If it is for a SQL server table, you can query the SysObjects and SysColumns tables.

select so.name, sc.name 
from sysobjects AS SO
inner join syscolumns AS SC
ON so.id = sc.id
where SO.xtype = 'u'
and so.name = 'PortfolioDtl'  /* your table name */
and sc.name = 'ClosingDate'   /* your field name */

>Is there a way to check for the existence of a particular field in a table without having to do a SQL select on that table?