Resources and Facilities
A College within the University
A unique educational opportunity, Columbia University's Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) offers programs to both undergraduate and graduate students who undertake a course of study leading to the bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in engineering and applied science. Combining the advantages of a small college with the extensive resources of a major research university, students at the School pursue their academic interests under the guidance of outstanding senior faculty members who teach both undergraduate- and graduate-level courses. Encouraged by the faculty to undertake research at all levels, students at the School receive the kind of personal attention that only Columbia's exceptionally high faculty-student ratio affords.
back to topThe New York Advantage
Besides the faculty, the single greatest facility at a Columbia
student's disposal is without doubt the City of New York. Within easy
reach by walking, bus, subway, or taxi, New York's broad range of
social, cultural, and business communities offer an unparalleled
opportunity for students to expand their horizons or deepen their
understanding of almost any human endeavor imaginable. With art from
small SoHo galleries to major Uptown museums; music from Harlem jazz
clubs to the Metropolitan Opera; theatre from performance art in the
East Village to musicals on Broadway; food from French on the Upper
East Side to Asian in Chinatown; and sports teams from the Jets to the
Yankees, New York is the crossroads of the world.
New York is fast becoming a major player in high-tech research and
development, where Fortune 500 companies traded on Wall Street seek
partnerships with high-tech start-up ventures in Tribeca. And as more
and more companies discover the advantages of locating in New York's
greater metropolitan area, they join such long-standing facilities as
AT&T Laboratories, Bell Communications Research, Exxon Research,
IBM Research Laboratories, International Paper, NYNEX, and many other
major companies involved in high-tech R&D. As part of the research
community themselves, Columbia students have exceptional opportunities
for contact with industry both on and off campus. Senior
representatives of these companies often visit Columbia to lecture as
adjunct faculty members or as special speakers, and undergraduate and
graduate students frequently undertake research or internships with
these and other companies, oftentimes leading to offers of full-time
employment after graduation.
In addition to its ties to private industry, Columbia also has a
historically close relationship with the public sector of New York,
stretching back to the eighteenth century. No other city in the world
offers as many impressive examples of the built environment—the world's
most famous skyscrapers, long-span bridges, road and railroad tunnels,
one of the world's largest subway and water supply systems. Involved in
all aspects of the city's growth and capital improvements over the
years, Columbia engineers have been responsible for the design,
analysis, and maintenance of New York's enormous infrastructure of
municipal services and communications links, as well as its great
buildings, bridges, tunnels, and monuments.
The University at Large
Columbia University occupies two major campuses, as well as additional special-purpose facilities throughout the area. Besides the main campus located on the Upper West Side in Morningside Heights, further uptown in Washington Heights is the Health Sciences campus, which includes Columbia's medical school (the College of Physicians and Surgeons), the Mailman School of Public Health, the New York State Psychiatric Institute, and other health professions programs. The Health Sciences Division is an equal partner with New York-Presbyterian Hospital in the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, the world's first academic medical center. The medical center opened in 1928 when Columbia's health-related schools and Presbyterian Hospital (which has since merged with New York Hospital to become New York-Presbyterian Hospital) moved to the Washington Heights location. The Engineering School's new Biomedical Engineering Department has offices on both the Morningside and Health Sciences campuses.
Beyond its schools and programs, the measure of Columbia's true breadth
and depth must take into account its seventy-odd internationally
recognized centers and institutions for specialized research, which
study everything from human rights to molecular recognition, as well as
the close affiliations it holds with Teachers and Barnard Colleges, the
Juilliard School, the American Museum of Natural History, and both the
Jewish and Union Theological Seminaries. Columbia also maintains major
off-campus facilities such as the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in
Palisades, N.Y., and the Nevis Laboratories in Irvington, N.Y. Involved
in many cooperative ventures, Columbia also conducts ongoing research
at such facilities as Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, N.Y.,
and the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies located just off the
Morningside campus.
The Morningside Heights Campus
The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science is located on Columbia's Morningside campus. One of the handsomest urban institutions in the country, the thirty-two acres of the Morningside campus comprise over sixty buildings of housing; recreation and research facilities; centers for the humanities and social and pure sciences; and professional schools in architecture, business, the fine arts, journalism, law, and other fields.
back to topThe Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science
The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science occupies three laboratory and classroom buildings at the north end of the campus, including the Schapiro Center for Engineering and Physical Science Research. Because of the School's close proximity to the other Morningside facilities and programs, Columbia engineering students have ready access to the whole of the University's resources.
Comprising multiple programs of study, with facilities specifically
designed and equipped to meet the laboratory and research needs of both
undergraduate and graduate students, the School is the site of an
almost overwhelming array of basic and advanced research installations,
from the Columbia Center for Electron Transport in Molecular
Nanostructures to the Columbia Genome Center. Details about specific
programs' laboratories and equipment can be found in the sections
describing those programs.
SEAS Computing Facilities
The Botwinick Multimedia Learning Laboratory is the School's state-of-the-art facility for computer-aided design (CAD). It is equipped with forty-five Dell Precision workstations, custom-tailored for 3D modeling and animation, as well as a Sun Enterprise-level server that serves the lab's 300-plus users per semester. The lab offers students the latest modeling software products used in the industry—Alias|Wavefront Studio|Tools, Maya, Pro-Engineer—as well as Adobe Photoshop and After Effects.
All first-year students take a course in the Botwinick Multimedia
Learning Laboratory that explores fundamental engineering design in a
three-dimensional virtual environment. Students work in teams to
research, develop, and finally design innovative new products. In
addition, all undergraduate students from the University have a chance
to take advanced courses in modeling and animation.
Central Computing Resources
Columbia University Information Technology (CUIT)Contact the CUIT Helpdesk for Technical Support
E-mail:
By phone: 212-854-1919
Monday-Thursday: 8:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.
Friday: 8:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Sunday: 3:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.
In person (some consultations may require an appointment):
CUIT Client Service Center
102 Philosophy Hall
Monday-Friday: 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Columbia University Information Technology (CUIT) provides Columbia University students, faculty, and staff with central computing and communications services, including computer accounts, e-mail, telephone and cable TV service, and course management and student information applications. CUIT manages the Columbia wireless network and the high-speed campus Ethernet network, which is available to all students in residence hall rooms. CUIT also manages an array of computer labs, terminal clusters, ColumbiaNet kiosk stations, and electronic classrooms, and provides a variety of technical support services via the CUIT Helpdesk. CUIT services include the following:
•Computer account IDs provide access to Columbia's secure online information resources, campus computer labs, and printing on CUIT printers. All Columbia students, faculty, and staff are assigned an ID account (called University Network ID or UNI).
• Columbia's website provides access to hundreds of online services and resources, including extensive academic, scholarly, and administrative resources, a myriad of library catalogs and references, the Directory of Classes, registration information, campus publications, and events listings.
• Technical support is available through the CUIT Helpdesk, which provides assistance to the Morningside campus online, by phone, or in person.
•
Courseworks@Columbia
is the University course management system. It allows instructors to
develop and maintain course Web sites easily, distribute class
materials, link to on-line reserves, administer quizzes and tests,
communicate with students, and promote online discussions.
•
Electronic classrooms
provide multimedia capabilities such as computer and projection systems, DVD and CD-ROM players, VCRs, and audio systems.
•
Public computer kiosks
are available in various locations around the Morningside campus for accessing Columbia's Web site resources and e-mail.
•
Computer labs and clusters
provide students, faculty, and researchers with access to a range of
software. Some locations have part-time consultants to provide lab
help.
• Printing facilities are available throughout the Morningside campus and Barnard College, including CUIT computer labs, libraries, residence halls, and other computer clusters and electronic classrooms. Printing is provided by the NINJa printing system on high-speed, high-volume printers.
• Computer security resources are available online, including links to download antivirus, and anti-spyware software. The site also provides information on how to protect your system when working online.
•
Electronic Data Service (EDS),
run jointly by CUIT and the Libraries, provides computing support for
researchers with data-intensive applications, including special
accounts, statistical software, and finding and selecting appropriate
data.
• Telephone and cable TV service is available to students living in University residence halls.
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The Columbia University Libraries
The Columbia University Libraries system is the nation's sixth largest academic library system, with 9.7 million volumes, 65,650 serials, as well as extensive collections of electronic resources, manuscripts, rare books, microforms and other nonprint formats. The collections and services are organized into 25 libraries, supporting specific academic or professional disciplines. The Library's website is a gateway to the print and electronic collections and services.
The Ambrose Monell Engineering Library, located within the Engineering
School complex, has a collection of more than 252,000 volumes and over
1 million technical reports on microform. It currently subscribes to
approximately 825 periodicals. Via LibraryWeb, the Engineering Library
provides access to full-text electronic journals; a collection of many
specialized databases in engineering and the sciences, e.g.,
Compendex, Inspec, Web of Science, ACM Digital Library, and IEEE
Electronic Library; several handbooks and encyclopedias; and e-book
packages such as Safari Tech Books Online, Books 24x7, and NetLibrary.
On site, the Library offers access to SciFinder Scholar, Gmelan, and
Beilstein databases.
Center for Career Education
Center for Career Education
Columbia University
East Campus, Lower Level
Mail Code 5727
2960 Broadway
New York, NY 10027
Delivery: 70-74 Morningside Drive
Phone: 212-854-5609
Fax: 212-854-5640
E-mail:
The Columbia University Center for Career Education helps students and
alumni develop the key competencies necessary to make informed
decisions and take the necessary steps to achieve their career goals.
The Center establishes connections and facilitates interaction among
undergraduate students, graduate students, alumni, employers, and
organizations to generate opportunities that help students pursue their
personal and professional objectives.
The Center for Career Education provides career development opportunities for students beginning with the first year at Columbia and involving a series of coordinated programs, a sequence of workshops and seminars, and individual one-to-one counseling. Career development is a lifelong process that includes self-assessment, curricular exploration through choice of major, competency development, networking, informational interviewing, internships, summer work experience, study abroad, preparation for the job search and for the graduate/professional school application process, and planning for productive careers. Above all else, it is a generative process, which provides a foundation for achieving goals throughout life.
The Center maintains a website that contains information on career search strategies and tools, upcoming events, career fairs, full- and part-time job listings, and internships. The Center encourages both students and alumni to visit the Center and register to use Columbia's job database early in order to maximize the level of resources and assistance they can receive.
Individual career counseling is available to assist all students and alumni the Center serves with a variety of interests, including self-assessment, career exploration, and career search tools, and strategies. Through the Career Resource Center, students are able to research employers, graduate schools, opportunities abroad, and more.
The Center recognizes the special interests of graduate students in the University with programs and workshops that focus on both academic and non-academic careers. The Center maintains a dossier service, managed by Interfolio, for graduate students and alumni who hold graduate degrees. A dossier consists of letters of reference and other credentials that speak to a candidate's scholarship, research interests, and teaching experience. A dossier is specifically used in applying for teaching positions at either the secondary level or the college level and for graduate/professional school and fellowship applications. Students can register online for the service. It is recommended that candidates for teaching positions open a credentials file in the late summer or early autumn of the year preceding their availability for employment. Undergraduate students or alumni with undergraduate degrees from SEAS should contact the Center for Student Advising for dossier management.
The Center manages full-time internship employment opportunities for students throughout the year in two capacities. On-campus recruiting is conducted throughout the academic year and allows students to submit their resumes and cover letters online to any of the opportunities from employers who have chosen to recruit on campus. These opportunities are listed in the online recruiting database and are easily searchable. There are also full-time, part-time, and temporary on- and off-campus employment opportunities advertised year-round through a general job-posting database. While at Columbia, students are encouraged to take advantage of internships that offer opportunities to gain first-hand knowledge of a career field.
The Center offers international internship opportunities through two programs, Columbia Experience Overseas (CEO) and Encouraging Dynamic Global Entrepreneurs (EDGE). The CEO program offers Columbia students high-quality internship experiences in a diverse array of industries in London and Hong Kong through alumni and employer partnerships. EDGE Scotland is a summer program in entrepreneurship and enterprise leadership offered in collaboration with Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire and the University of Glasgow, with support from the European Union, the Scottish Executive, and others. It takes place in Dunbartonshire, an economically under-developed area of Scotland. Student consulting teams are challenged to solve real-world business problems by analyzing business climate, identifying opportunities for innovation, and proposing solutions and initiatives to create a more entrepreneurial and economically vibrant culture. The EDGE Guatemala program, run in partnership with New Development Solutions, focuses on social entrepreneurship. Students design smart, scalable, and highly integrated business models for their constituents in rural communities. The Center also offers an arts internship program called Columbia Arts Experience. Selected students participate in a New York-based internship in the arts at organizations such as the Sundance Channel, Lincoln Center Film, Alliance for the Arts, and others.
The Center for Career Education also fosters entrepreneurship through Columbia Student Enterprises (CSE). The Columbia Student Enterprises program is a unique opportunity to learn about and develop valuable entrepreneurship and enterprise leadership skills through managing and working for student-run enterprises. The program consists of student-managed businesses such as the Columbia Bartending Agency and School of Mixology, Inside NY, CU Snacks, and the Columbia University Tutoring and Translating Agency. The participants in the program receive training and develop transferable business skills applicable to all industries. The program also promotes student initiatives in business and increases services on campus, enhancing the quality of student life and creating job opportunities for Columbia University students.
To gain a complete understanding of all Center for Career Education programs and resources, please visit the Center in the lower level of East Campus. For additional information or questions, call 212-854-5609.
Statistics for Class of 2007 Graduates
Pursuant to New York State Education Department regulations 53.3 (d) sec. (6) and sec. (7), the School publishes the following statistics:Survey of Graduates
These statistics reflect information gathered by the Center for Career Education from a survey of undergraduates who graduated in the spring of 2007. This was the most current information available at the time this bulletin was published. For more up-to-date information, contact the Center for Career Education at 212-854-4934.
Of those seniors graduating from SEAS in the Class of 2007 who responded to this survey:
• 51.0% have accepted job offers
• 10.3% have applied for jobs and are awaiting or deciding between job offers
• 29% will be attending graduate school
• 2.1% have not started looking for a job
• 3.4% are taking the year off
• 4.1% other
back to topThe International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO)
International Students and Scholars Office
Columbia University
Mail Code 5724
2960 Broadway
New York, NY 10027
Phone: 212-854-3587
E-mail:
The International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) offers many
services for international students as well as American citizens and
permanent residents who have received their education in another
country. Services for international students include pre-admission
counseling, document and other immigration-related services, the
International Orientation program, social and cultural activities, and
a program for the spouses of students. The ISSO also provides
credential analysis services to the admissions offices of the
University. The ISSO is open year-round, and international students are
urged to make use of its services during their stay at the University
and are also invited to visit the ISSO website, with comprehensive information for both prospective and current students.
The staff of the International Students and Scholars Office is available for personal advisement and for help in learning about the campus and New York City. The ISSO is an essential source of information regarding immigration and Department of State regulations that affect students studying in the United States. The staff can also assist with many other non-academic matters. The ISSO provides information about cultural activities in the New York area and has reduced-rate tickets for plays, concerts, and other events.
Students are required to check in with the ISSO within a week of their arrival at Columbia. The office's street address is 524 Riverside Drive in International House North, just north of 122nd Street. The orientation program for new international students arriving for the September term takes place during orientation week, usually the last week in August or the first week in September. For further information, consult the International Students and Scholars Office using the contact information above.
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