Courses of Study 2021-2022 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
Courses of Study 2021-2022 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

General Information


In the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences .


Administration


Benjamin Z. Houlton, Ronald P. Lynch dean

Beth A. Ahner, senior associate dean

Esther R. Angert, senior associate dean

Peter D. Paradise, associate dean for finance and administrative services

Sharon L. Detzer, associate dean of alumni affairs and development

Samara Sit, associate dean of marketing and communications

Sahara Byrne, senior associate dean for academic affairs and strategic programs

Sue M. Merkel, associate director of academic programs

Jan P. Nyrop, associate dean and Goichman Family director of Cornell AgriTech

Anna K. Mansfield, associate director of Cornell AgriTech

Margaret E. Smith Einarson, associate dean and director of the Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station

Vacant, associate director of the Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station

Christopher B. Watkins, associate dean and director of cooperative extension

Sarah F. Dayton, associate director of cooperative extension (Organization and Operations)

Jenny Kao-Kniffen, associate director of cooperative extension

W. Ronnie Coffman, director of international programs

Sarah Davidson Evanega, senior associate director of international programs

Ralph D. Christy, director of Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture, and Development

Julie M. Suarez, associate dean of government affairs and community relations

Department Chairs/Directors


Animal Science: Tom Overton, 149 Morrison Hall

Applied Economics and Management: Lynn Wooten, 210B Warren Hall

Biological and Environmental Engineering: John C. March, 104 Riley-Robb Hall

Biomedical Sciences: Paul Soloway, T4-018 Veterinary Research Tower

Communication: Lee Humphreys, 483 Mann Library Building

Global Development: Lori Leonard, 240B Warren Hall

Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Geoffrey Abers, 4126 Snee Hall

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology: Jeremy B. Searle, E145 Corson Hall

Entomology: Patrick O’Grady, 2126 Comstock Hall

Environment and Sustainability: Cliff Kraft, 203 Fernow Hall

Food Science: Carmen I. Moraru, M10H Stocking Hall

Landscape Architecture: C. Timothy Baird, 443 Kennedy Hall

Microbiology: Esther Angert, 157B Wing Hall

Molecular Biology and Genetics: Daniel Barbash, 401 Biotechnology Bldg

Natural Resources and the Environment: Richard Stedman, 111B Fernow Hall

Neurobiology and Behavior: H. Kern Reeve, W347 Mudd Hall

Nutritional Sciences, Division of: Patricia Cassano, 127 Savage Hall

School of Integrative Plant Science: Chris Smart, 135A Plant Science Bldg.

Statistics and Data Science: Martin Wells, 1190 Comstock Hall

Office of Academic Programs


Office of Student Services

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) Office of Student Services provides guidance, services and programming to support all CALS students. The Office coordinates the faculty advising program, supports underrepresented students, serves as the college’s central undergraduate advising office, maintains students’ academic records, advises on graduation requirements, manages the college international exchange programs, provides career development and job search assistance, pre-health and pre-law advising, and offers consultation and support for academic issues, including the college petitions process. Staff are available to assist students in understanding college/university policies and provide an extra network of support and referral throughout a student’s undergraduate career. Additionally, the Office of Student Services is responsible for coordinating new student orientation, award ceremonies, and commencement activities.

The Office is in 140 Roberts Hall, (607) 255-2257; email: cals-studentservices@cornell.edu.

Enrollment

Undergraduate enrollment is approximately 3,100. Annually 900 students graduate, while new student enrollment consists of approximately 600 first-year and 200 transfer students. College faculty members serve as chairs of the Special Committees of roughly 1,000 graduate students.

 


Admissions Office

The CALS Admissions Office is responsible for admitting and enrolling a talented and diverse class of students each year. The process and outcome reflects and supports the college mission and meets college and institutional enrollment goals. This includes freshman, transfer, and intra-university transfer student processes. The office hosts on- and off-campus information sessions for prospective students, evaluates and makes decisions on approximately more than 7,000 applications each year, and coordinates events for admitted students. The Admissions Office staff advises and supports the CALS Ambassador program.

The office is located in 177 Roberts Hall. Staff members include Carla Crooker, Shawna Fulkerson, Sandy Drumluk, Heather Marcotte, Lindsay Petry and Erin Treat.

Admission

A significant factor taken into consideration by the CALS admissions committee is how well a student’s academic interests relate to the mission of the college. Applicants for admission to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will choose from more than 20 major fields of study. As a part of the application process, applicants write about their academic interests and articulate how those interests blend into CALS programs, contributing to the mission of the college. Majors fall within these broad areas: life sciences, environmental sciences, social sciences, and agriculture and food. Appropriateness for the college must also align with high academic achievement.

The CALS Admissions Office is in 177 Roberts Hall, (607) 255-2036; https://cals.cornell.edu/education/admissions/undergraduate-admissions; e-mail: cals_admissions@cornell.edu.

Transfer Students

All accepted transfer credit must be from an accredited college or university. Transfer credit is awarded based on review of official transcripts. Additional course information may be required. A maximum of 60 non-Cornell credits may be transferred.

Approximately 30 percent of CALS undergraduate students are transfers who have completed part of their collegiate work at community colleges or two- and four-year institutions. Detailed information on transfer admission is available on the CALS Admissions website.

Transferring within Cornell (Internal Transfer)

A degree-seeking Cornell student in good standing may apply for Internal Transfer to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), to pursue a major and degree offered within CALS that is not available in their current Cornell college/school. Eligibility guidelines, academic requirements by major, application timelines and the process for applying are detailed on the Internal Transfer page of the CALS website.

The process requires each student to meet with the Advising Contact in their desired CALS major, prior to applying, to ensure that the student fully understands the major requirements, along with how to complete the required courses within the timeline of their expected date of graduation. Following the meeting, the Advising Contact provides feedback to the CALS Admissions committee regarding the student’s candidacy. Additionally, the student must submit the Internal Transfer application, which includes a personal statement and resume.

Students who are well-positioned for Internal Transfer are those who seek to enter CALS as rising sophomores, mid-semester sophomores or rising juniors. The strongest candidates have met the academic requirements by major, are supported by the Advising Contact in their desired major, and are able to communicate, through their personal statement and resume, why pursuing their desired major within CALS is the best fit for them at Cornell.

Special Students

A limited number of non-degree candidates who want to take courses in the college are admitted each year. Applicants should complete the Transfer Common Application including the Cornell Supplement to indicate the special/visiting student intentions and courses. For more information and guidelines, students should utilize the CALS Admissions website.

Off-Campus Students

Cornell students participating in credit-bearing programs off Ithaca’s campus during the fall or spring semester who will earn Cornell or transfer credit upon completion.  Programs may include the CALS International Exchange Program, Education Abroad, Shoals Marine Laboratory, Cornell in Rome, Cornell in Washington, or Urban Semester in New York City.