Reporting on Science, Health and the Environment

REPORTING ON SCIENCE, HEALTH & THE ENVIRONMENT

Reporting on Science, Health and the Environment, taught in conjunction with the Science and Mathematics Department, addresses a growing need for journalists who can bridge the gap between the medical/scientific community and the general public. This unique program features a yearlong sequence in science writing and reporting, taught by a Pulitzer Prize-winning science journalist. In addition to careers in print and electronic media, there are jobs for science communicators in government, industry and academia.

Internships are a vital part of Columbia's journalism major. Students are encouraged to take one or more internships in Chicago-area print, broadcast and online media.

JEFF LYON*
Coordinator

REPORTING ON SCIENCE, HEALTH & THE ENVIRONMENT
(29 credit hours, in addition to Core Requirements)

53-4115 Community News
53-3115 Investigative Reporting
53-3130 Interpretive Reporting
53-2410 Science & Medicine in the Media
53-4410 Science & Medicine: Covering the News
53-4415 Feature Writing in Science & Medicine
53-3598 Independent Project
53-4420 Environmental Reporting

Recommended for 2007; required beginning Fall 2008:

Students without the math prerequisite for one of these courses must first take College Mathematics 56-1720, 3 credits, which will count as three of the 20 science and math hours required for the concentration.

Group 1
In the first year, students must complete one of the following lab courses each semester:
56-1110 Biology: The Living World (4 credits)
56-1210 Liberal Arts Chemistry (4 credits)
56-1310 Geology: The Earth as a Planet  (4 credits)

Group 2
By the end of the second year, students must complete 3 hours of mathematics from the following courses:
56-1728 Quantitative Literacy (3 credits)
56-1722 Introduction to Statistical Methods (3 credits)

Group 3
At least one course from the following:
56-1830 Astronomy: The Solar System (3 credits)
56-1837 The Origin and Fate of the Universe (3 credits)
56-1840 Einstein: His Science and His Humanity (3 credits)

At least one course from the following:
56-1211 Scientific Investigation (3 credits)
56-1184 Brave New World of Medicine (3 credits)
56-1320 Natural Disasters (3 credits)
56-2130 Genetics (3 credits)
56-1182 Biology of the Human Immune System (3 credits)
56-2610 Environmental Science (3 credits)

* Read more about Jeff Lyon in the FACULTY & STAFF PROFILES . . .