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In the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences .
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) offers programs leading to the degrees bachelor of science (B.S.), master of science (M.S.), and doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.). Professional degrees include the master of professional studies (MPS), master of food science (MFS), master of landscape architecture (MLA) and master of engineering (MEng). Some registered professional licensing and certification programs are also available.
All curricula required for degrees in CALS are registered with the New York State Education Department.
Bachelor of Science Degree
Departments in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences foster study for the bachelor of science (B.S.) degree in over 20 major programs. To qualify for the degree, students must fulfill CALS Graduation Requirements established by the faculty of the College and administered through the Office of Academic Programs.
The college learning outcomes expected for all students to earn a B.S. degree are listed below:
- Explain, evaluate, and effectively interpret factual claims, theories, and assumptions in the student’s discipline(s) (especially in one or more of the college’s priority areas of land grant–agricultural sciences, applied social sciences, environmental sciences, and/or life sciences) and more broadly in the sciences and humanities
- Find, access, critically evaluate, and ethically use information
- Integrate quantitative and qualitative information to reach defensible and creative conclusions
- Communicate effectively through writing, speech, and visual information
- Articulate the views of people with diverse perspectives
- Demonstrate the capability to work both independently and in cooperation with others
- Apply methods of sustainability to the analysis of one or more major challenges facing humans and the Earth’s resources.
Degree Program Information
- Instruction Mode: In-Person, Ithaca, NY
- Length of Program: Full-Time, 120 credits
- Prerequisites: Students will have met most prerequisites by virtue of the requirements for admission.
Undergraduate Majors
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences offers over 20 undergraduate majors and more than 35 minors, many of which are cross-departmental to take advantage of the knowledge experience, and expertise of the faculty from several disciplines. Faculty identify a sequence of courses that constitute the requirements for each major. In addition, all students must meet the minimum distribution requirements of the College. Courses of study are designed to provide systematic development of basic skills and concepts as well as critical thinking. Many majors provide the opportunity for students to concentrate in a particular focal area. The following units offer major fields of study for undergraduates. Students should consult with the faculty or staff advising coordinator regarding requirements and opportunities for concentrations in the major.
Additional Course Offering Areas:
*Agriculture and Life Sciences (ALS) courses are not associated with any departments. These courses have broad interest among students across the college.
Double Majors in CALS
Students are admitted into a single major. Completion of one major is required for graduation. Some students choose to complete more than one major. Completed majors are posted on the official transcript. Students are not allowed to continue their studies past their eighth (or equivalent) semester to complete additional majors or minors. Students interested in declaring a second major can find more information on the CALS website. Students who pursue a second major must choose a major within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
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Cornell students are not allowed to double major across colleges. This includes CALS Biological Engineering and Environmental Engineering with any other Engineering majors.
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Please be advised: It may prove difficult for students majoring in CALS Landscape Architecture to double major (within CALS). Due to the specific nature of Landscape Architecture coursework (studio based) we do not expect that more than 12 credits of coursework will overlap with any other CALS major and these 12 credits would likely be electives.
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Please be advised: It may prove difficult for students majoring in CALS Biological or Environmental Engineering to double major (within CALS). Due to the specific nature of engineering degree coursework, we do not expect that more than 12 credits of coursework will overlap with any other CALS major and these 12 credits would likely be electives.
Undergraduate Minors
Students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences may pursue one or more minor fields of study offered by any department within Cornell University, subject to limitations placed by the department offering the minor or by the student’s major. A minor is not a requirement for graduation. To add a minor, contact the office or view the website of your desired minor to find out the process for adding the minor. Students are not allowed to continue their studies past their eighth (or equivalent) semester to complete additional minors. Minors offered by CALS are described along with the majors later in the CALS section of this catalog. Not all majors or departments offer minors. Minors available at the university can be found on Cornell University’s academics website.
Professional Graduate Fields of Study
The MPS and MFS degree programs in CALS are specialized master’s programs designed especially for those who are interested in the growing complexity and diversity of systems and issues in the agricultural, life, social, and environmental sciences. The program offers challenging opportunities for those with appropriate skills, experience, and educational backgrounds. Individuals who have already embarked on professional careers, and those who plan to continue education in their current fields or related ones, often select this program.
The MPS and MFS programs emphasize breadth of training via course work rather than research experience. MPS and MFS degree candidates take the same courses as other graduate and professional students and complete a problem-solving capstone project, working with their faculty advisor. CALS offers a variety of areas of study tailored to each student’s professional graduate development objectives. The CALS MPS and MFS programs are typically completed in one academic year. For more information, visit the CALS Professional Master’s Degrees website.
These programs are administered by the CALS Office of Professional Programs and Extended Learning (OPPEL), 211-212 Kennedy Hall, calsprofprograms@cornell.edu.
Biological and Environmental Engineering, M.Eng. Degree
CALS also administers the one-year, 30-credit Biological and Environmental Engineering, M.Eng. program. Additional details may be found on the BEE website.
Professional Programs:
- Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Animal Science
- Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Global Development
- Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Integrative Plant Science
- Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Natural Resources and the Environment
- Master of Food Science (MFS) in Food Science
- Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Field: Biological & Environmental Engineering
- Field: Landscape Architecture
Degree Requirements
Overview
A one-year, course-based master’s degree program that emphasizes professional development and intellectual investigation in the areas of agriculture, life sciences and global development.
- Instruction Mode: In-Person, Ithaca, NY
- Length of Program: Full-Time, 30 credits
- Prerequisites: Students will have met most prerequisites by virtue of the requirements for admission.
Coursework
- Thirty credits must be taken in graduate-level courses numbered 5000 or higher and at least 20 of those credit hours must be taken within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
- Capstone problem-solving project: between 2 and 6 credits, of the required 30 credits, must be earned through the student’s capstone project.
- Students are required to be in a minimum of 12 academic credits for at least one semester of the program. However, it is advised that students enroll in at least 15 credits each semester to stay on track for a one-year program.
- Additional requirements:
- A minimum grade point average of 2.5
- A minimum of 18 letter-graded credits
- Completion of the degree within 4 years from admission date
- All field specific requirements: students should check with the field’s director of graduate studies for details.
Professional Master’s Degree Webpages
Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA)
The intention of this accredited, license-qualifying curriculum is the teaching of the theoretical underpinnings of the field of landscape architecture while building the necessary skills for practicing this challenging profession. The program consists of design studios, courses in technical and computer skills, and the development of a concentration focused on the student’s personal area of interest. Individuals holding an undergraduate degree in landscape architecture or architecture or having unique employment experience may also apply for the MLA degree. Additional details are available on the CALS Landscape Architecture website.
Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA), First Professional
Overview
The intent of the MLA degree program is to provide the foundational, historical, theoretical, technical, and skills-based grounding of the field of Landscape Architecture. The core of the degree program is the design studio that introduces students to fundamental design methodologies. Students are asked to pursue and develop their design process and learn about research methodologies. The First Professional six-semester MLA degree is accredited by NYSED and LAAB and is a first professional landscape architectural license-qualifying degree intended for those students who do not hold a first professional degree in Landscape Architecture or Architecture. Typical pre-professional baccalaureate degrees include: Bachelor of Landscape Studies, Bachelor of Environmental Design, Bachelor of Design, or Bachelor of Architectural Studies.
- Instruction Mode: In-Person, Ithaca, NY
- Length of Program: Full-Time, 90 credits, 6 semesters
The following are specific requirements for the First-Professional MLA curriculum:
- Completion of 90 credits 5000 level and above
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5
- Registered, full-time student for a minimum of five semesters (full-time = 12 academic credits or more)
- A student’s final semester before graduation must be completed at the Cornell Ithaca campus
- Completion of 6 studios or 5 studios and a thesis
- Studios must be taken in the following sequence: LA 5010 , LA 5020 , LA 6010 , LA 6020 , LA 7010 , LA 7020
- Student must receive a grade of C- or better in studio courses to advance to the next studio in sequence
- Two studios may not be taken during same semester
- A thesis, if elected by a student, must be taken during their final semester at Cornell by enrolling in LA 8900
- Following courses are required, unless waived via petition:
- Completion of 5 History/Theory courses are required as noted below:
- 10 additional elective credits toward a concentration chosen by the student and approved by the faculty advisor
- Physical education (PE) credits, language credits, and audited credits will not be counted towards the total 90 credits
- Prior to Fall 2021, courses taken below the 5000 level but above the 4000 level are authorized to count towards the 90-credit degree requirement
Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA), Post Professional
Overview
The intent of the MLA degree program is to provide the foundational, historical, theoretical, technical, and skills-based grounding of the field of Landscape Architecture. The core of the degree program is the design studio that introduces students to fundamental design methodologies. Students are asked to pursue and develop their design process and learn about research methodologies. The Post Professional four-semester MLA degree is intended for those students who hold a United States or Canadian accredited first professional degree in Landscape Architecture or Architecture, including BLA, BSLA, or BArch degrees.
- Instruction Mode: In-Person, Ithaca, NY
- Length of Program: Full-Time, 60 credits, 4 semesters
The following are specific requirements for the Post-Professional MLA curriculum:
- Completion of 60 credits 5000-level and above
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5
- Registered, full-time student for a minimum of four semesters (full-time = 12 academic credits or more)
- A student’s final semester before graduation must be completed at the Cornell Ithaca campus
- Completion of 4 studios or 3 studios and a thesis
- Studios must be taken in the following sequence: LA 6010 , LA 6020 , LA 7010 , LA 7020
- Student must receive a grade of C- or better in studio courses to advance to the next studio in sequence
- Two studios may not be taken during same semester
- Students completing a thesis must enroll in LA 8900
- Following courses are required, unless waived via petition:
- Completion of 5 History/Theory courses are required as noted below:
- 10 additional elective credits toward a concentration chosen by the student and approved by the faculty advisor
- Physical education (PE) credits, language credits, and audited credits will not be counted towards the total 90 credits
- Prior to Fall 2021, courses taken below the 5000 level but above the 4000 level are authorized to count towards the 90-credit degree requirement
Dual Master’s Degree in Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning
The dual degree in Regional Planning (MRP) and Landscape Architecture (MLA) prepares students for work in areas such as physical planning, environmental analysis, community development, and urban design—skills which are highly sought after in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Concurrent degree candidates may earn two distinct and independent graduate degrees from both colleges and must satisfy all requirements for both degrees. The dual degree offering is limited to participants in the 90-credit (First Professional) MLA program. Visit the City and Regional Planning website for further information about the Dual Master of Regional Planning and Landscape Architecture.
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