Agricultural Sciences Major

CALS seeks students who maintain a rigorous high school curriculum and demonstrate an outstanding record of academic achievement. Admissions requirements include:

• 4 Units of English

• 4 Units of Mathematics (including pre-calculus)

• 3 Units of Science (biology and chemistry)

• Also recommended: statistics

• Agriculture courses are also strongly encouraged

There are two parts to the Agricultural Sciences curriculum for a minimum total of 16 courses. Students gain breadth of knowledge with 12 core courses. Example areas include sustainable agriculture, integrated pest management, genetics, soil, plant, animal and food science, business management and international agriculture.

Students gain depth by choosing one of five possible concentrations involving a minimum of four courses or 12 credits. Prior to their last semester, students also gain practical experience through an internship equal to at least six weeks of full-time work. This structure trains our students to be critical thinkers across the life and social sciences.

Want to learn more?To obtain a copy of the full curriculum,please submit this form.

Life sciences foundation

The Agricultural Sciences major aligns well with college distribution requirements for foundational life sciences knowledge, including:

• Two courses in life sciences biology
• General chemistry with lab
• Statistics

Students with life science research, graduate study or pre-health interests have the flexibility to expand their foundation with additional coursework.

Broad agricultural core

Common core coursework includes:

• AGSCI 1125 Guided Explorations: Growing You and Your Path in the Agricultural Sciences
• ENTOM 4440 Integrated Pest Management
• PLSCI 1101 Plant Science and Systems
• PLSCS 1900 Sustainable Agriculture: Food, Farming, and the Future
• PLSCS 2110 Field Crop Systems
• PLSCS 2600 Soil Science

Core course areas

Students will complete one course from a select list of options in the following six areas: Animal science, communication or education, food science, genetics, international agriculture and introductory business management.

Students will complete at least one concentration of 12 credits. The five concentrations are:

• 动物科学
• Business management and policy
• Education and society
• Organic agriculture
• Sustainable cropping systems management

Students often have space and flexibility to complete more than one concentration and may double-count any concentration course towards a minor from across the university.

Students are required to gain practical experience through an agriculturally related internship of at least six weeks of full-time effort that aligns with individual goals.

From the outset of studies, students are encouraged and introduced to career exploration, as well as the tools and resources for conducting a job search. All students are encouraged to use the Agricultural Sciences major’s growing network of alumni connections and strengthen coursework experiences with professional development.

The Agricultural Sciences major has about 100 undergraduates at any given time. As a mid-sized major, this allows us to provide personalized student support. We pride ourselves in nurturing our family-like culture, from our student ambassadors, and friendly, first-name-basis faculty advisors, to the common cohort course that assists with the college transition and supports academic and career exploration.

Prospective students often ask about the course experience. Many of CALS agricultural production courses are lab and field based, utilizing Cornell’s extensive research and teaching facilities from farms, research fields and greenhouses, to a near-campus teaching winery and orchard. Students also engage in food and agriculture-related international trip courses, clubs and organizations.

The Agricultural Sciences major prepares graduates to be critical thinkers, who understand the science behind complex issues such as global food supply and security and climate change, while also understanding the global marketplace. We care about our alumni, keeping in through an annual social andLinkedIn group. Alumni frequently serve as mentors for our undergraduates, and we are constantly seeking new ways to foster these vital networking connections.

• Write and speak clearly, deliver information effectively, and think critically about complex food, agriculture and natural resource issues.
• Demonstrate interdisciplinary knowledge and competency with the fundamental science and production of plant and animal systems.
• Demonstrate depth of competency in one or more agricultural disciplines (concentrations).
• Develop and apply sustainable and productive solutions that address the complex, multidisciplinary nature of food and agriculture challenges both domestically and globally.
• Demonstrate leadership in agriculture and natural resources.