Science Honors Program (SHP)

ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS: This course will trace our knowledge of the Universe from astronomy's ancient roots in naked-eye observations of the sky to the twenty-first-century studies of extrasolar planetary systems, black holes, and cosmology. Initial topics will include: Newton's laws of motion and gravitation, orbits and space travel, and the properties of planets' surfaces, interiors, and atmospheres. The course will then combine atomic and nuclear physics with stellar and galactic astronomy to describe stars, supernovae, black holes, the interstellar medium, galaxies, the creation of the elements, and the evolution of the universe.

RELATIVITY: Special and general relativity are pillars of modern physics. These theories are not only among the most experimentally verified but also the most beautiful in all science. Yet their predictions, true as they may be, clash with our human intuition. In this course we’ll learn to see the world differently – as it really is – with an introduction to Einstein’s theories of spacetime. By the end of the course, students will be able to: apply principles of special relativity, including time dilation, length contraction, and the Lorentz transformations, to predict how relative motion affects physical measurements; use key ideas in general relativity, such as the equivalence principle and the spacetime metric, to answer the question “What is gravity?”; connect real-world phenomena, from GPS to black holes, to the foundational principles of general relativity. Students should be comfortable with pre-calculus and familiarity with vectors is helpful but not required.

QUANTUM PHYSICS: The course begins with a historical introduction to quantum physics. We first review the three major areas of classical physics developed before the 20th century: Mechanics, electromagnetism and classical statistical physics. We discuss basics of wave phenomena such as interference and the wave uncertainty principle. We then move on to two major problems that challenged the 20th century physicists and eventually led to the development of quantum theory: The ultraviolet catastrophe and the instability of the classical atomic model. We introduce Bohr's atomic model, the concept of a wavefunction, the Born rule and Heisenberg uncertainty principle. Photoelectric effect, Einstein-Planck formula, De Broglie hypothesis are discussed in the context of wave-particle duality.  We state the postulates of quantum mechanics. If time permits, we briefly introduce the mathematical apparatus of quantum mechanics: Vector spaces. In the rest of the course, we study simple quantum mechanical systems: Particle in a box, two-state systems, quantum tunneling. If time permits, we touch upon the Bohr-Einstein debates, interpretations of Quantum Mechanics and give a brief overview of a research frontier: Quantum Foundations. Students should have completed pre-calculus

POWERING THE FUTURE: THE PHYSICS OF FUSION ENERGY: Climate change and growing global energy demand have in recent years driven research into new forms of electricity production that are more sustainable than coal, oil, and gas. Due to its relative safety, cleanliness, flexibility, and fuel availability, fusion has long been sought after as the optimal method of power generation. In order to achieve fusion, matter needs to be heated up to temperatures exceeding that of the sun. Matter this hot generally exists as a plasma, known as the fourth state of matter. This course, which aims to give students a background in fusion energy, will be taught by members of the Columbia Plasma Physics Laboratory. The course will cover the potential importance of fusion energy, historical and current approaches to fusion, and basic plasma physics necessary to understanding fusion-relevant plasmas. The course will involve lectures, but will heavily incorporate interactive demonstrations and labs that will give students the tools to prepare them for further study of plasma physics and fusion.

SCIENCE OF MATERIALS: Engineered materials are essential to many modern technologies, from steel in building materials to silicon in computer chips. This class will introduce the atomic structure, bonding types, and crystal structure that form the basis of material properties. We will discuss the four main classes of materials - metals, ceramics, polymers and composites, and students will learn how microscopic structure influences the mechanical, optical, and electronic properties of materials. Later lectures will focus on more advanced topics, including nanomaterials and polymers, and students will learn how we can fabricate and visualize these materials using modern characterization methods.

CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM COMPUTING DEVICES: The course will start by discussing semiconductor devices, including transistors, and how they form the fundamental building block of classical computation. Students will next learn about the fabrication techniques used to build classical and quantum computing devices. We will then discuss the principles of quantum mechanics, showing how entanglement and superposition could usher in a new era of quantum information devices. Students will be exposed to the math underlying quantum physics, learn about the many platforms being used to build qubits in research and industry, and have the opportunity to visit a quantum optics lab at Columbia.

ORGANIC CHEMISTRY: This course combines lectures, laboratory experiments, and demonstrations to provide an introduction to the principles and exciting frontiers of organic chemistry. Students will be introduced to the synthesis of organic compounds and the reaction mechanisms. Lecture topics will include: chemical bonds, structural theory and reactivity, design and synthesis of organic molecules, and spectroscopic techniques (UV-Vis, IR, NMR) for structure determination. Experiments will introduce common techniques employed in organic chemistry and will include: extraction, recrystallization, thin layer and column chromatography, reflux, and distillation. Note that students must be present for one of the first two classes for mandatory safety training.

INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY: This course examines the fundamental chemical processes of the Earth’s natural environment, and changes induced by human activity. A combination of lectures, guest lectures, and laboratory experiments will be done to introduce students to the intersection of earth systems science and chemistry. The topics covered will be related to the Earth’s “spheres”, primarily the atmosphere: stratospheric ozone depletion, acid rain, climate change and the hydrosphere: water resources and pollution, biogeochemistry, metals in the environment. The primary goal of this class is to understand important environmental phenomena from anthropogenic activities, such as heavy metal pollution and urban smog.

UNDERSTANDING EARTH’S CLIMATE SYSTEM AND CLIMATE CHANGE: In this course, students will explore Earth’s climate system. This exploration will take the form of learning about paleoclimate and some of the Earth’s climate history. Further, students will learn about the climate system and how it relates to the physical Earth system (i.e. plate tectonics and volcanic eruptions). Then we will talk about anthropogenic climate change and some of the cutting-edge research that scientists are currently engaged in. Toward the end of the course, we will spend time reading and learning from national and international climate assessments about the state of our climate and possible solutions. Students can also expect to do some data analysis with climate data throughout the course.

BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOENGINEERING: This course focuses on concepts used in modern biotechnology for medicine and environmental applications, including preventing infectious disease, fighting cancer, treating disease in the brain, tissue engineering, and engineering more sustainable food sources. This course will be interactive and provide multiple experiences such as projects, lab tours, and a panel of professionals from the Columbia biomedical engineering community to discuss careers in the field.

INTRODUCTION TO QUANTITATIVE BIOTECHNOLOGY: We usually imagine bioengineers in white lab coats, mixing chemicals and working with cells, but there exists a whole aspect of bioengineering that we can do from our computers. In this quantitative biotechnology course, students will learn the computational skills and bioengineering knowledge they need to perform cutting edge genomics techniques, create comprehensive computational models of dynamic biological systems, and more. By the end of this course, students will utilize the skills and knowledge learned to develop their own quantitative biotechnology research project. Note: this course will require the use of a computer. If assistance is needed in acquiring a device for the course, please reach out to the course instructors.

HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY: Drawing on content taught during the first semester of medical school, this lecture-based course provides a systematic introduction to the major systems of the human body, including the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, endocrine, immune, and nervous systems. Classes cover foundational knowledge regarding the anatomy and physiology of each system and then apply this knowledge to the study of high-yield diseases, showing how molecular mechanisms inform the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of illness. Group discussions and simulated clinical cases complement lecture material in this course, and serve to both reinforce basic science concepts and introduce students to the foundations of clinical medicine. There are no prerequisites for this course, although previous or concurrent coursework in biology (preferably at the AP level) would be helpful.

IMMUNOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY: This course will provide students with an overview of the immune system. Students will learn the cellular and non-cellular components of the immune system and how they respond in different contexts such as infection, cancer, and autoimmunity. Students will also learn about the intersection of the immune system with toxicants that impact the immune system and cause adverse effects such as immunosuppression and hypersensitivity. During our survey of these topics, students will engage directly with primary literature, practicing how to read scientific papers, discuss experimental design, and analyze data. This will culminate in a final group presentation on a topic of choice.

HOW DOES IT WORK: THE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING OF EVERYDAY TECHNOLOGY: Discover the hidden brilliance behind the everyday technologies that shape our world! In this course, we’ll dive into the science and engineering of objects you interact with daily, unraveling the secrets of motors, microwaves, touchscreens, and more. From the physics that keeps airplanes soaring to the magic allowing you to send TikTok videos instantaneously to your friends, we’ll break down complex concepts into simple, eye-opening insights whether you’re curious about how your computer ticks or the mechanics that power modern life, this class promises to ignite your curiosity and deepen your understanding – one fascinating object at a time. Every necessary math or physics concept will be explained in class, however, knowledge of integration/derivation of functions is welcomed.

SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH TECHNIQUES FOR STEM PROJECTS: As technology is increasingly interconnected with people’s daily lives, it is necessary for social science research to be part of most STEM research and development. The course teaches students how to think socially about STEM through human centered approaches to research, and ethics in research. Students will learn about various social science research methods (i.e., survey, interview, and ethnography), and get hands-on experience with these methods through in-class workshops as well as the design and completion of their own individual social science research projects. At the end of the course the students will have completed individual social science research projects rooted in their STEM interests.

SPRING 2025

February 8 - First day of classes, plenary talks

February 15 - Classes

February 22 - Classes

March 1 - Classes

March 8 - Classes

March 15 - Classes

March 22 - No classes, Columbia Spring break

March 29 - Classes

April 5 - Classes

April 12 - Classes

April 19 - No classes, Easter weekend

April 26 - Classes

May 3 - Last day of classes

The Columbia University Science Honors Program (SHP) is highly selective for students with exceptional talent in mathematics and the sciences. Interested students may apply during their ninth, tenth, or eleventh grade to enter the program the following academic year. Students must apply online.

Application to the program is via our online portal. Students should use a non-school affiliated email to ensure messages are not filtered to spam folders. The application will open in early February. 

Your information is transmitted through a secured server and is kept confidential until you submit your application. Your application will only be reviewed after submission. If you have any questions about the Science Honors application, please email [email protected].

After a complete application is submitted, the applicant should receive a confirmation e-mail indicating successful submission. 

You must pay an application fee by credit card or request a fee waiver prior to application submission. Applications can only be processed once the application fee is paid.

Your recommendation provider will be automatically notified and asked to submit their recommendation online. You can subsequently track the status of the submitted application and the receipt of the associated recommendation using your Status Portal. After the close of the application period, applicants will be notified of which examination date they have been assigned and will be able to print out an examination admission form that must be brought to the examination on the given date. 

We are pleased that we are continuing into our 67th year in the Science Honors Program. The annual tuition for the 2024-2025 school year will be $600 per year (with $300 due at the beginning of each semester). Tuition waivers may be available for students with documented financial hardships; waivers will be granted after the admissions process, and all applications will receive equal consideration regardless of need.

You must pay an application fee by credit card or request a fee waiver prior to application submission. Applications can only be processed once the application fee is paid.

Your recommendation provider will be automatically notified and asked to submit their recommendation online. You can subsequently track the status of the submitted application and the receipt of the associated recommendation using your Status Portal. After the close of the application period, applicants will be notified of which examination date they have been assigned and will be able to print out an examination admission form that must be brought to the examination on the given date. 

We are pleased that we are continuing into our 67th year in the Science Honors Program. The annual tuition for the 2024-2025 school year will be $600 per year (with $300 due at the beginning of each semester). Starting in fall 2025, the annual tuition will be increased to $700 per year (with $350) due at the beginning of each semester). Tuition waivers may be available for students with documented financial hardships; waivers will be granted after the admissions process, and all applications will receive equal consideration regardless of need.

To apply, indicate interest on the SHP program application and complete the following documents:

1. Individual recent pay stubs for parent(s). Indicate if weekly, bi-weekly or monthly pay period.
2. Family Income and Expense Worksheet
3. Parent Non Tax-Filer Certification Form (this is only applicable if not filing a tax return)