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 collection of 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.
back to topThe 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 NewYork-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 NewYork-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.
back to topThe 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. In September 2010 the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building currently under construction is scheduled to open and will house SEAS laboratories in nanotechnology and biomedical imaging. 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 Genome Center and Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center to the School’s newest major center, the Energy Frontier Research Center, which will examine new and more efficient ways to extract solar energy. Details about specific programs’ laboratories and equipment can be found in the sections describing those programs.
back to topSEAS Computing Facilities
The Botwinick Multimedia Learning Laboratory at Columbia University has changed the way engineers are educated here.
Created with both education and interaction in mind, the lab provides students and instructors with fifty state-of-the-art Apple MacPro workstations, a full set of professional-grade engineering software tools, and a collaborative classroom learning environment to help them engage in real-world interactions with community clients, SEAS faculty, and professional practitioners. It is home to the School’s introductory first-year engineering course, as well as advanced classes in 3-D modeling and animation, technology and society, and entrepreneurship.
The classroom features a wide-screen SMART Board, two high-definition LCD projectors, and a Sony EVI-HD1 PTZ camera with direct-to-disk recording via HD-SDI using a Kona3 video capture card.
back to topCentral 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 Helpdesk Support Center
202 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. (See beginning of this section for hours and contact information.)
• https://courseworks.columbia.edu/ 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 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.
back to top
The Columbia University Libraries
The Columbia University Libraries system is the nation’s sixth largest academic library system, with 9.7 million volumes, 117,264 serials, as well as extensive collections of electronic resources, manuscripts, rare books, and 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 has a collection of more than 216,000 volumes and receives about 900 serials. The collection includes civil, mechanical, electrical, and chemical engineering; computer science; metal-lurgy; mining (a good retrospective collection); operations research; applied physics; applied mathematics; and nuclear engineering. Via LibraryWeb, the Engineering Library provides access to full-text electronic journals and 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.
back to topCenter 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 career objectives.
The Center for Career Education provides career development opportunities for students beginning with their first year at Columbia and offering a series of coordinated programs, workshops, seminars, and individual one-on-one counseling. Career development is a lifelong process that may include self-assessment, competency development, networking, informational interviewing, internships, summer work experience, study abroad, preparation for the job search or for the graduate/professional school application process, and planning for productive careers. Above all else, it is a process of discovery and learning, which provides a foundation for achieving goals throughout life. The Center can work with students on all these aspects of their career search.
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 students and alumni to visit the Center and to register to use Columbia’s job and internship database, LionSHARE, in order to maximize the level of resources and assistance they can receive..
Individual career counseling is also available to assist all students and alumni served by the Center. Topics addressed in counseling may include self-assessment, career exploration, and career search tools and strategies.
The Center recognizes the special interests of graduate students in the University with programs, workshops, and one-on-one counseling opportunities that focus on both academic and nonacademic careers. On-campus recruiting and LionSHARE are, of course, available to graduate students. The Center also 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. It is typically 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 and internship 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 LionSHARE. LionSHARE also hosts full-time, part-time, and temporary on- and off-campus employment opportunities advertised year round. 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 underdeveloped 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 Center also offers an internship program in California with many engineering and technology internships and two New York–based internship programs, the Columbia Arts Experience and a civic engagement program called Columbia Communities in Action.
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 (a distinctive tourist guide to New York), and the Columbia University Tutoring and Translation Agency. The participants of 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 and questions, please call 212-854-5609.
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.
back to top