The Columbia Climate School is thrilled to announce the launch of a new dual degree program with the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, to begin September 2025. Students enrolled in this dual degree program will receive both a Master of Science in Climate and a Master of Science in Carbon Management upon successful completion of their studies. 

“The management and abatement of CO2 emissions and access to secure and plentiful energy remain two of the biggest challenges facing our world,” said Climate School dean Alexis Abramson. “The Climate School is thrilled to partner with Columbia Engineering to offer this program, which combines climate science, societal impacts and carbon management expertise to prepare students to develop and implement low-carbon strategies across sectors and industries.”  

Carbon management technologies play an important and complementary role in addressing climate change and provide a range of options to support the sustainable energy transition, including carbon capture, removal and reuse, in meeting net-zero emissions. This dual program will prepare students to create and implement multifaceted solutions to the carbon inflows and outflows that align global energy requirements with climate impacts.

“Since its inception, the Climate School has been a tremendous collaborative partner to Columbia Engineering, bolstering Columbia’s position as a leader in unique programs for research and education,” said Shih-Fu Chang, dean of Columbia Engineering. “With this new offering, we continue our mission to educate leaders who can address the multifaceted challenges facing society as we work toward a more sustainable climate future.”   

The dual degree students will enroll for a total of 63 credits—33 credits over two semesters for the M.S. in Climate and 30 credits over two semesters for the M.S. in Carbon Management—thus receiving both degrees in less time than if pursued separately. 

In the M.S. in Climate program, students will complete an immersive year of climate courses centered on scientific understanding of climate, quantitative methods, mitigation pathways, adaptation strategies and policies, justice frameworks and societal impacts. In the M.S. in Carbon Management program, students gain technical depth through core courses focused on various aspects of carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), and low-carbon energy conservation systems, as well as electives focused on related engineering, policy and economics. Together, the dual program trains students to both create and implement solutions to the carbon problem as a key pathway for addressing the climate crisis. In addition to top tier courses and access to faculty, students will have ample opportunities to apply their knowledge outside the classroom across both programs to help prepare them for vibrant careers.

“As the world faces the urgent need to mitigate climate change and transition to a low-carbon economy, professionals with both a strong foundation in climate science and practical skills in carbon management will be crucial in shaping sustainable solutions,” said Mingfang Ting, co-director of the M.S. in Climate program.

“This new program will be an important step in giving highly capable students the tools they need to be effective in their careers, managing real-world climate challenges that affect implementation and impact,” added Dan Steingart, chair of the Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering at Columbia Engineering.

Columbia University is uniquely positioned to offer this program, leveraging its world-renowned faculty, cutting-edge research centers and deep industry connections across both these disciplines. Graduates of this program can pursue diverse and impactful careers across industries, government and nonprofit sectors, in roles such as climate policy analysts, carbon market specialists, climate risk managers, renewable energy consultants and more.

Interested candidates must apply separately to Columbia Climate School and Columbia Engineering. Each school’s admissions decisions are made independently based solely on that school’s selection criteria. Students pay the tuition and fees of and are granted financial aid by the school in which they are in residence during a given year. 

Students may begin the dual program in either school. The recommended path for international students is to begin at the Climate School, due eligibility for F-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT) during the summer semester. 

Questions? Email admissions@climate.columbia.edu or schedule an appointment.