Student & Alumni Profiles

Food Science and Technology - Dairy Processing and Food Safety

"The faculty’s openness to collaboration has allowed me to learn from top professors in the field, gaining insights into both theoretical and practical aspects of food science."

Natural Resources and the Environment - Forest Ecology

"The strength of the MPS program is the wide variety of classes to choose from in a cross-disciplinary setting."

Integrative Plant Science - Hemp Sciences

"The coursework and networking opportunities provided by the MPS allowed me to gain a
deeper grasp of the industry dynamics and forge valuable connections."

Animal Science - Animal Health

"I was able to make life-long friends while working with and studying animals. This pursuit of higher education allowed me to explore several areas within STEM and animal science, creating new passions."

Food Science and Technology - Product Development

"I have been able to connect with people that have achieved great things and it has inspired me to keep working on my own goals."

Global Development - Agriculture and Rural Development

"The flexibility to tailor the program to fit individual needs and the network of faculty, students, and staff we get to interact with is exceptional."

Biological and Environmental Engineering - Biofuel Research

"This program broadened my knowledge about other renewable energy options, which can contribute to and collaborate with biofuel in the industry to make it a net zero environment."

Animal Science - Dairy Management

"One of the most valuable things about the MPS program is networking with Cornell faculty, researchers, and professors..."

Landscape Architecture

"I chose to attend Cornell because of its unique approach to landscape architecture education."

Animal Science - Production Sustainability

"It has been incredible to be a part of such important work and furthering the education of sustainable agriculture."

Food Science - Product Development

"CALS MFS teaches a practical approach that strengthens the problem solving capacities we need in food science"

Natural Resources - Adaptive Management

"I chose to pursue the CALS MPS degree because CALS has a diverse cultural community and a worldwide network of educational resources."

Global Development - International Economy and International Development

"This MPS degree in Global Development was the perfect continuation of my career."

Animal Science - Sheep Management

"Pursuing an MPS has allowed me to take a number of education courses which have helped me develop skills and materials for being an impactful teacher."

Integrative Plant Science - Controlled Environment Agriculture

"The flexibility of the program has allowed me to study many different subjects that I will need to achieve my goals, from plant science to business classes."

Natural Resources - Social Analysis & Decision Making

“My time at Cornell spurred substantial personal and professional growth... I am confident I have the tools needed to attain, and succeed in my career goals.”

Animal Science - Dairy Business Management

"When I learned about the MPS degree at Cornell... I knew I had found what I was looking for. It offers a large amount of flexibility and opportunities to take a variety of courses in different schools in areas that interest me."

Food Science and Technology - Food Safety

“In my new role with PepsiCo. as a Food Safety Processing Specialist, I needed formal food microbiology skills for the food safety side of my work ...”

Integrative Plant Science - Controlled Environment Agriculture

 “I have been able to tune my project and schedule to courses that will help me in my career goals, and I value that flexibility."

Integrative Plant Science

“I enjoyed the ability to craft a program based on my interests and needs.”

Integrative Plant Science - Controlled Environment Agriculture

“I think controlled environmental agriculture is amazing because it has the ability to create small oases in otherwise inhospitable areas. My goal is to use my MPS degree to ...”

Global Development - International Agriculture & Rural Development

“The faculty at Cornell are top-notch. Having taken courses across different disciplines, you get to meet a variety of professors who are experts in their respective fields ...”

Global Development – International Development

“I have an MBA and five years of experience working in the financial sector in Bangladesh, but I did not have international exposure. The MPS degree presented me with the opportunity ...”

Food Science and Technology - Dairy Processing

“The courses are set up to be congruent with others, allowing students to understand the lessons on a more holistic level. An advantage of the MPS program is it allows students ...”

Food Science and Technology - Viticulture and Enology

"Accomplishing this degree gave me the confidence to succeed in any task or analysis in the wine industry. Personally, I feel proud to stand as a Cornell graduate."

Integrative Plant Science - Public Garden Leadership

 "The faculty at Cornell are incredible and supportive. Faculty in the School of Integrated Plant Sciences have helped me understand the relationships between what I’m learning in class and how to apply it in my future career."

Food Science and Technology

“I wanted to switch my career from quality control to pursue leadership positions. The one year Cornell MPS program was the answer as it is an efficient, knowledge-rich program.”

Global Development - International Agriculture and Rural Development

"The CALS MPS program has allowed me to take the time to think more deeply about global challenges and learn about solutions."

Food Science and Technology

"I absolutely loved getting to see the true passion that each and every faculty has for their respective fields of study. It’s especially fun with food science when that passion revolved around things such as wine and cheese."

Global Development - International Development

"Being exposed to a diverse and often contradictory set of perspectives on the same or overlapping issues was really what I enjoyed and valued most..."

Food Science and Technology - Food Chemistry and Product Development

"The MPS program was the perfect way to gain foundational knowledge of Food Science without taking too much time away from my career."

Global Development

“The MPS program is engaging, holistic, and exciting. It is a well-rounded program that not only prepares you extensively for your career, but makes you excited about the professional work ahead of you.”

Integrative Plant Science

"I am passionate about education first and foremost because I believe it leads to a society that is more informed and more responsible to the environment and fellow humans."

Food Science and Technology

"The network that you build as part of the MPS program is one of the program's greatest strengths. The Cornell network is very vast and ..."

Global Development - International Development

"I was convinced by my colleagues and family that a master degree is a must if I was to make a great deal of change in natural resources sector, so I applied for the Fulbright and it handpicked the CALS MPS for me... I can’t be more thankful for this lifetime privilege to be both a Cornellian and a Fulbrighter.”

Food Science and Technology - Enology

"My CALS MPS experience has given me self-confidence in my ability to take risks and challenge myself to cultivate the career of my dreams."

Food Science and Technology - Food Engineering

"At Cornell, I have daily interactions with the brightest and the most intellectual people. This pushes me to keep growing."

Integrative Plant Science - Viticulture

"The CALS MPS program allowed me to customize a program to meet my unique goals."

Food Science – Research and Development

“Professors are approachable and can potentially unlock a lot of information about the program and industry for you and are happy to do it.”

Global Development - International Agriculture & Rural Development

“A strength of the program was in bringing people together from diverse backgrounds. Giving students the freedom to explore their interests and support from professors who have had their own extensive experiences and expertise in those areas.”

Integrative Plant Science - Public Garden Leadership

“The Cornell MPS program was a natural extension of my experience and interests and helped move me closer to the impact I wanted to make in the world."

Integrative Plant Science – Public Garden Leadership

“Perhaps the most important strength of the program is the network of people with whom I’ve developed deep relationships and professional affiliations.”  

Integrative Plant Science - Public Garden Leadership

“This degree helped me to build confidence and skills and ultimately get hired in positions I desired within my field of choice.”

Animal Science

“Through the MPS degree program I was able to learn from the leaders in the industry, gain exposure to the broad spectrum of disciplines in my field of interest and see how exciting and important the world of agriculture is to feeding a hungry world.”

Integrative Plant Science – Floral & Ornamental Horticulture

“Be prepared, negotiate your terms, and be flexible. Your advisor and committee members will sometimes encourage and challenge you to grow, think, and develop strategic goals and partnerships to change your perspective.”

Natural Resources

"In my case, the MPS project resulted in the creation of the organization that now employs me so that was clearly the most helpful in terms of my career goals."