACT or SAT results. Sustainable Development is not a separate application. This guide states no score.
A decision framework
Three questions before you commit
This is Avandy's own framework, not Columbia's.
Are you comfortable with a science-heavy interdisciplinary major?
The Bulletin says the major focuses heavily on the sciences.
Is Columbia College the right school for you?
The school choice, College or Engineering, is made at application.
Can you plan the SAT or ACT with your A levels or IB?
Columbia says it will require one of them from August 2027.
Planning for 2028 entry
Planning for 2028 entry: what carries over and what is awaiting publication
Columbia's pages carry no entry-year label, so nothing on them is confirmed for 2028 entry. Use them to understand the structure of the application, then check Columbia's own pages for the 2028-entry details.
The requirements and descriptions on the pages read on 1 November 2026, which carry no entry-year label
These are the best guide to what to prepare. Columbia has not confirmed them for 2028 entry.
Deadlines, fees, financial aid and any department prerequisites not quoted here: not stated
This guide has not read them. Check Columbia for the values that apply to your application year.
What to do now
Read the Sustainable Development entry in the Columbia Bulletin and plan the SAT or ACT alongside your A levels or IB.
Support
Independent support with planning your own application
Avandy provides independent academic and admissions support. It is not affiliated with Columbia College or any of its colleges or departments. Preparation sits within the Avandy Trinity Advisory Model: a Strategic Admissions Consultant, a PhD-level Academic Mentor and a Subject-specific Tutor, working to the actual requirements of each course. Support here is limited to understanding the requirements and planning the applicant's own work; Avandy does not write or edit essays, does not submit any materials and has no partnership with Columbia College. No outcome is promised.
Questions
Questions applicants ask
Can I apply directly to Columbia Sustainable Development?
The pages read describe applying to Columbia College or Columbia Engineering. The Bulletin says students typically declare a major in the spring of the sophomore year.
Who runs the major?
The Bulletin says the Earth Institute offers it in collaboration with Columbia College, the School of General Studies, SIPA and three departments.
How big is the major?
The Bulletin says it requires a minimum of 15 courses and a practicum.
Do I need the SAT or ACT?
Columbia says that starting in August 2027 it will require first-year students to submit ACT or SAT results.
Does Columbia accept A levels and the IB?
Columbia says it accepts all secondary school curricula, including the IB and Cambridge A Levels, and reviews applications within the context of the curriculum.
Are these the rules for 2028 entry?
No. They are Columbia's wording with no entry-year label. Check Columbia's pages again when Columbia publishes its 2028-entry requirements.
Students and families
Talk to us about Columbia Sustainable Development
Tell us about the student's curriculum, their science and social-science subjects, how they weigh sustainability against engineering or economics and their SAT or ACT plan, the universities on the list, and the intended year of entry. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to prepare.