Cornell University
AC-4: Graduate Program

Graduate Students in the Natural Resources program receive an education focused on addressing the social and ecological dimensions of natural resources and the environment to improve environmental sustainability and to promote the well-being of communities. The core mission is to create knowledge and facilitate learning to improve society’s stewardship of the environment and promote a conservation ethos for a sustainable planet.
While students have the opportunity to customize their own course of study, the program offers several areas of focus including: Environmental Management, Water Resource Management, Social Analysis and Decision Making, Forest Ecology and Management, and Community-Based Natural Resource Management, Ecosystem Biology. Studies introduce both the biophysical and social dimensions of resource management and focus on rejuvenation, regeneration, and re-establishment of natural cycles, to improve ecosystem health and create self-sustaining ecosystems. Courses will examine mechanisms of sustainable use, resistance and adaptations to disturbance, and policy implementations to simultaneously reduce negative impacts, maintain productive ecosystems and contribute positively to local and global climate systems.

Students in the Field of Soil & Crop Sciences work on projects ranging from advancing management practices for sustainable field crop production, soil biogeochemistry in relation to climate change and environmental concerns, geospatial land processes, and molecular genomic aspects of crop plants and soil microbes. The program’s mission is to generate and communicate knowledge about agroecosystems and their sustainable management in the face of accelerating global change - by educating students for stewardship of agro-ecosystems, conducting scientific research on sustainable land management, and using extension and outreach programs for the benefit of our stakeholders. It emphasizes improving the suitability of soil for crop growth and increasing nutrient use efficiency to produce nutritious food for a growing world population, while preserving the value of soil as a natural resource by using ecologically sound approaches. The MS/PhD Graduate Field of Soil & Crop Sciences offers four concentrations: Agronomy, Soil Science, Field Crop Science, and Environmental Information Systems.

Civil and Environmental Engineering students are trained to develop the skills and ability to apply multi-disciplinary tools and more sustainable approaches for reducing detrimental environmental and health impacts resulting from chemical and biological contaminants. Studies are concerned with the development and application of quantitative methods for the evaluation, planning and operation of resource and environmental systems. Efforts address the integration and analysis of engineering and economic-policy issues posed by the need to manage water, land, air and human resources, as well as environmental remediation efforts. There is also an emphasis on technical innovation and the development of monitoring tools and sustainable treatment and recovery technologies to protect public health from exposure to chemical and biological contaminants, as well as new processes for producing clean energy carriers.

M.S. and Ph.D. students within this program can specialize in Environmental Fluid Mechanics and Hydrology, Environmental Processes, Environmental and Water Resource Engineering, and Transportation Systems Engineering.

Agriculture and Life Sciences (Animal Sciences) (M.P.S.)
https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/animal-science/agriculture-and-life-sciences-animal-science-mps-ithaca
Animal Science (M.S.)
https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/animal-science/animal-science-ms-ithaca
Animal Science (M.S./Ph.D.)
https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/animal-science/animal-science-msphd-ithaca
Animal Science (Ph.D.)
https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/animal-science/animal-science-phd-ithaca
Advanced Architectural Design (Post-Professional) (M.S.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/architecture/advanced-architectural-design-post-professional-ms-ithaca
Architecture (M.Arch) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/architecture/master-of-architecture-administered-by-the-college-of-architecture-art-and-planning-march-ithaca/
Architectural Science (M.S.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/architecture/architectural-science-ms-ithaca
Matter Design Computation (M.S.) https://aap.cornell.edu/academics/architecture/graduate/mdc
History of Architecture and Urban Development (Ph.D.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/architecture/history-of-architecture-and-urban-development-phd-ithaca
Atmospheric Science (M.S.)
https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/atmospheric-science/atmospheric-science-ms-ithaca/
Atmospheric Science (M.S./PhD) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/atmospheric-science/atmospheric-science-msphd-ithaca
Atmospheric Science (PhD) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/atmospheric-science/atmospheric-science-phd-ithaca
Biological and Environmental Engineering (M.Eng.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/biological-and-environmental-engineering/biological-and-environmental-engineering-meng-ithaca
Agriculture and Life Sciences (Biological and Environmental Engineering) (M.P.S.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/biological-and-environmental-engineering/agriculture-and-life-sciences-biological-and-environmental-engineering-mps-ithaca
Biological and Environmental Engineering (M.S.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/biological-and-environmental-engineering/biological-and-environmental-engineering-ms-ithaca
Biological and Environmental Engineering (PhD) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/biological-and-environmental-engineering/biological-and-environmental-engineering-phd-ithaca
Civil and Environmental Engineering (M.Eng.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/civil-and-environmental-engineering/civil-and-environmental-engineering-meng-ithaca
Civil and Environmental Engineering (M.S.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/civil-and-environmental-engineering/civil-and-environmental-engineering-ms-ithaca
Civil and Environmental Engineering (M.S./Ph.D.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/civil-and-environmental-engineering/civil-and-environmental-engineering-msphd-ithaca
Civil and Environmental Engineering (Ph.D.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/civil-and-environmental-engineering/civil-and-environmental-engineering-phd-ithaca
Design (M.A.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/design-and-environmental-analysis/design-ma-ithaca
Human-Environment Relations (M.S.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/design-and-environmental-analysis/human-environment-relations-ms-ithaca
Human Behavior and Design (PhD) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/design-and-environmental-analysis/human-behavior-and-design-phd-ithaca
Development Sociology (Ph.D.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/development-studies/development-sociology-phd-ithaca/
Ecology (M.S.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/ecology-and-evolutionary-biology/ecology-ms-ithaca
Ecology (Ph.D.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/ecology-and-evolutionary-biology/ecology-phd-ithaca
Evolutionary Biology (M.S.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/ecology-and-evolutionary-biology/evolutionary-biology-ms-ithaca
Evolutionary Biology (Ph.D.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/ecology-and-evolutionary-biology/evolutionary-biology-phd-ithaca
Entomology (M.S.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/entomology/entomology-ms-ithaca/
Entomology (Ph.D.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/entomology/entomology-msphd-ithaca
Entomology (Ph.D.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/entomology/entomology-phd-ithaca/
Food Science and Technology (M.S.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/food-science-and-technology/food-science-and-technology-ms-ithaca
Food Science and Technology (Ph.D.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/food-science-and-technology/food-science-and-technology-phd-ithaca
Geological Sciences (M.Eng.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/geological-sciences/geological-sciences-meng-ithaca
Geological Sciences (M.S.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/geological-sciences/geological-sciences-ms-ithaca
Geological Sciences (Ph.D.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/geological-sciences/geological-sciences-phd-ithaca
Global Development (M.P.S.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/global-development/global-development-mps-ithaca/
Horticultural Biology (M.S.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/horticulture/horticultural-biology-ms-ithaca
Horticultural Biology (Ph.D.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/horticulture/horticultural-biology-phd-ithaca
Agriculture and Life Sciences (Integrative Plant Science) (M.P.S.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/integrative-plant-science/agriculture-and-life-sciences-integrative-plant-science-mps-ithaca
Landscape Architecture (M.L.A.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/landscape-architecture/landscape-architecture-mla-ithaca
Landscape Architecture (M.P.S.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/landscape-architecture/landscape-architecture-mps-ithaca
Landscape Architecture (M.R.P./M.L.A. (dual degree)) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/landscape-architecture/landscape-architecture-mrpmla-dual-degree-ithaca
Agriculture and Life Sciences (Natural Resources) (M.P.S.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/natural-resources-and-the-environment/agriculture-and-life-sciences-natural-resources-mps-ithaca
Natural Resources (M.S.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/natural-resources-and-the-environment/natural-resources-ms-ithaca
Natural Resources (M.S./Ph.D.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/natural-resources-and-the-environment/natural-resources-msphd-ithaca
Natural Resources (Ph.D.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/natural-resources-and-the-environment/natural-resources-phd-ithaca
Agriculture and Life Sciences (Plant Biology) (M.P.S.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/plant-biology/agriculture-and-life-sciences-plant-biology-mps-ithaca
Plant Biology (Ph.D.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/plant-biology/plant-biology-phd-ithaca
Plant Breeding (M.S.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/plant-breeding/plant-breeding-ms-ithaca
Plant Breeding (M.S./Ph.D.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/plant-breeding/plant-breeding-phd-ithaca
Plant Breeding (Ph.D.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/plant-breeding/plant-breeding-msphd-ithaca
Plant Pathology (M.S.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/plant-pathology-and-plant-microbe-biology/plant-pathology-ms-ithaca
Plant Pathology (Ph.D.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/plant-pathology-and-plant-microbe-biology/plant-pathology-phd-ithaca
Public Health and Planetary Health (Master of Public Health)
https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/public-health-and-planetary-health/public-health-master-of-public-health-ithaca
Soil and Crop Sciences (M.S.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/soil-and-crop-sciences/soil-and-crop-sciences-ms-ithaca
Soil and Crop Sciences (M.S./Ph.D.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/soil-and-crop-sciences/soil-and-crop-sciences-msphd-ithaca
Soil and Crop Sciences (Ph.D.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/soil-and-crop-sciences/soil-and-crop-sciences-phd-ithaca
Veterinary Medical Sciences (M.P.S.) https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/comparative-biomedical-sciences/veterinary-medical-sciences-mps-distance-hybrid-or-online-option

MPH students who follow the Food Systems for Health path learn to take a systems approach to assess and coordinate policies or interventions that ensure safe and sustainable land use, food production, food storage, food processing, food delivery, and consumption. The program is based on a One Health approach that recognizes that humans, plants, animals, and nonliving parts of the environment such as climate and water, are inseparable when exploring food systems; specifically, studies highlight the fact that sustaining a nutritious worldwide food supply requires preserving natural resources, and that investing in the health of ecosystems can prevent foodborne diseases from spreading to human populations. Students are trained in toxicology, food safety, food and water security, and/or nutrition, and they learn how to engage local and global communities to assess systems or needs, develop interventions from a One Health approach, and lead monitoring and evaluation processes to ensure public health needs are being met.

Students in the Sustainable Business and Economic Policy concentration study the interrelationships among business, the economy, and the environment; examine the role of sustainability in business and economic development; and learn how to design policies and management strategies to promote sustainability, environmental protection, clean technologies, and the optimal and sustainable use of natural resources, taking into account how individuals and businesses respond to these policies. Courses include: Resource Economics, Business and Economics of Energy, The Economics and Psychology of Sustainable Business, Natural Resources and Economic Development, Strategies for Sustainability, Finance and Sustainable Global Enterprise Colloquium, Energy Transition: Policy, Financial, and Business Interactions.

Graduate students within the Masters of Mechanical Engineering program can choose to specialize in the focus area: Energy and the Environment, which focuses on developing new energy sources and technologies that benefit the environment and economy, and helping to implement those technologies. The program encompasses transformative engineering solutions and innovations to facilitate the protection of the environment and people, including areas such as food and water access, agriculture technologies, sensing devices, aquaculture, renewable energy technologies, energy storage, building efficiency, etc.

Concentrations:

MPS in Applied Economics and Management concentrations: Sustainable Business and Economic Policy https://dyson.cornell.edu/programs/graduate/mps/curriculum/

American Indian and Indigenous Studies - https://cals.cornell.edu/american-indian-indigenous-studies/academics-research/aiis-graduate-minor

Ph.D. in Biological Sciences Concentration: Zoology and Wildlife Conservation, Population Medicine and Epidemiology https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/biomedical-and-biological-sciences/biomedical-sciences-phd-ithaca/

Ph.D. in Communication Concentration: Science, Environment, and Health Concentration https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/communication/communication-phd-ithaca/

Ph.D. in Computational Biology Concentrations: Computational Ecology, Computational Organismal Biology https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/field/computational-biology/

M.P.S. and Ph.D. in Management concentration: Production and Operations (Operations, Technology & Information Management) - https://www.johnson.cornell.edu/programs/phd-program/areas-of-study/operations-technology-information-management/

M.Eng. in Mechanical Engineering Concentration: Energy and the Environment - https://confluence.cornell.edu/display/~jmt14/Energy+and+Sustainability

M.H.A./M.P.A. in Public Administration Concentrations: Environmental Policy, Human Rights and Social Justice, International Development Studies
https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/public-affairs/public-administration-mhampa-dual-degree-ithaca/

M.S. in Information Systems Concentration: Urban Tech - https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/applied-information-systems/information-systems-ms-cornell-nyc-tech/

Minors:

Environmental Quality Minor- https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/field/environmental-quality-minor/

Epidemiology Minor - https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/field/epidemiology-minor/

Peace Studies and Peace Science Minor - https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/field/peace-studies-and-peace-science-minor

Risk Analysis, Communication, and Policy Minor - https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/field/risk-analysis-communication-and-policy-minor/#section-4

Sustainable Energy Minor - https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/field/sustainable-energy-minor/

Sustainable Energy Systems Minor - https://energy.cornell.edu/education/sustainable-energy-systems-minors

Urban Studies Minor- https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/field/urban-studies-minor

Water Resources Minor - https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/field/water-resources-minor

**Note: the above list does not include the concentrations from the sustainability-focused majors and degree programs listed in the first part of this credit; they are assumed to have sustainability-focused concentrations.

The graduate fields of study are cataloged here https://gradschool.cornell.edu/cugradfos/