Courses of Study 2024-2025 
    
    Oct 03, 2024  
Courses of Study 2024-2025

General Information


In the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences .


Administration


Benjamin Z. Houlton, Ronald P. Lynch Dean

Esther R. Angert, Senior Associate Dean

Sahara Byrne, Senior Associate Dean

Corrie Moreau, Senior Associate Dean 

Anne Brandt, Assistant Dean

Sharon Detzer, Associate Dean

Sarah Giroux, Associate Dean

Ann LaFave, Assistant Dean

Xingen Lei, Associate Dean

Peter Paradise, Associate Dean

Chris Smart, Associate Dean

Margaret Smith, Associate Dean

Julie Suarez, Associate Dean

Andrew Turner, Associate Dean

Andy Vail, Associate Dean


 

Office of Academic Programs


Office of Academic Programs

The Office of Academic Programs is a unit within with College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) encompassing the Office of Admissions, the Office of Student Services, the Office of Curriculum Development and Instructional Support (OCDIS), and the Office of Professional Programs and Extended Learning (OPPEL). These offices collaborate on the recruitment, enrollment, degree attainment, career development and academic support for all CALS Undergraduate and Professional Masters Students. The office also oversees the curricular and compliance efforts across the college.

Office of Student Services

The Office of Student Services partners with CALS students to define and navigate their undergraduate pathway using a central hub of resources identifying life changing opportunities that complement a student’s academic journey. Students are provided guidance and support for a variety of needs including academic advising, resource way finding, degree tracking, career/life plan development, experiential learning opportunities (research, internships, international opportunities), skill building advice, graduate school planning and job search strategies. The professional advising staff includes CALS Student Success Navigators who provide additional assistance to students with the acclimation and transition process from high school to college. Students access Student Services staff, support, and resources in 140 Roberts Hall and in the CALS Zone (112 Mann Library).

Additional support for CALS students is located within the department of their chosen major through Student Support Specialists, forming the CALS Advising Network as well as through the Faculty Advising program. The staff and faculty across the college collaborate with CALS Student Services to provide information, major tracking, and supplemental opportunities that complement each student’s major.

Office of Curriculum Development and Instructional Support

The OCDIS advances strategic curricular development throughout the college. The Director of this office provides guidance and implementation for pedagogical advancements, builds developmental resources to faculty, and launches new academic initiatives across the college. This office also supports shifts in coursework and the formation of new degrees.

Undergraduate Admissions Office

Each year, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) Undergraduate Admissions Office is responsible for admitting and enrolling a talented, capable, and compelling class of students from a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives. The admissions work meets college and institutional enrollment goals, while both reflecting and supporting the college mission. This includes first-year, transfer, and internal transfer admissions processes. The office engages in various forms of in-person and virtual outreach to prospective students and their families, evaluates and makes decisions on more than 7,000 applications each year, and coordinates events for admitted students. The Admissions Office staff also advises and supports the CALS Ambassadors program.

The office is located in 177 Roberts Hall. Staff members include Heather Marcotte, Erin Treat, Sandy Drumluk, and Anna Cummings, Jenn King and Callan Robinson. The staff can be contacted via email at cals_admissions@cornell.edu or phone at (607) 255-2036.

Undergraduate Admissions

At CALS, students apply to one of 20+ majors, and are selected based on academic preparation and demonstrated fit for Cornell CALS and their chosen major. A significant factor taken into consideration by the admissions committee is how well a student’s academic interests relate to the mission of the college. Majors fall within the life, agricultural, food, environmental, and social sciences. 

Enrollment

Undergraduate enrollment is approximately 3,100. Annually 750 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 approximately 1,100 graduate students.

Transfer Admissions

A student who has earned 12 or more credits at another accredited college or university since graduating from high school is eligible to apply to CALS as a transfer applicant. Approximately 30 percent of CALS undergraduates are transfer students who have completed part of their collegiate work at other institutions, including community colleges. Detailed information is available on the CALS Transfer Admissions webpage

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

Internal Transfer 

A degree-seeking Cornell student in good standing may apply for Internal Transfer to CALS, to pursue a major and degree 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 CALS Internal Transfer webpage.

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.

Visiting Students

A limited number of non-degree candidates who want to take courses in the college are admitted each year as Visiting Students. Applicants should complete the Transfer Common Application, including the Cornell Supplement to indicate the special/visiting student intentions and coursework.

Off-Campus Students

Courses that Cornell students participate in that are approved credit-bearing programs off Ithaca’s campus during the fall or spring semester will count towards the number of credits that can be brought in from an external institution. For a list of programs and more information, please refer to Special Academic Options .