The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences offers men and women broad-based educational programs to provide them with technical, management, and leadership skills in four primary areas of focus. These areas were developed in response to the global challenges of the 21st century. They are fluid, overlapping, and interdependent and represent agriculture and life sciences at its broadest and most dynamic meaning. These four areas are:
Faculty members challenge students with educational programs that promote problem-solving, basic and applied research, extension, and outreach. The programs are geared to the discovery and dissemination of knowledge for the purpose of advancing agriculture and food systems, health and nutrition, food security, biological sciences, education, communication, natural resources and environmental quality, and community, urban, and rural development throughout New York State, the nation, and the world.
Susan A. Henry, dean
Barbara A. Knuth, co–senior associate dean
Jan P. Nyrop, co–senior associate dean
Margaret H. Ferguson, associate dean for finance and administrative services
Michael P. Riley, associate dean for alumni affairs, development, and communications
Donald R. Viands, associate dean and director of academic programs
Mark W. Wysocki, associate director of academic programs
Jeffrey J. Doyle, director of undergraduate biology
Michael P. Hoffmann, associate dean and director of the Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station
Susan J. Riha, director for sponsored research in the senior associate dean’s office
Helene R. Dillard, associate dean and director of cooperative extension
Christopher B. Watkins, associate director of cooperative extension
Glenn J. Applebee, associate director of cooperative extension
Daniel J. Decker, director of CALS land grant affairs, senior advisor to the dean
W. Ronnie Coffman, director of international programs
James E. Haldeman, associate director of international programs
Terry W. Tucker, associate director of international programs
Alice Pell, director of Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture, and Development
Animal science: W. Ronald Butler, 149 Morrison Hall
Applied economics and management: William H. Lesser, 154 Warren Hall
Biological and environmental engineering: Michael F. Walter, 104 Riley-Robb Hall
Biological statistics and computational biology: James Booth, 1190 Comstock Hall
Communication: Geri K. Gay, 339 Kennedy Hall
Crop and soil sciences: Harold van Es, 232 Emerson Hall
Development sociology: Max Pfeffer, 133A Warren Hall
Earth and atmospheric sciences: Teresa E. Jordan, 2116 Snee Hall; Arthur T. DeGaetano, co-chair, 1116 Bradfield Hall
Ecology and evolutionary biology: Richard G. Harrison, E345 Corson Hall
Education: Arthur L. Wilson, 435 Kennedy Hall
Entomology: Jeffrey G. Scott, 6134 Comstock Hall
Food science: Kathryn J. Boor, 119 Stocking Hall
Horticulture: Marvin P. Pritts, 134A Plant Science Bldg.
Landscape architecture: Peter J. Trowbridge, 446 Kennedy Hall
Microbiology: William C. Ghiorse, B76C Wing Hall
Molecular biology and genetics: Kenneth J. Kemphues, 435 Biotechnology Bldg.
Natural resources: Marianne E. Krasny, 118 Fernow Hall
Neurobiology and behavior: Thomas D. Seeley, W301 S. G. Mudd Hall
Plant biology: William L. Crepet, 221 Plant Science Bldg.
Plant breeding and genetics: Mark E. Sorrells, 241 Emerson Hall
Plant pathology: George W. Hudler, 334 Plant Science Bldg.
Statistical sciences: Martin T. Wells, 301 Malott Hall
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) provides a variety of services for students, faculty, and alumni. The hub of these services is the Office of Academic Programs in Roberts Hall, including the director, associate director, the Admissions Office, the Career Development Office, the Counseling and Advising Office, the Multicultural and Diversity Office, and the Registrar’s Office. Although most of the student services are in the Office of Academic Programs, services also are located across the college in the Office of Undergraduate Biology and in various departments. Faculty members in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences consider advising to be an important and integral part of the undergraduate program. Each student enrolled in the college is assigned to a faculty advisor in his or her major field of study for assistance and guidance in developing a program of study, and to enhance the student’s academic experience.
The Counseling and Advising Office coordinates the faculty advising program, serves as the college’s central undergraduate advising office, coordinates the college international exchange programs, and offers personal counseling. Academic advising is available for students who are interested in international study, need to file petitions to waive college academic regulations, have disability concerns, are experiencing academic difficulties, or have requests for tutoring. The staff coordinates new student orientation, award ceremonies, commencement activities, and the activities of Ho-Nun-De-Kah, the college’s honor society. Students seek counseling and advising on a variety of issues including academic problems, course problems and college procedures, graduation requirements, personal and family problems, stress management, and time management. Two counselors provide short-term counseling with an expertise in college policies and guidelines. Counseling is framed as appropriate to each student’s academic circumstances. The staff is available on a walk-in basis, as well as by appointment in 140 Roberts Hall. Visit http://www.cals.cornell.edu/advising. Counseling and Advising staff: Lisa Ryan, Bonnie Shelley, Pamela Torelli, Tamara Durham.
The Office of Multicultural and Diversity Programs serves to monitor, support, and influence policy on behalf of all underrepresented students within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. This population is defined as encompassing, but not limited to, all African American, Latin American, Asian American, and Native American students. Its constituency includes students, faculty, and the general public. In the past academic year this represented approximately 20 percent of the college’s undergraduate population. Additionally, the office is charged with monitoring and programming for the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) and Prehealth Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP). EOP and CSTEP are state-supported programs intended to assist New York State students who meet economic and academic criteria set by the college, State Programs Office, and New York State Board of Regents. For further information, please contact Catherine Thompson in 140 Roberts Hall.
Within the university, the Office of Multicultural and Diversity Programs is charged with acting as the college liaison with the central Office of Minority Education Affairs, Learning Strategies Center, and the State Programs Office. Other university connections include the University Career Center and the Office of Financial Aid regarding concerns of the underrepresented student population. The director provides support for the CALS Diversity Committee. The director together with peer advisors carries out the duties of the office. The staff acts as a major advocacy group, as well as an information and referral center.
Given the college’s policy on nonexclusionary programming, the Office of Multicultural and Diversity Programs is also responsible for some functions that serve the college’s entire population. At present, that includes general college diversity activities, serving as the college prehealth advisor, and providing ongoing support at all levels for the Office of Counseling and Advising.
The CALS Registrar’s Office ensures the accuracy, confidentiality, and reliability of student records and serves as an important link between the university’s and college’s policies and procedures and the student. The Registrar’s Office maintains student records and reviews degree progress on a semester basis, maintains the Dean’s List, evaluates and applies non-Cornell credit (transfer credit, study abroad credit, and advanced placement credit), provides registration and enrollment information, consults individually with students on graduation requirements, and schedules all CALS courses. Specific information can be found at http://www.cals.cornell.edu/current/registrar/.
The CALS Registrar’s Office holds walk-in hours to assist students with any registrar-related issue. Walk-in hours are Tuesdays from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. and Wednesdays from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. in 140 Roberts Hall. No appointment is necessary during these times. Registrar’s Office staff: Melanie Holland, Torrey Jacobs, Elisa Rafferty.
The Office of Career Development offers a variety of helpful services to all students and alumni of the college. Career development includes self-assessment, career exploration, decision making, and transition to employment or further study. Services are designed to assist students and alumni with those activities and to help them develop the career planning and job search skills they will find useful as their career paths progress and change.
The Career Library contains an extensive collection of current and useful material, including career information books, extensive internship files, employer directories, and job listings. Alumni Career Link is a database of more than 400 college alumni who have offered to help students and alumni with their career development in a variety of ways. Job search talks on topics such as résumé writing, cover letter writing, and interview skills are presented throughout the semester and are available on videotape. An active on-campus recruiting program brings more than 50 employers to campus each year to interview students for full-time and summer jobs. Additionally, the office provides information on hundreds of internships.
The office, in conjunction with a network of college faculty and staff members, assists students throughout their undergraduate years and beyond. For further information, students should contact Amy Benedict-Augustine, Laurie Gillespie, Sheri Mahaney, Sharon Radcliffe, or Jo-Lynn Buchanan in 177 Roberts Hall.
The CALS Admissions Office is responsible for admitting and enrolling a talented and diverse class of students each year. The process and outcome must reflect and support the college mission and help to meet 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 more than 4,000 applications each year, and coordinates Cornell Days for admitted students each April. The Admissions Office staff advises and supports the CALS Ambassador program. The office is located in 177 Roberts Hall. Staff members include Ann LaFave, Cathy Sheils, Tara Bubble, Jared Rivers, Lorie Fessenden, and Heather Orkin.
Financial aid is administered through the university office in Day Hall. Endowment funds and annual donations in the college provide supplemental aid for students who are eligible for financial aid. Information about these college grants is available from the Office of Academic Programs in 140 Roberts Hall for students who have their financial aid package established through the university office in Day Hall. Grants are processed through the university’s Office of Financial Aid.
Undergraduate enrollment is approximately 3,100, with about 56 percent in the upper division. Each year about 850 students are graduated, while 635 freshmen and 250 new transfer students are enrolled. College faculty members serve as chairs of the Special Committees of roughly 1,000 graduate students.
The CALS Admissions Office selects applicants who are academically well prepared and will benefit from the college’s various curricula.
While approximately half of CALS students come from New York State, about 42 percent come from other parts of the United States or abroad. Slightly more than half of the undergraduates are women. Approximately 24 percent are self-identified as members of minority ethnic groups.
The CALS Admissions Office is in 177 Roberts Hall (255-2036; http://www.cals.cornell.edu/admissions/).
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. Contact the CALS Registrar’s Office for information. 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, agricultural and technical colleges, or four-year institutions. Many of them hold an associate’s degree. Detailed information on transfer admission is available from the CALS Admissions Office.
A Cornell student in good standing may apply for an intra-university transfer to pursue an academic program unavailable in their current college. Guidelines are available in the CALS Admissions Office. The procedure involves attending an information session, meeting with a faculty member in the proposed area of study, and submitting an application and letter of interest.
Consideration is given to students who have demonstrated an interest in their proposed new field of study by taking appropriate prerequisite courses. Academic achievement is also considered. Freshmen are not admitted—students need to spend two semesters in their home college before applying. In certain cases, a student may be referred to the Internal Transfer Division (ITD) to study for one semester before entering the college. A second semester in ITD is considered only in unusual circumstances. During this trial semester, the student must achieve a predetermined average (usually 2.7) and take approved courses to assure acceptance.
A limited number of nondegree candidates who want to take courses in the college are admitted each year. Applicants should submit the standard Cornell transfer application, a résumé of their work experience, and a list of the courses in which they are interested. For more information and guidelines, students should contact the CALS Admissions Office.
Programs in which students study off campus but enroll for Cornell credit include SEA semester, Semester in Environmental Science with the Marine Biology Laboratory, field study in Human Ecology or Industrial and Labor Relations, Albany programs, Cornell in Washington, student teaching, IPM internship, and clinical microbiology internship.
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is located on the upper campus, up the hill from the central area of Cornell University, on land that was once part of the Ezra Cornell family farm.
Buildings around the area commonly known as the Ag Quad house classrooms, offices, and laboratories. Flanking them are the greenhouses, gardens, and research facilities. Nearby orchards, barns, field plots, forests, and streams extend as far as the Animal Science Teaching Research Center at Harford and the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station at Geneva.
Roberts Hall serves as headquarters for the administrative units, including offices of the deans and directors of academic programs, Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station, and cooperative extension. Included in the Office of Academic Programs are the director and associate director, the Admissions Office, the Career Development Office, the Counseling and Advising Office, the Office of Multicultural and Diversity Programs, and the Registrar’s Office.
Mann Library, with its extensive collections of materials in the agricultural and life sciences, is at the east end of the Ag Quad. The student lounge and service center, known as the Alfalfa Room, and many of the college classrooms are in Warren Hall. Public computer facilities are available in Warren Hall, Riley-Robb Hall, and Mann Library.
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences offers programs leading to the degrees bachelor of science, master of science, and doctor of philosophy. Professional degrees include the master of professional studies and the master of arts in teaching. Some registered professional licensing and certification programs are also available.
Each curriculum in the college creditable toward a degree is registered with the New York State Education Department.
Departments in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences sponsor study for the B.S. degree in 24 major programs. To qualify for the degree, students must fulfill requirements established by the faculty of the college and administered through the Office of Academic Programs. Students are admitted into a single major but afterwards may pursue and graduate with two or more majors within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Students need an advisor in each major. Course requirements for double majors may overlap. The Counseling and Advising Office (140 Roberts Hall) and department representatives have a form for students to complete to officially recognize the double major. The following units offer major fields of study for undergraduates. A faculty advising coordinator is listed for each unit. Students should consult with the faculty coordinator regarding requirements and opportunities for concentrations in the major.
Agricultural science: Antonio DiTommaso, 903 Bradfield Hall, ad97@cornell.edu
Agriculture science education: William Camp, 416 Kennedy Hall, wgc4@cornell.edu
Animal science: W. Bruce Currie, 434 Morrison Hall, wbc1@cornell.edu
Applied economics and management: Dale Grossman, 205 Warren Hall, dag14@cornell.edu
Atmospheric science: Mark Wysocki, 1114 Bradfield Hall, mww3@cornell.edu
Biological engineering: James Bartsch, 314 Riley-Robb Hall, jab35@cornell.edu
Biological sciences: Jeffrey Doyle, 200 Stimson Hall, jjd5@cornell.edu; Bonnie Comella, 216 Stimson Hall, bec3@cornell.edu
Biology and society: Brian Chabot, 102 Little Rice, bfc1@cornell.edu
Biometry and statistics: Steven Schwager, 424 Warren Hall, sjs5@cornell.edu
Communication: Brian Earle, 328 Kennedy Hall, boe1@cornell.edu
Crop and soil sciences: Gary Fick, 507 Bradfield Hall, gwf2@cornell.edu
Development sociology: Tom Hirschl, 333 Warren Hall, tah4@cornell.edu
Entomology: John Losey, 4126 Comstock Hall, jel27@cornell.edu
Environmental engineering: James Bartsch, 314 Riley–Robb Hall, jab35@cornell.edu
Food science: Janice Brown, 107 Stocking Hall, jmb14@cornell.edu
Information science: Christine Stenglein, 303 Upson Hall, cms242@cornell.edu
Interdisciplinary studies: Lisa Ryan, 140 Roberts Hall, lar4@cornell.edu
International agriculture and rural development: Terry Tucker, 33 Warren Hall, twt2@cornell.edu
Landscape architecture: Peter Trowbridge, 440 Kennedy Hall, pjt4@cornell.edu
Natural resources: Tim Fahey, 12 Fernow Hall, tjf5@cornell.edu
Nutritional sciences: J. Thomas Brenna, B38 Savage Hall, jtb4@cornell.edu
Plant sciences (plant biology; plant genetics and breeding; horticulture, plant pathology/protection): Peter Davies, 255 Plant Sciences Bldg., pjd2@cornell.edu
Science of earth systems: Bryan Isacks, 3110 Snee Hall, bli1@cornell.edu
Science of natural and environmental systems: Tim Fahey, 12 Fernow Hall, tjf5@cornell.edu
Students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences may pursue one or more minor fields of study. Minor fields of study do not require an academic advisor, but each minor field has a contact person who will provide information and verify on the application to graduate that the student will successfully complete the requirements of the minor by graduation. Students may complete as many minors as they wish; the requirements of minors may overlap. Minors are described along with the majors later in the CALS section of this catalog. Not all majors or departments offer minors. Minors available in CALS can be found on the CALS counseling and advising web site (cals.cornell.edu/cals/current/advising/options/doubmaj.cfm). For minors outside of CALS, please consult with the specific department.
The College of Veterinary Medicine may accept students who are then permitted to double-register in their seventh and/or eighth semester and complete requirements for the bachelor of science degree in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Students should consult with the college registrar, 140 Roberts Hall, to file an application for dual-enrollment and to ensure that degree requirements have been fulfilled.
Students who have been offered admission to the S. C. Johnson Graduate School of Management may take management courses in their senior year if approved by their college faculty advisor as part of their undergraduate program. These courses count toward the endowed college credits (maximum 55 without additional tuition charge). Students may consult with the college registrar, 140 Roberts Hall, to verify degree requirements and endowed credits earned.
The Department of Landscape Architecture offers a first professional degree curriculum in landscape architecture at both undergraduate (BSLA) and graduate levels (MLA I), as well as a second professional graduate degree program (MLA II). The curricula for both the undergraduate and graduate programs are accredited by the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board (LAAB). The graduate program is cosponsored by the Department of Landscape Architecture in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and by the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning.
Graduate study is organized by fields that generally coincide with the academic departments but may draw faculty from several disciplines in the various colleges of the university. The following graduate fields have primary affiliation in Agriculture and Life Sciences. Current directors of graduate studies are also listed. For more information on graduate programs, please refer to the Graduate Bulletin, or http://www.gradschool.cornell.edu/. Information following this list refers to undergraduate studies.
Agriculture and life sciences [M.P.S. (agr.)]: Don Viands, 151 Roberts Hall, drv3@cornell.edu
Agricultural economics: Loren Tauer, 451 Warren Hall, lwt1@cornell.edu
Animal breeding: John Pollak, B-47 Morrison Hall, ejp6@cornell.edu
Animal science: Richard Quaas, B-47 Morrison Hall, rlq1@cornell.edu
Atmospheric sciences: Kerry Cook, 3114 Snee Hall, khc6@cornell.edu
Biochemistry, molecular, and cell biology: Volker Vogt, 358 Biotechnology Bldg., vmv1@cornell.edu
Biological and environmental engineering: Dan Aneshansley, 306 Riley-Robb Hall, dja4@cornell.edu
Biometry: Marty Wells, 301 Malott Hall, mtw1@cornell.edu
Communication: Bruce Lewenstein, 321 Kennedy Hall, bvl1@cornell.edu
Development sociology: Lindy Williams, 336 Warren Hall, lbw2@cornell.edu
Ecology and evolutionary biology: Harry Greene, E251 Corson Hall, hwg5@cornell.edu; Irby J. Lovette, 188 Johnson Center, Lab of Ornithology, ijl2@cornell.edu
Education [also M.A.T.]: John Sipple, 421 Kennedy Hall, jws28@cornell.edu
Entomology: Cole Gilbert, 6136 Comstock Hall, cg23@cornell.edu
Environmental toxicology: Andrew Yen, Stocking Hall, ay13@cornell.edu
Food science and technology: Martin Wiedmann, 412 Stocking Hall, mw16@cornell.edu
Genetics and development: staff, 107 Biotechnology Bldg., dmc18@cornell.edu
Horticulture: Nina Bassuk, 33 Plant Science Bldg., nlb2@cornell.edu
International agriculture and rural development [M.P.S. (agr.)]: Steven Kyle, 249 Warren Hall, sck5@cornell.edu
International development: Norman Uphoff, 33 Warren Hall, ntu1@cornell.edu
Landscape architecture [M.L.A.]: Dan Krall, 440 Kennedy Hall, dwk5@cornell.edu
M.P.S. agriculture with Peace Corps option (offered by most agriculture fields with M.P.S. programs): Jim Haldeman, 36 Warren Hall, or see director of graduate studies for chosen field, jeh5@cornell.edu
Microbiology: James Shapleigh, 257A Wing Hall, jps2@cornell.edu
Natural resources: Clifford Kraft, 16 Fernow Hall, cek7@cornell.edu
Neurobiology and behavior: David Deitcher, W125 Mudd Hall, dld14@cornell.edu
Nutritional sciences: Christine Olson, 376 MVR Hall, cmo3@cornell.edu
Physiology: Mark Roberson, T6-008a Vet Research Tower, msr14@cornell.edu
Plant biology: Thomas Owens, 217 Plant Science Bldg., tgo2@cornell.edu; Robert Turgeon, 256 Plant Science Bldg., ert2@cornell.edu
Plant breeding: Lisa Earle, 514 Bradfield Hall, ede3@cornell.edu
Plant pathology: Michael Milgroom, 357 Plant Science Bldg., mgm5@cornell.edu
Plant protection [M.P.S. (agr.)]: William Reissig, Barton Laboratory, Geneva Campus, whr1@cornell.edu
Soil and crop sciences: Janice Thies, 719 Bradfield Hall, jet25@cornell.edu
Statistics: Robert Strawderman, 1172 Comstock Hall, rls54@cornell.edu
Zoology: John Hermanson, T5002A Vet Research Tower, jwh6@cornell.edu
A multitude of opportunities to be engaged in research exists across the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the university.
Students may be able to work on a faculty member’s research project for pay. Opportunities can be explored by contacting individual faculty members; departmental offices; the CALS Career Development Office, in 177 Roberts Hall; or Cornell Career Services, in 103 Barnes Hall. Another option is to receive credit through a 499-level course within a department by conducting your own research project under a faculty mentor. More than 600 students each year conduct research for credit. Upperclass students usually have the course background to engage in research, but freshmen and sophomores also may be equipped to do some types of research. Off-campus research experiences are also available for pay or as internships.
The following web sites provide information about research and internships:
CALS Career Development Office:
http://www.cals.cornell.edu/cals/current/career/
CALS Undergraduate Research Opportunities:
http://www.cals.cornell.edu/cals/current/student-research/undergrad/ (information on how to explore research opportunities)
CALS Research Honors Program:
http://www.cals.cornell.edu/cals/current/student-research/honors/
CALS Undergraduate and Graduate Student Grants Proposal Development:
http://www.cals.cornell.edu/cals/current/student-research/grants/
CALS Undergraduate Minority Research:
http://www.cals.cornell.edu/cals/current/student-research/minority/
The Research Honors Program provides students with a special opportunity to work with a faculty mentor to experience the research process. Successful completion requires a thesis written in the style of a master’s thesis or scholarly journal article. Original honors research may be suitable for publication in a professional journal. Students are required to send an electronic version of their thesis title, abstract, and the research advisor’s name to Ann Gantner, amg28@cornell.edu, by the end of the spring semester. In addition to copies of the entire thesis requested by the program area, one copy is required by the Office of Academic Programs (140 Roberts Hall). This copy will be made available in Mann Library. Students may volunteer to publish their theses in the Internet-First University Press if it does not interfere with other plans, such as patenting or publishing in another journal. During each summer the CALS Research Honors Abstracts is published as a compilation of honors theses abstracts.
The bachelor of science degree with “distinction in research” is conferred upon those students who, in addition to having completed the requirements for the B.S. degree, have satisfactorily completed the honors program and have been recommended for the degree by the honors committee.
Research may be done in these program areas: animal sciences, biological sciences, biology & society, entomology, information science, landscape studies, natural resources, nutritional sciences, physical sciences, plant sciences, and social sciences. Each program area has its own requirements in addition to the college requirements. After reviewing the requirements of each program area (below), students’ questions may be directed toward the appropriate program area chair.
Consult “Undergraduate Research Opportunities” on the web (cals.cornell.edu/cals/current/student-research/undergrad/) for information about identifying a research topic, conferring with a faculty member, and undergraduate funding opportunities.
An undergraduate wishing to enroll in the honors program must have completed at least 55 credits, at least 30 of those 55 at Cornell. In addition, the student must have attained a cumulative Cornell GPA of at least 3.0 (unless otherwise noted by a particular program) at the time of entry.
Interested students must submit a written application and thesis proposal early in the first semester of their senior year; however, they are encouraged to make arrangements with a faculty member during the second semester of their junior year. Several program areas require students to submit their applications and thesis proposal to the program area honors committee chair by the end of the third week, while other program areas have students submit the application and proposal to the CALS Registrar’s office by the end of the sixth week. It is the student’s responsibility to know the deadlines and submission procedures for the particular program area of interest. Application forms are available from the CALS Registrar in 140 Roberts Hall or from the web at http://www.cals.cornell.edu/cals/current/student-research/honors/. Applications for biological sciences students can be picked up at 200 Stimson Hall, and for biology & society students at 306 Rockefeller Hall.
Before the completed application is submitted, signatures of approval are required in the following order: faculty research mentor, academic advisor, and research honors program area chair. After the college registrar verifies the student’s GPA, the student will be officially enrolled in the honors program. Additional requirements for application and completion of the program are described under each program area.
Academic credit also may be earned by enrolling in an appropriate independent research course (required by some program areas). When applying for admission to the program, the student may, if appropriate, submit a budget and a modest request for research funds (up to $350). If approved, the funding will be transferred to a departmental account of the student’s research advisor to support the student’s research. This funding is not to be used as a student salary. Additional funding opportunities are described at cals.cornell.edu/cals/current/student-research/undergrad.
Unless otherwise indicated in the following program area descriptions, the research report in the form of a thesis or journal article should be submitted to the research program committee no later than four weeks before the end of classes of the semester in which the student expects to graduate. Students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences wishing to participate in the Research Honors Program are not eligible for distinction in research by participating in a program offered by another college or administrative unit.
The research honors committee for each program area recommends to the college registrar those students who qualify for honors. Only those who maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 will be graduated with “distinction in research.”
At or near the completion of their research, students are required to give an oral presentation or poster session during an appropriate event. Some departments have seminar series when presentations may be given. The Cornell Undergraduate Research Board (CURB) Forum is another venue for presentations.
For more information, go to http://www.cals.cornell.edu/cals/current/student-research/honors/.
The following are the honors program areas:
Faculty committee: S. M. Quirk, chair; Y. R. Boisclair, J. R. Giles, J. Gavalchin, P. A. Johnson, T. R. Overton
The objective of the animal sciences research honors program is to provide outstanding undergraduates with the opportunity to pursue supervised independent research and to develop an awareness of the scientific process. It is expected that the research will require significant effort and creative input by the student in its design and execution and in the reporting of the results.
Those students with majors in animal sciences who are interested in doing a research project should consult with their faculty advisors by their junior year. All students are expected to meet the college requirements in qualifying for the program and to complete the following:
Details pertaining to the specific requirements of the program can be obtained from the administrative office of the Department of Animal Science, 149 Morrison Hall.
Students interested in the Research Honors Program in the biological sciences should consult with their faculty advisors and with potential faculty research sponsors early in their junior year. See “Independent Research and Honors Program” in the Biological Sciences section of this catalog for complete details. Information on faculty research, applications, and program requirements may be obtained from the Office of Undergraduate Biology, 216 Stimson Hall.
Faculty committee: D. Pimentel, chair
The Research Honors Program in Biology & Society is designed to provide independent research opportunities for academically talented undergraduate students in biology & society. Students who enroll in this program are expected, with faculty guidance, to do independent study and research dealing with issues in Biology & Society. Students participating in the program should find the experience intellectually stimulating and rewarding whether or not they intend to pursue a research career.
Biology & Society students are considered for entry into the research honors program at the end of the second semester of the junior year. Application forms for the program are available in the Biology & Society office, 306 Rockefeller Hall. To qualify for the Biology & Society Research Honors Program, a student must have an overall Cornell cumulative GPA of at least 3.3, have formulated a research topic, and have found a project supervisor (with a Cornell academic appointment) and a Biology & Society faculty member willing to serve as his or her advisor. The director of undergraduate studies will appoint a third reader of the completed research thesis. Applications will be reviewed by a committee headed by the director of undergraduate studies, who will notify students directly of the outcome. Students will be permitted to register for the research honors program only by permission of the biology & society program. Students must enroll for two semesters for 8 credits each in B&SOC, ALS, or HE 499, Honors Project I and II. More information on the honors program is available in the Biology & Society office, 306 Rockefeller Hall (255-6047).
Important Deadlines
Note: If the following dates fall on a weekend, the deadline is the preceding Friday.
Faculty committee: C. Gilbert, chair
The Program. A research honors program in entomology may be pursued by any qualified student in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The student need not be specializing in entomology. Insects, because of their variety, small size, and easy availability, are convenient subjects for studying a wide array of problems dealing with living systems. Short life cycles, unique physiologies and developmental patterns, and species with easily managed colony requirements and a wide range of behavioral traits provide the raw material for research honors study. Cornell’s diverse faculty interests and extensive collections and library in entomology are also major assets if a student selects entomology as the area for research honors study.
Research honors students have the option of earning academic credit by enrolling in ENTOM 497 Independent Study during any semester while working toward a research honors thesis. Credits and grade option for satisfying requirements of ENTOM 497 should be discussed with the thesis advisor (following page.)
Note: Enrolling in independent study is not a requirement for graduating with distinction in research honors in entomology.
Sequence of Requirements The Entomology Research Honors Committee requires that an undergraduate who is interested in embarking on a research honors project proceed with the following steps:
The complete text of this section can be found at: http://www.entomology.cornell.edu/Undergrad/EntomHonors.shtml.
Students should follow the CALS social sciences guidelines to obtain research honors in information science.
Faculty committee: P. J. Trowbridge, chair
The research honors program in landscape studies offers outstanding undergraduates in CALS the opportunity to work with a member of the landscape architecture faculty to pursue supervised independent research in design, the cultural landscape, landscape archaeology, environmental design, and community-based planning and design. The student need not be a major in the landscape architecture professional design curriculum. The subject matter and nature of the research experience may be quite varied. Students participating should find the experience intellectually stimulating and rewarding, whether or not they intend to pursue a research career. The guidance and supervision of a faculty member with substantial interest and expertise in the subject is essential to the success of the project. It is expected that the research will require significant effort and creative input by the student in its design and execution and in reporting the results.
Students who consider this option should be aware that honors research is undertaken above and beyond any of the requirements for graduation in the major of landscape architecture. It involves a number of deadlines and a considerable time commitment. Before signing on for research honors, students need to consult with their academic advisor to make sure that honors research projects will not interfere with other academic or professional objectives, such as job applications, preparation of portfolios, or application to graduate school. These may need to be deferred until the thesis is complete. Students are responsible for meeting deadlines and being prepared for presentations and other meetings.
Although honors research credits for spring semester junior year and both semesters senior year are designated a letter grade, individual mentors may choose the R grade for work in progress until the project has been fully completed. Grade is determined by each student’s mentor. The designation of “distinction in research” on the diploma is awarded at the recommendation of the faculty advisor and other referees to the honors committee chair. An outline of activities for both years is given below.
The Landscape Studies Research Honors Committee requires that an undergraduate who is interested in embarking on a research honors project proceed with the following steps:
Faculty director: J. B. Yavitt, chair
The research honors program in natural resources involves original, independent research that generates novel findings in applied ecology and resource policy and management. Students learn how to design and carry out research under the direct supervision and guidance of a faculty member or senior research associate in the department. Most students in the program begin their research before the start of the senior year, often in the summer after their junior year. Students may enroll and receive credit in independent study (NTRES 497 Honors Research in Natural Resources) during their honors research. The research findings are presented in a written thesis that is reviewed by two experts in the field. Many theses have been published in leading journals in the disciplinary area of the research. Although the format is not prescribed, the thesis usually consists of a short introduction, relevant materials and methods, a concise presentation of the meaningful data, a discussion, and the student’s interpretation of the conclusions. Students also give an oral presentation of their research findings in a special symposium hosted by the department in early May.
Students should adhere to the following schedule.
Faculty committee: J. T. Brenna, C. Bisogni
The research honors program in the Division of Nutritional Sciences is a structured experience that involves (1) taking a course in research (NS 398), (2) conducting a research project through which the student becomes intellectually engaged in the whole research process, (3) completing a written thesis that reports the research, and (4) giving an oral presentation of the project at the undergraduate honors symposium. Students must maintain a minimum grade point average to graduate with honors in research.
The research honors program is an excellent opportunity for students who are highly interested in research and wish to commit substantial time and intellectual energy to a project that will span at least four semesters of their undergraduate experience. Honors students experience the excitement of participating in a project to generate new knowledge on a topic that interests them and reporting the project findings. By working with faculty mentors and other researchers, they develop skills in research methods and data analysis. Students also learn that research projects are labor intensive and that writing research reports, such as the honors thesis, is a vital, but time-consuming, aspect of the research process. This intensive research experience is not suitable for all students, and those who wish a less intensive research experience may conduct research with a faculty member under NS 401.
Students interested in the program should take NS 398 as early in their program as possible. Students may review program requirements at the NS 398 web site or contact the program directors. Acceptance into the research honors program occurs when the student (1) is accepted into a faculty member’s research program and (2) submits a research proposal abstract that is approved by the directors of the research honors program.
Students interested in the program typically spend the spring sophomore semester and fall junior semester exploring honors project opportunities with prospective faculty mentors. Students are responsible for contacting faculty members and applying to their research programs, although some guidance in this process will be provided in NS 398. By the fall of the junior year, the student is expected to have identified their faculty member and be working with him/her on a proposal abstract, which is due early in the spring junior semester.
Students receive academic credit for work on their honors project under NS 499. The 6 required credits may be taken over several semesters. How much time is spent on the project each semester will be the decision of the student and the faculty mentor. For each three to four hours of work per week, the faculty mentor usually will assign one hour of academic credit. This applies to the preparation of the research plan and necessary library research (usually completed during the junior year) as well as the carrying out of the research itself and preparation of the thesis.
The research honors project is the major component of the research honors program. It should be well defined and sufficiently circumscribed to give the student the opportunity to develop the research plan, execute the research, and write an acceptable thesis within the limited time available to students carrying full academic loads. Typically, the project is designed early in the junior year and conducted in the spring junior semester and fall senior semester. Students may arrange with their faculty mentor to work on the project during the summer. The spring senior semester is usually devoted to writing the thesis (at least 25 pages). The student works with the faculty mentor to prepare a draft of the thesis, which is submitted before spring break to a second faculty member for evaluation. When comments are received from the reader, the student must revise the thesis to meet the criteria for acceptance. The student presents the thesis at the Honors Student Symposium at the end of the semester.
Faculty committee: A. T. DeGaetano, chair; S. J. Mulvaney, C. D. Bustamante
The research honors program in physical sciences provides outstanding students with an opportunity to do independent research under the supervision of a faculty member in the Departments of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Food Science, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, or Biological Statistics and Computational Biology.
In addition to meeting the requirements of the college, the student is expected to:
There is no required format, but the thesis is usually written in the form of a research journal article or a master’s thesis.
Further details of the program can be obtained from the chair of the Physical Sciences Research Honors Committee.
Faculty committee: R. L. Obendorf, chair; I. A. Merwin, E. B. Nelson, F. S. Rossi, A. DiTommaso, M. E. Smith-Einarson
Students perform independent scientific research under the guidance of faculty members in the fields of horticultural, agronomic, and soil sciences; plant biology; plant genetics and breeding; and plant pathology. For admission to the program, students must meet college requirements and submit to the Plant Sciences Research Honors Committee a project proposal (two to three pages) that includes a title; a brief background of the problem (justification and literature review); a clear statement of objective(s) and hypotheses to be tested; methodology and experimental plan, necessary space, equipment and supplies; and a project budget. The proposal must be accompanied by a letter from the faculty supervisor stating that he or she has approved the project plan and that its completion within the remainder of the student’s undergraduate tenure is feasible.
A brief progress report will be made to the committee usually during the third week of the spring semester. Research presentations are recommended (e.g., Cornell Undergraduate Research Board Spring Forum, department seminars, professional meetings).
Successful completion of the research honors program requires acceptance by the honors committee of two copies of a research report. The report should be written in the format of a research publication in the appropriate scientific field. The acceptable report must have been reviewed and corrected according to the recommendations of the research supervisor before the report is submitted to the honors committee. The report must be received by the honors committee at least two weeks before the last day of classes of the semester in which the degree is sought and must be accompanied by a letter from the research supervisor evaluating the research and, if appropriate, recommending graduation with distinction in research.
The research honors committee will review the report within one week and may accept it or return it to the student with specific recommendations for revisions. A suitably revised version must be submitted to the committee before the second day of the examination period. When the committee accepts an honors report, the chair will recommend to the associate dean and director of academic programs and to the college registrar that the student be graduated with distinction in research. One copy of the accepted report will be returned to the student with review comments from the committee.
Additional guidelines may be found at http://www.css.cornell.edu/Programs/PlantSciHon/.
Faculty committee: A. A. Gonzales, W. H. Lesser, T. D. Park, M. Shapiro
Research projects in the social sciences include applied economics and management, communication, development sociology, education, and information science. Students are accepted into the social sciences research honors program of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences after meeting all the college criteria described above, after evaluation of the student’s written application, and on approval of a detailed thesis proposal. The application and proposal are due to the program area chair no later than the third week of the first semester of the senior year. Each student is encouraged to begin working on this proposal with a prospective faculty thesis advisor during the junior year. The purpose of the proposal is twofold. First, it formalizes a plan of study and establishes a set of expectations between the student and the faculty advisor. Second, the honors committee reviews the proposal to determine whether it is consistent with honors thesis requirements and to make suggestions for improvement.
The proposal should be 5 to 10 typed, double-spaced pages and include the following:
Faculty advisors must be members of the graduate faculty. Exceptions may be granted for persons with special expertise pending petition to the Social Science Research Honors Committee. Students should register for honors credit directed by the faculty research honors project advisor.
Distinction in research is awarded upon approval of the research honors thesis by the Social Sciences Research Honors Committee. Both the results of the research and the methodology (or the logical argument by which the results were achieved) must be reported. Reviews of the literature, practical conclusions or applications, or broad characterizations of an area of inquiry may constitute part of the research report but are not themselves sufficient as research.
Honors theses should be written according to the form of any standard journal within the appropriate field. The Honors Committee recommends the submission of the thesis draft to the research advisor two months before graduation to permit sufficient time for revision. Two copies of the thesis must be submitted to the chair of the Honors Committee no later than the middle of the second-to-last month before graduation (i.e., April or November). A supporting letter from the faculty member supervising the work also must be submitted. The thesis will be independently reviewed and further revisions may be required before the thesis is accepted. Final approval of the thesis requires a majority vote of the Honors Committee.
Study off campus is of two types: (1) credit may be earned at another institution and transferred to Cornell, or (2) credit may be earned in Cornell courses that require off-campus activity.
Students who plan to enroll in courses at another institution should refer to the non-Cornell credit policies on p. 37. Information about enrolling at another institution outside of the United States can be found under “Study Abroad.”
Study off campus in Albany, the New York State capital, provides a unique opportunity to combine career interests with academic and legislative concerns. Two formalized opportunities are available. The Assembly Intern Program is offered in the spring semester and provides placement with a staff member of the New York State Assembly. The Senate Assistants Program also occurs during the spring semester and has placements with New York State senators and selected staff. Each program has an academic component as well. Check the individual folders in the internship files in the CALS Career Development Office, 177 Roberts Hall.
Applications are collected and processed by the CALS Career Development Office, 177 Roberts Hall, in the semester before assignments. Those accepted should plan a program of study in consultation with their faculty advisor. At least 12 credits must be carried to meet the full-time residency requirement. To receive academic credit for the Assembly Intern Program, students enroll in ALS 392. To receive academic credit for the Senate Assistants Program, students enroll in ALS 400. Information and applications are available in the CALS Career Development Office, 177 Roberts Hall.
The Cornell in Washington program offers students from all colleges in the university an opportunity to earn full academic credit for a semester in Washington, D.C. Students take courses from Cornell faculty members, conduct individual research projects, and work as externs. Students take part in a public policy or humanities seminar, serve as externs in federal agencies, congressional offices, or nongovernmental organizations, and carry out individual research projects under the supervision of Cornell faculty members. The required externships and all course enrollments are arranged through, and approved by, the Cornell in Washington program. Students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences must register for ALS 500 and cannot receive credit for the externship experience alone. For further information, see p. 21, inquire at M101 McGraw Hall, 255-4090, or visit ciw.cornell.edu.
The Marine Biological Laboratory’s (MBL) Semester in Environmental Science is a semester-long program held each fall in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. This is a multi-university and college program run by the staff of the Ecosystems Center of the MBL. Approximately 15–20 students interact intensively with the world-class research staff of the Ecosystems Center in a mixture of classroom, laboratory, and field-research activities. The major foci of the program are on biogeochemistry, ecosystem science, and the impacts of land use and global change on the environment. Students spend about 20 hours each week conducting intensive, hands-on field and lab work in coastal forests, freshwater ponds, and estuaries, and complete an independent research project as part of the curriculum. The MBL is one of the oldest (founded in 1888) and most distinguished biological field stations in North America. Cornell credit for up to 16 credits is offered. More information on the program can be obtained from the Cornell faculty liaison (Prof. Bob Howarth, E309 Corson Hall, 255-6175) or from the director of the program (Dr. Ken Foreman, MBL Ecosystems Center, 508-289-7777; http://courses.mbl.edu/SES/).
The Sea Education Association is a nonprofit educational institution offering ocean-focused academic programs and the opportunity to live, work, and study at sea. Science, the humanities, and practical seamanship are integrated in small, personal classes. The 17-credit program is 12 weeks in length. Six weeks are spent in Woods Hole, and the following six weeks are spent on either one of SEA’s two sailing vessels: the SSV Robert Seamans or the SSV Corwith Cramer. For more information, contact the Cornell Marine Programs office, G14 Stimson Hall (255-3717) or visit http://www.sea.edu. CALS students should file an intent to study off campus form with the college registrar as early as possible to ensure proper registration and enrollment in courses.
The Shoals Marine Laboratory, run cooperatively by Cornell University and the University of New Hampshire, is a seasonal field station located on 95-acre Appledore Island off the coast of Portsmouth, N.H., in the Gulf of Maine. SML offers undergraduates and other interested adults a unique opportunity to study marine science in a setting noted for its biota, geology, and history. Please refer to “Courses in Marine Science,” in the section on the Office of Undergraduate Biology, for a list of courses offered.
For more information, contact the Shoals Marine Laboratory office, G14 Stimson Hall, 255-3717, or visit http://www.sml.cornell.edu.
Several departments in the college offer supervised internships for academic credit. Internships may be granted for pay and/or credit with a limit of up to 3 credits per internship and no more than 6 credits total allowed for internships consisting of off-campus work experiences that do not have the continued presence of a Cornell faculty member. The number of credits awarded should reflect the amount of knowledge gained per internship and/or following the CALS guidelines for assigning credits. The 6-credit allotment includes transfer credit and credit from other internships in other colleges at Cornell. The 6-credit limit does not apply to secondary, post-secondary, and Cooperative Extension teaching internships in the Department of Education. The awarding of credit will not be allowed in cases where a student brings to the college or to a professor a description of a past experience and requests credit. Note that a maximum of 15 (prorated for transfer students) of the 120 credits required for the degree may be taken in internships, independent study courses, and undergraduate teaching or research. For internships not governed by an established internship course, the student must enroll in a 497-level course for the number of credits assigned.
To ensure a fair and manageable system to deal with internships, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has set forth guidelines to serve as minimum requirements for a student to receive internship credit.
Arrangements should be made with the offering department for assignment of a faculty mentor for planning the program of work, and for evaluating student performance. Individual departments may add more requirements to the internship based on specific needs such as time constraints, faculty workloads, and the relationship of the internship to the goals of the department. The specific terms of the contract should be recorded, using the independent study, research, teaching, and internship form, available in the Registrar’s Office in 140 Roberts Hall.
Research: students can receive pay or credit, or they can partition it so that they receive pay for part of the research and credit for the other as long as the work does not overlap.
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant: students can receive either pay or credit, but they cannot partition it.
Internships: students may receive both pay and credit for the same internship experience.
Each year about 200 CALS undergraduates spend an academic year or semester studying abroad. Whether attending a large university in Australia, a smaller campus in Sweden, or a technical school in Singapore, CALS students have a variety of international study options available to them. They can choose from:
CALS exchange programs are unique agreements created with other prestigious universities around the world. CALS students participating in an exchange program pay only their Cornell tuition, with no additional administrative fees. To learn more about the exchange programs, please visit: http://www.cals.cornell.edu/cals/current/abroad-exchange/.
Study abroad opportunities offered through the Cornell Abroad office are vast, ranging from a traditional university in London to field study in Africa. For information about specific programs, costs and more, visit their office in 300 Caldwell Hall or go to http://www.cuabroad.cornell.edu/.
Whether participating in a CALS exchange or a program through Cornell Abroad, all CALS students interested in studying abroad must receive approval from their faculty advisor and meet with the college study abroad advisor to review the college policies and to receive college approval. College policies can be viewed at: http://www.cals.cornell.edu/cals/current/abroad-exchange/going-abroad/policies.cfm.
Study abroad advising hours are held in 140 Roberts Hall on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and Wednesdays 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
The Cornell University–Ithaca College Exchange Program is a reciprocal arrangement between Cornell University and Ithaca College that allows matriculated full-time students with prior approval and within stated stipulations, to cross-register at the other institution. No additional tuition is charged except in the case of undergraduate students enrolled during any one semester for a total of more than 18 credits (Cornell and Ithaca College combined). Those students are subject to additional tuition charges on a per-credit basis. This arrangement is available during the fall and spring semesters only, and is contingent upon space availability. A maximum of 12 credits may be taken through this program.
Cornell University also has a reciprocal arrangement with Wells College in Aurora, N.Y. For further information, contact the Cornell School of Continuing Education office, B20 Day Hall, 255-4987, or on the web at http://www.sce.cornell.edu/exmu/.
1. Credit Requirements
A. Minimum total credits: 120 academic credits are required for graduation.
Important Exceptions:
2. Physical Education Requirement
3. Residency Requirements
All of the following conditions must be met in order for a student to be considered for prorated tuition:
Physical and Life Sciences. 18 credits in at least three disciplines of which 6 credits must be introductory biology and 3 credits in chemistry or physics.
Introductory Biology: BIO G 101–104, 105–106, 107–108, 109–110
CHEM
PHYS
Other Physical/Life Sciences
AN SC 100, 110, 112, 215, 221, 280, 300, 301
AEM 210
ASTRO
BEE 454, 458, 459
Biological Sciences (any course EXCEPT BIO G 200, 209, 299, 498, 499, & BIONB 431, BIOSM 204)
BTRY/Statistics
CHEM
CSS 190, 260, 311, 312, 314, 315, 317, 366, 415, 455, 483
EAS (EXCEPT 121, 150, 420)
EDUC 115
ENTOM 201, 210, 212, 215, 241, 260, 277, 315, 325, 331, 332, 344, 369, 370, 444, 453, 455, 463
FD SC 200
HORT 220, 243, 317, 400, 426, 440, 445, 449, 455, 460
IARD 414
ILRST 210, 212, 310
Mathematics—(See CALS requirements for graduation.)
NS 115, 122, 222, 262, 320 (300), 331, 332, 341, 347, 361, 431, 441, 452
NTRES 101, 210, 310, 313, 314, 322, 323, 326, 413, 420
PAM 210
PHYS
PL BR 201, 225, 300, 401, 402, 403, 404
PL PA 201, 301, 309, 319, 401
SNES 101 (ALS 115)
Social Sciences and Humanities. Students must complete four courses of 3 or more credits each from the following six categories of courses in the humanities and social sciences.
• At least one course must be completed from three different categories.
• No more than two courses in the same department will be counted toward the distribution requirement.
Categories:
• Cultural Analysis (CA)
• Historical Analysis (HA)
• Knowledge, Cognition, and Moral Reasoning (KCM)
• Literature and the Arts (LA)
• Social and Behavioral Analysis (SBA)
• Foreign Language (FL)
Detailed descriptions follow.
Social Sciences and Humanities: Category Descriptions
Cultural Analysis (CA)
These courses study human life in particular cultural contexts through interpretive analysis of individual behavior, discourse, and social practice. Topics include belief systems (science, medicine, religion), expressive arts and symbolic behavior (visual arts, performance, poetry, myth, narrative, ritual), identity (nationality, race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality), social groups and institutions (family, market, community), power and politics (states, colonialism, inequality).
Historical Analysis (HA)
These courses interpret continuities and changes—political, social, economic, diplomatic, religious, intellectual, artistic, scientific—through time. The focus may be on groups of people, dominant or subordinate, a specific country or region, an event, a process, or a time period.
Knowledge, Cognition, and Moral Reasoning (KCM)
These courses investigate the bases of human knowledge in its broadest sense, ranging from cognitive faculties shared by humans and animals such as perception, to abstract reasoning, to the ability to form and justify moral judgments. Courses investigating the sources, structure, and limits of cognition may use the methodologies of science, cognitive psychology, linguistics, or philosophy. Courses focusing on moral reasoning explore ways of reflecting on ethical questions that concern the nature of justice, the good life, or human values in general.
Literature and the Arts (LA)
These courses explore literature and the arts in two different but related ways. Some courses focus on the critical study of artworks and on their history, aesthetics, and theory. These courses develop skills of reading, observing, and hearing and encourage reflection on such experiences; many investigate the interplay among individual achievement, artistic tradition, and historical context. Other courses are devoted to the production and performance of artworks (in creative writing, performing arts, and media such as film and video). These courses emphasize the interaction among technical mastery, cognitive knowledge, and creative imagination.
Social and Behavioral Analysis (SBA)
These courses examine human life in its social context through the use of social scientific methods, often including hypothesis testing, scientific sampling techniques, and statistical analysis. Topics studied range from the thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and attitudes of individuals to interpersonal relations between individuals (e.g., in friendship, love, conflict) to larger social organizations (e.g., the family, society, religious or educational or civic institutions, the economy, government) to the relationships and conflicts among groups or individuals (e.g., discrimination, inequality, prejudice, stigmas, conflict resolution).
Foreign Language (FL)
These courses are taught by the following departments: Africana Studies and Research Center (AS&RC—language only), Asian Studies (BENGL, BURM, CHIN, HINDI, INDO, JAPAN, KHMER, KOREA, SANSK, TAG, THAI, and VIET), Classics (CLASS—language only), German Studies (GERST—language only, DUTCH, and SWED), Linguistics (LING— languages only), Near Eastern Studies (NES—languages only), Romance Studies (CATAL, FREN, ITAL, PORT, QUECH, and SPAN), and Russian Studies (RUSSA, HUNGR, POLSH, SEBCR, and UKRAN).
Diversity (D)
Although not a requirement, the college recommends that students take at least one diversity course.
Written and Oral Expression. 9 credits total, of which at least 6 must be in written expression. Oral expression is not required by the college (it may be for some majors); all 9 credits may be in written expression. Courses in written and oral expression may be selected from the following:
Oral Expression
COMM 201, 203
ENTOM 335
Written Expression
First-Year Writing Seminars
Sophomore Seminars
AEM 200
COMM 131 (117), 260, 263, 350, 352
ENGL 280, 281, 288, 289, 382-385, 388, 389
FD SC 230
LA 215
NS 105, 230
Faculty legislation requires minimum competency in quantitative literacy to complete a degree in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. This requirement can be satisfied in one of three ways:
A complete listing of approved math and statistics courses is available online at http://www.cals.cornell.edu/current/registrar/. Pre-approval forms are available in CALS Registrar’s Office.
Please note: Cornell University does not accept credit for courses sponsored by colleges but taught in high schools to high school students, even if the college provides a transcript for such work. Students who have taken such courses may, however, earn credit by taking an appropriate examination as described on pp. 8–11 of this catalog.
Deadlines to File the Application to Graduate:
January graduates: September 14
May graduates: October 12
Failure to meet these deadlines could result in a student’s name being omitted from the commencement program and/or a diploma not being available for pick-up on commencement Sunday.
Student Responsibilities: It is the student’s responsibility to complete the application to graduate, obtain signatures from faculty advisor(s), and then schedule an appointment to file the application with the CALS Registrar’s Office.
Faculty Advisor Responsibilities: It is the faculty advisor’s responsibility to inform seniors of any courses still needed to fulfill major and/or minor requirements and to list those courses on the application to graduate. Faculty advisors must sign the application to graduate before the student meets with the CALS Registrar’s Office. If a student is completing more than one major and/or a minor, the signatures of all faculty advisors are required.
CALS Registrar’s Office Responsibilities: It is the responsibility of the CALS Registrar’s Office to inform seniors of any credits needed to fulfill the CALS graduation requirements and to list those credits on the application to graduate. The Registrar’s Office will sign the application to graduate and provide both the student and faculty advisor with copies of the signed application. The student should retain a record of the application.
Commencement Information: Commencement information will be provided to all graduating seniors directly by the Commencement Office. Information is also available at http://www.commencement.cornell.edu/.
All students must register with the university at the beginning of each semester. In order to be considered a registered student by the university, a student must:
Students can check their registration status using Just the Facts. The first screen in Just the Facts will indicate whether you are registered and will list any holds that need to be cleared, including the correct office to visit to have the holds removed.
Students will receive course enrollment information from the university registrar. After planning a schedule of courses in consultation with their faculty advisor, students pre-enroll by computer.
To enroll in courses that involve independent study, teaching, or research, a student must file an independent study form, available in the CALS Registrar’s Office, 140 Roberts Hall.
Students may enroll again for a course in which they received a grade of F in a previous semester. Both grades will be recorded and calculated as part of their cumulative GPA. If a student retakes a course in which a passing grade was earned, both grades will be recorded and calculated as part of their cumulative GPA. However, repeating a course increases the number of credits required for graduation by the number of credits in the course.
Students must not enroll again for a course in which they received an incomplete. Instead, work for that course should be completed without further enrollment. The instructor files a manual grade form with the college registrar when a grade has been assigned. An incomplete not made up by the end of two successive semesters of residence reverts to a failure. In the case of a graduating senior, incompletes revert to failures at the time of graduation.
A student is held responsible for and receives a grade for those courses in which he or she enrolls unless the student officially changes such enrollment. All changes in courses or credit, grading options, or sections must be made by the student using the online add/drop through “Just the Facts” or the official course drop and add form at the Registrar’s Office, 140 Roberts Hall. Approval of the faculty advisor may be required to change course enrollment. Department or course instructor approval may be required for select courses.
Students may add courses and change grading options or credit hours where applicable during the first three weeks of the semester, and may drop courses until the end of the seventh week.
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences faculty, students, and administration support and abide by the university Code of Academic Integrity. Its principle is that absolute integrity is expected of every student in all academic undertakings: students must in no way misrepresent their work, fraudulently or unfairly advance their academic status, or be a party to another student’s failure to maintain academic integrity.
The maintenance of an atmosphere of academic honor and the fulfillment of the provisions of the code are the responsibility of the students and the faculty. Therefore, all students and faculty members shall refrain from any action that would violate the basic principles of this code.
• knowingly represent the work of others as their own.
• use or obtain unauthorized assistance in any academic work.
• give fraudulent assistance to another student.
• fabricate data in support of laboratory or field work.
• forge a signature to certify completion or approval.
• submit the same work for two different courses without advance permission.
• knowingly deprive other students of library resources, laboratory equipment, computer programs, or similar aids.
• in any other manner violate the principle of absolute integrity.
Cornell’s Code of Academic Integrity spells out how individuals who have allegedly violated Cornell standards for academic integrity are to be confronted and, if found to be in violation of those standards, sanctioned. The code provides informal resolution of most perceived violations through a primary hearing between the faculty member, the student involved, and an independent witness. If necessary, a hearing before a hearing board follows.
The Academic Integrity Hearing Board for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences consists of three elected faculty members, three elected student members, a chair appointed by the dean, and the director of counseling and advising, who serves as a nonvoting record keeper. Professor Dale Grossman is the current chair.
Individuals who observe or are aware of an alleged violation of the code should report the incident to the faculty member in charge of a course or to the chair of the hearing board. General information and details on procedures for suspected violations or hearings are available from the Counseling and Advising Office, 140 Roberts Hall.
The college encourages high academic achievement and recognizes outstanding students in several ways:
At the end of each semester, the Committee on Academic Achievement and Petitions reviews the records of those students who in any respect are failing to meet the academic requirements of the college or who persistently fail to attend classes. For students not making satisfactory progress, the committee takes appropriate action, including, but not limited to, issuing warnings, placing students on probation, granting students leaves of absence, advising students to withdraw, or suspending or expelling students.
Specifically, the committee considers as possible cause for action failure to attend and participate in courses on a regular basis or, at the end of any semester, failure to attain one or more of the following:
• semester GPA of at least 2.00
• cumulative GPA of at least 2.00
• satisfactory completion of 12 or more credits per semester
• reasonable progress toward completion of major and distribution requirements
In general terms, regular participation in course work with academic loads at a level sufficient to assure graduation within eight semesters and grades averaging C (2.00) or higher are prima facie evidence of satisfactory progress and good academic standing.
The Committee on Academic Achievement and Petitions is a college committee of six faculty and two student members. On behalf of the faculty, the committee
A petition for exemption from a college academic requirement or missed deadline may be filed by any student who has grounds for exemption. A petition is usually prepared with the assistance of a student’s faculty advisor, whose signature is required. The advisor’s recommendation is helpful to the committee. The committee reviews the written petition and determines whether there is evidence of mitigating and unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of the student that would warrant an exemption or other action.
Students wishing to withdraw from a course after the end of the seventh week must petition. Requests for course changes are approved only when the members of the committee are convinced that unusual circumstances are clearly beyond the control of the student. The committee assumes that students should have been able to make decisions about course content, total workload, and scheduling prior to stated deadlines. A grade of W (for “withdrawal”) is recorded on the transcript if a petition to drop a course is approved after the end of the seventh week of classes, and if an approved drop results in fewer than 12 credits.
Forms are available in the Counseling and Advising Office, 140 Roberts Hall. Counselors are available to assist with the process.
A student taking a break from studies in a future semester or who finds it necessary to leave the university before the end of a semester should submit a written petition for a leave of absence. Such action serves as appropriate notification to university offices and corrects the student’s transcript.
An approved leave is considered a voluntary interruption in study and holds the student’s place in the college without requiring reapplication to the university. Voluntary leaves are issued in two ways: unrestricted for students in good academic standing (no restrictions placed on length of leave, or activities pursued, and simple notification by student of intent to return), and restricted (length of leave and activities pursued may be specified, and a petition to return must be approved by the Committee on Academic Achievement and Petitions).
Information and petition forms are available in the Counseling and Advising Office, 140 Roberts Hall.
A student who wishes to leave the university permanently should file a petition for withdrawal. Such petitions are approved if the student is in good academic standing. Students who have withdrawn and who later decide to return must apply to the CALS Admissions Office.
The college curriculum consists of 24 major program areas that reflect the departmental academic effort in the college. Faculty curriculum committees in each area identify a sequence of courses appropriate to all students studying in that field. Courses of study are designed to provide systematic development of basic skills and concepts as well as critical thinking. Opportunity for concentration in an area of particular interest is usually available.
Programs are planned with considerable flexibility, allowing students to prepare for careers, graduate work, professional opportunities, and the responsibilities of educated citizens. Course requirements in each program area are different, but all students must meet the minimum distribution requirements of the college.
Agriculture is an exciting and dynamic field involving a wide range of disciplines. The Agricultural Sciences major trains students to be broad thinkers who are scientifically skilled and knowledgeable about socioeconomic issues related to agriculture and the environment. This interdisciplinary program is for students wishing to pursue a general education in agriculture to prepare for careers that require knowledge of food systems and natural resources. Such careers may include the production and marketing of plant/animal foods, agricultural education in secondary schools, organic farming, cooperative extension, and crop consultation. By providing students with focused categories of courses from which to choose, the Agricultural Sciences program is designed to allow students to work with their advisor in developing a curriculum that best fits the needs of each individual. The program allows students to focus on one or two areas of concentration while gaining a broad exposure to the agricultural courses across the college.
All students are required to take the core courses in sustainable agriculture, soil science, and integrated pest management, as well as gain practical experience by completing an internship and a “hands-on” experiential learning capstone course addressing real problems in agricultural science. Concentrations requiring at least 12 credits are available in Animal Science, Applied Economics and Management, Education and Communication, Crop Production and Management, and Sustainable Agriculture.
Students graduating with an Agricultural Sciences major will be trained to address complex global agricultural issues of today and will have a knowledge base that leads to employment in a variety of fields. The required emphasis on one or two concentration areas also allows students to become experts in the area of agriculture that is most exciting to them.
Since students in the Agricultural Sciences program come from across the college, we create a family of students who take courses, study, learn, and discuss together as a group. We do this by organizing activities that facilitate learning in an interdisciplinary setting, such as inviting guest speakers from various sectors of the agricultural industry to lead discussions, offering professional development workshops to train students for the workforce, and hosting social events for students in the major. Opportunities are also available in research and outreach experiences, and in summer employment, which serve to enrich the students’ practical experience.
The animal sciences program area offers a coordinated group of courses dealing with the principles of animal genetics, nutrition, physiology, management, and growth biology. Emphasis in subject matter is directed toward domestic animal species, dairy and beef cattle, horses, poultry, pigs, and sheep, while laboratory, companion, and exotic animal species are also included in research and teaching programs. The Department of Animal Science has extensive facilities for animal production and well-equipped laboratories and classrooms, including a teaching barn, in which students can gain practical experience in the care and management of large animals.
The program focuses on the application of science to the efficient production of animals for food, fiber, and pleasure and easily accommodates a variety of interests and goals. Beyond a core of basic courses (suggested minimum, 15 credits) students select production and advanced courses to fulfill an individually tailored program worked out in consultation with their advisors. In this way it is possible to concentrate by species as well as by subject matter (nutrition, physiology, growth biology, breeding, management). For each subject area, supporting courses in other departments are readily available and strongly encouraged. Many science-oriented students elect a program emphasizing supportive preparation in the physical and biological sciences appropriate to graduate, veterinary, or professional study following graduation. Dairy management is a popular program among students who may be preparing to manage a dairy business or enter a related career. Other students may elect a program oriented toward economics and business in preparation for a career in the poultry, dairy, meat-animal, horse, feed, or meats industry. These are examples of the flexibility within these programs that can be developed to meet a student’s career interest related to animals.
It is recommended that students obtain appropriate fieldwork or animal experience during summers. Several special training opportunities exist for highly motivated students. Juniors and seniors whose academic records warrant it may, by arrangement with individual faculty members, engage in research (either for credit or honors) or assist with teaching (for credit). The Dairy Management Fellows Program offers an equally challenging but different type of experience for a select group of students.
Students declaring a minor in animal science will arrange for a formal academic advisor in animal science at least three semesters before graduating. It is expected that the minor will be satisfied by completing at least 12 credit hours of animal science courses (at least 6 of which must be taken at Cornell), the makeup of which will be determined in consultation with the advisor. For example, it is recommended that students completing the minor will assemble courses (or demonstrate having the equivalent from elsewhere) including some basic and applied biology of animals (anatomy, physiology, nutrition, genetics) along with a selection of intermediate or advanced offerings from the animal science curriculum. Satisfactory completion of minor requirements will be verified by the minor advisor’s signature on the petition to graduate.
For information, contact Deloris Bevins in 149 Morrison Hall, dgb1@cornell.edu.
The Department of Applied Economics and Management (AEM) offers undergraduate programs of study in three broad areas: business, agribusiness, and applied economics.
AEM is home to Cornell’s undergraduate general business degree. Here students can immerse themselves in finance, marketing, management, and business strategy courses, as well as take specialized courses in entrepreneurship, food industry management, and agribusiness. This highly selective program is accredited by AACSB International, the accrediting body for general business degree programs.
AEM also includes undergraduate specializations that focus on the economics of agriculture and the environment. All AEM courses stress the application of analytical skills, critical thinking, and economic theory to real-world business and public policy issues.
Ten (10) areas of specialization are offered in AEM.
Specializations: Students must choose at least one specialization, but may choose more than one. Note: courses may be used to satisfy both an AEM core requirement and a specialization requirement.
Accounting
Agribusiness Management
Applied Economics
Entrepreneurship
Environmental and Resource Economics
Finance
Food Industry Management
International Trade and Development
Marketing
Strategy
Through the Department of Applied Economics and Management, CALS students may complete a minor program of study in five different subject areas: Agribusiness Management and Finance, Business, Environmental and Resource Economics, Food Industry Management, or Applied Economics. These minors consist of between 18 and 20 credits of required courses. Students should contact the Department of Applied Economics and Management for more detailed information and to enroll in one of these minor programs of study. These minors are not open to students outside CALS. For those lacking time to incorporate all the business minor requirements during the regular school year, up to three of the required courses can be taken during Summer Session.
Atmospheric science is the study of the atmosphere and the processes that shape weather and climate. The curriculum emphasizes the scientific study of the behavior of weather and climate, and applications to the important practical problems of weather forecasting and climate prediction. Students develop a fundamental understanding of atmospheric processes and acquire skill and experience in the analysis, interpretation, and forecasting of meteorological events. All students are required to complete a minimum of three semesters of calculus, two semesters of physics, and a semester each of chemistry, computer science, and statistics.
Atmospheric science courses are offered through the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS). The requirements for the B.S. in atmospheric science through the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences are as follows: