Columbia University School of Professional Studies (SPS) is expanding its portfolio of mission-driven graduate programs with the launch of a new interdisciplinary M.S. in Biodiversity Data Analytics, offered in partnership with the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology (E3B) within the Division of Natural Sciences at Columbia University. This innovative online program will equip students with advanced data analytics skills while addressing the global urgency of biodiversity loss. It is designed for professionals in sectors such as nonprofit, ESG-focused finance, consulting and auditing, and environmental and urban planning who are seeking to expand their analytical capabilities and deepen their impact in environmental management and policy.
The curriculum emphasizes both technical fluency and ecological insight, exploring topics such as data science, spatial data and geographic information systems, decision-making with data, conservation policy, climate finance, and more. Students will complete the program with a team-based capstone project, developing real-world solutions to biodiversity-related challenges. These solutions will be grounded in data and aligned with sustainability goals. In addition to conducting online coursework, students will participate in two in-person sessions in New York City at the opening and conclusion of the program.
“Biodiversity Data Analytics is not just an emerging academic field; it is a necessary one,” said Troy J. Eggers, dean of Columbia University School of Professional Studies. “This program reflects our commitment to advancing education that addresses the urgent challenges of our time. We are proud to offer a curriculum that empowers professionals to lead with both data and purpose.”
By integrating the practical, career-oriented approach of SPS with E3B’s interdisciplinary expertise in ecology, evolution, and environmental biology, this collaboration harnesses the distinctive strengths of both.
“This joint program truly merges academic excellence in environmental science with a commitment to developing applicable, real-world competencies,” said Maria Uriarte, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology. “By pooling our resources, we are creating a master’s program that equips graduates to lead solutions for one of today’s most pressing issues.”
The program will be led by Viorel Popescu, Ph.D., a distinguished quantitative ecologist and conservation scientist with over 15 years of experience in the field. Dr. Popescu most recently served as associate professor of conservation biology at Ohio University. He earned his Ph.D. in wildlife ecology from the University of Maine. Over the course of his career, he has published more than 70 peer-reviewed articles, contributed to five academic books, and been awarded several prestigious fellowships. His research focuses on ecological statistics aimed at developing strategies to reverse biodiversity loss.
“Biodiversity Data Analytics is about more than understanding data; it’s about understanding life itself,” said Dr. Popescu. “This program will prepare students to not only decode complex ecological patterns, but to place that knowledge into contexts that influence policy, guide sustainable practices and decisions, and protect the living systems we all depend on.”
Drawing on faculty expertise from ecology, biology, environmental policy, spatial and data science, and advanced analytics, the M.S. in Biodiversity Data Analytics will equip students with the skills to quantify biodiversity metrics and indicators, assess threats to species and ecosystems, and apply data science tools to answer pressing ecological questions with social, economic, and policy implications. Students will explore how millions of species interact in dynamic and unpredictable ways, and how understanding and quantifying those patterns can inform smarter, more sustainable choices.
“As we face rapid environmental change, we need leaders who can interpret complex ecological data and translate it into actionable strategies,” said Steven Cohen, Ph.D., senior vice dean and director of the M.S. in Sustainability Management at Columbia University School of Professional Studies. “This program is about training the next generation of individuals who not only understand the science but can drive meaningful change.”
With biodiversity continuing to reveal its intricacies through new discoveries and evolving methodologies, and with nature data permeating all sectors of the global economy through impact and dependency disclosure requirements, the program also offers a unique opportunity for students to contribute to a field still in active development. From undiscovered species to emerging conservation technologies and policy and finance instruments, Columbia’s Biodiversity Data Analytics program invites learners into a living, breathing scientific frontier.
Applications for fall 2026 enrollment open in August 2025. To learn more, visit the M.S. in Biodiversity Data Analytics site.
About the Columbia University School of Professional Studies
As one of the 17 prestigious schools affiliated with Columbia University, the School of Professional Studies (SPS) is committed to supporting a diverse community of faculty, students, and staff while expanding the reach and impact of an Ivy League education so that more students can excel in their careers. Online and around the world, SPS brings together the best and brightest minds to deliver personal, practical, and purposeful educational experiences. Since 2002, the School of Professional Studies and its forebears have administered and developed innovative programs to fulfill a diverse array of inquisitive students’ needs and desires. Whether pursuing one of 19 master’s degrees, returning for post-baccalaureate credentials, or visiting from another university to accelerate undergraduate or graduate studies, every student at the School of Professional Studies benefits from intentionally designed resources and services that make SPS the place to study, no matter their path.
