Cornell University
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

The Global and Public Health Sciences major is intended for students who are interested in the health problems of communities and the actions that will protect or improve the lives of large numbers of individuals. These actions typically require a multidisciplinary approach—carefully considering cultural and ethnic contexts —that involves the biomedical, social, behavioral, political and environmental sciences. Public health actions often address such issues as obesity and diabetes, food security, HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases; quality of food, water and air; and health care access. This major is offered through the College of Human Ecology or the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Enrolling in this major is especially appropriate if you wish to pursue advanced study to prepare for leadership positions in governmental or nongovernmental organizations,working directly with current and emerging health concerns in the U.S. or internationally.

Go beyond the borders of campus to put our knowledge and research to work improving lives across the world. Our International Agriculture and Rural Development (IARD) major is designed for students who are interested in tackling the unique and interdisciplinary issues associated with food systems and rural development in emerging nations. You’ll have the opportunity to gain meaningful experience, hands-on by participating in projects and research all over the world. Today’s students are acquiring valuable insight and skills while working within rural communities to: -Address poverty and hunger through innovations in agriculture -Increase food security -Advance science and policy related to sustainable development -Contribute to the economic development of emerging economies by strengthening private strategies and informing public policies

The Design + Environmental Analysis major is offered by the College of Human Ecology. D+EA combines innovative design thinking with insightful design research to understand how our daily lives are impacted by the built environment. Through multidisciplinary training in human-centered design, environmental psychology, ergonomics, and facility strategy and management, we tackle problems from a systems view - people, process and place - to create strategic sustainable and healthy futures by design.

(1)Agricultural Sciences: The Agricultural Sciences interdisciplinary undergraduate major is for students wishing to pursue a general education in agriculture to prepare for careers that require a scientific and integrated understanding of agriculture and food systems. Students learn about agricultural sustainability from multiple perspectives by taking a wide breadth of core coursework, complemented by one of our concentrations. https://cals.cornell.edu/education/degrees-programs/agricultural-sciences-major (2)Biological Engineering: As a Biological Engineering student, you’ll learn to combine the power of engineering principles and techniques with the rapidly developing science of biology. By integrating engineering and biology you can help tackle some of today’s most pressing local, national and global challenges. Some of our students and graduates are working to ensure safe and sustainable food and energy supplies, protect natural resources, develop devices to monitor or intervene in the mechanisms of living organisms and using biological materials in other new and innovative ways. https://cals.cornell.edu/education/degrees-programs/biological-engineering-major (3)Developmental Sociology: The department is well known for international, domestic, rural, environmental, agricultural and population studies. Faculty and students in the department conduct theoretical and applied research, teaching and outreach on the causes, dynamics and consequences of social, cultural, political and economic change. https://cals.cornell.edu/education/degrees-programs/development-sociology-major-minor (4)Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Earth and atmospheric sciences graduates will be able to seek careers dealing with energy, mineral and water resources, natural hazards, weather and climate forecasting, ocean resources, and a host of environmental issues through employment in academia, government and the private sector. The major also prepares students for careers in environmental management and policy, law or medicine, science journalism and K-12 science education. https://www.eas.cornell.edu/eas/programs/undergraduate-programs/abbs-earth-and-atmospheric-sciences (5)Entomology: The Entomology major provides an education in biological and environmental sciences, with a special emphasis on insects. Students in this major are not just fascinated by the most diverse group of animals on Earth; they understand that research in entomology is critical to human lives. https://cals.cornell.edu/education/degrees-programs/entomology-major-minor (6)Environment and Sustainability: Our core curriculum, provides a comprehensive and integrated view of the biological, physical-chemical, ecological, human, and social dimensions of the environment. It’s designed to advance your ability to solve real-world environmental problems, affect decisions involving environmental policy, resource management, biodiversity conservation, and human health https://cals.cornell.edu/education/degrees-programs/environment-sustainability-major-and-minor (7)Environmental Engineering: In this major, students address important environmental and development issues, such as the water treatment processes, the transport of contaminants in natural aquatic systems, the design and management of environmental and water resource systems, environmental fluid mechanics and hydraulics and hydrology. https://enve.cornell.edu/program-information/ (8)Fiber Science and Apparel Design: Our multidisciplinary approach combines design, art, biology, chemistry, engineering and social science concepts and methods. The department faculty seek to educate students about these topics with the long term goal of effecting change in design, in materials, in people's health and well-being, in manufacturing, in economic vitality, and in the environment. https://www.human.cornell.edu/fsad/academics/undergraduate/home (9)Food Science: Supplying an expanding global population with adequate food is one of the greatest challenges facing humankind in the 21st century. The Food Science major prepares you to lead change in the food industry, academia and government. Our research programs are designed to expand understanding of the biological/microbiological, chemical, physical, sensory, nutritional and engineering properties of foods and beverages. https://cals.cornell.edu/education/degrees-programs/food-science-major-minor (10)Landscape Architecture: CALS’ Landscape Architecture major is well suited for students interested in urban development, land-use planning, conservation and ecological design. The landscape architecture curriculum is a broad-based course of study that provides the skills necessary for professional practice. https://cals.cornell.edu/education/degrees-programs/landscape-architecture-major-minor (11)Nutritional Sciences: Our Nutritional Science program draws upon chemistry, biology and the social sciences to understand complex relationships among human health and well-being, food and lifestyle patterns, food and agricultural systems and institutional environments. https://cals.cornell.edu/education/degrees-programs/nutritional-sciences-major (12)Plant Sciences: Plant Sciences is the study of plant growth, reproduction, evolution, and adaptation, as well as the use of plants for food, fiber, and ornamental purposes. Majoring in Plant Sciences will help you make a positive difference in the world. Plant science expertise is needed to address many of our most challenging problems: https://cals.cornell.edu/education/degrees-programs/plant-sciences-major-minor (13)Urban and Regional Studies: Urban and regional studies (URS) classes ask how a vast spectrum of social and economic forces have changed cities; what these changes mean for people in their daily lives; and how citizens, community groups, and planners can work together to make productive, sustainable, safe, lively, and livable places. https://aap.cornell.edu/academics/crp/undergraduate/bs-urs-degree-details

The Minor in Community Food Systems (CFS) is a university-wide program enabling undergraduate students to engage with critical contemporary issues relating to food security, food sovereignty, and food justice. In a context of diverse goals and approaches, the CFS Minor focuses on working with community partners to collaboratively understand and develop sustainable community food systems. Students are provided with opportunities to integrate learning across courses with social, ethical, ecological, and agricultural perspectives on local food systems and participate in an experiential practicum embedded in a real-world context.

The Anthropology Department offers a Minor in Public Service Studies to undergraduate students in any college at Cornell. The Public Service Studies Minor provides students with intellectual frameworks for developing and sustaining commitments to community engagement and global citizenship. Students gain critical thinking tools for reflecting about and promoting social change.

A minor in Soil Science prepares students for work on agricultural and natural ecosystems by learning to identify, understand and manage soils in agriculture and forestry in an environmentally responsible way. The soil science minor is available to students with any major at Cornell University; transfer credit can be used to meet requirements. Graduates with soils training can choose from a range of excellent professional opportunities and challenging careers, including those with government agencies.

(1) Atmospheric Science: Before we can improve the quality of life of everyone on this planet, we must first understand how this very complicated natural system operates, and how human behavior is now perturbing the natural balance. The Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences at Cornell embraces this mission through teaching, world class research, and service and outreach (http://ccams.eas.cornell.edu/index.php?page=minor) (2) Crop Management: The minor enables students with majors in fields such as applied economics and management, communication, ESS, IARD and sociology to gain technical and scientific knowledge for careers in areas such as food production systems, evaluating effects of climate change on food security, and policy related to agricultural sustainability (http://scs.cals.cornell.edu/undergraduate/minors) (3) Entomology: Be able to identify the potential impact of different insect species on agriculture, human health, and society in general; to be knowledgeable about potential control strategies (https://entomology.cals.cornell.edu/undergraduate/courses/requirements-minor-entomology) (4) Design & Environmental Analysis: The curriculum is organized around the following three primary research themes: Design Strategy, Sustainable Futures, Health and Well-Being (https://www.human.cornell.edu/dea/academics/undergraduate/minors/dea) (5) Fungal Biology: Fungi are important in making our planet work. They have profound impacts on biological systems as recyclers, nutrient prospectors, symbionts, pathogens, spoilage organisms, and sources of pharmaceuticals and other useful biochemicals. Cornell has no undergraduate major focusing entirely on mycology, but students in diverse fields can add a Minor in Fungal Biology that provides a deep knowledge of fungi and expands their versatility in the workplace (https://sips.cals.cornell.edu/undergraduate/minors/fungal-biology-minor/) (6) Environmental and Sustainability Sciences: Students seeking a minor in Environmental and Sustainability Sciences will customize a course of study that will allow them to develop a basic knowledge of biological, physical and social scientific perspectives on environment (http://admissions.cals.cornell.edu/academics/minors/environmental-science-and-sustainability) (7) Environmental Engineering: This minor encourages engineering students to learn about the scientific, engineering, and economic foundations of environmental engineering so that they are better able to address environmental management issues (https://www.cee.cornell.edu/cee/programs/undergraduate-programs/minor/environmental-engineering) (8) Horticulture: The Minor Program of Study in Horticulture aims to increase students’ knowledge and skills for managing fruits, vegetables and landscape plants for the purpose of improving the quality of life for individuals and communities (https://sips.cals.cornell.edu/undergraduate/minors/horticulture-general/) (9) Environmental & Resource Economics: apply practical, applied economics and management tools on every continent to solve the world's most significant business and social issues. (http://dyson.cornell.edu/undergraduate/minors/aem-minors#environmental) (10) Infectious Disease Biology: The Infectious Disease Biology Minor provides students with a broad perspective on health and disease, the dynamic nature of host-associated microbes, an in-depth understanding of the origins and dynamics of infectious diseases, and contemporary thought about the nature of health, disease, and disease management (https://micro.cornell.edu/academics/undergraduate/minors/) (11) Global Health: The Division of Nutritional Sciences offers a minor in global health. The Global Health minor is intended to complement any academic major offered at the University and to provide students with basic knowledge about global health as well as the necessary skills and experience to begin to build their own unique global health career (https://www.human.cornell.edu/dns/academics/undergraduateminors/global) (12) International Development Studies: This minor is designed to enrich student preparation for leadership and future employment in an increasingly interconnected and dynamic world through design of a suitable complementary set of international development courses to match their own major (http://ip.cals.cornell.edu/undergrad/iard-minor) (13) International Trade & Development: apply practical, applied economics and management tools on every continent to solve the world's most significant business and social issues (http://dyson.cornell.edu/undergraduate/minors/aem-minors#international) (14) Inequality Studies: The Minor in Inequality Studies exposes students to inequality through a breadth of approaches, methods, and topics while allowing them to tailor the program to their particular interests (http://inequality.cornell.edu/minor/) (15) Landscape Studies: A variety of courses consider the cultural landscape as an object, something to be studied for its own sake, and as a subject, as a means to understand society’s relationship to natural systems (https://landscape.cals.cornell.edu/undergraduate/minor) (16) Marine Biology: Students who choose the Minor in Marine Biology will learn about the biology, evolution and ecology of organisms that inhabit these environments and the ecological processes linking them (https://cals.cornell.edu/education/degrees-programs/marine-biology-minor) (17) Earth and Atmospheric Systems: This minor will prepare engineering students to understand the natural operating systems of Earth and the tools and techniques used by earth scientists to understand and monitor these solid and fluid systems (https://www.eas.cornell.edu/eas/programs/undergraduate-programs/undergraduate-minors/earth-and-atmospheric-sciences-minor) (18) Urban & Regional Studies: encompasses an interdisciplinary, liberal arts course of study focused on the forces that shape the social, economic, and political character and physical form of urban/suburban areas and their surrounding regions (https://aap.cornell.edu/urban-and-regional-studies-minor) (19) Nutrition & Health: integrate knowledge from the physical, biological and social sciences in the four focus areas of molecular, human, international and community nutrition (https://www.human.cornell.edu/dns/academics/undergraduateminors/nutritionhealth) (20) Plant Breeding: The Minor Program of Study in Plant Breeding provides a basic understanding of crop improvement, a historical perspective of the discipline, and a sense of how plant breeding contributes to modern society’s demands for food, fiber, fuel, and environmental sustainability (https://sips.cals.cornell.edu/undergraduate/minors/plant-breeding/)