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Discover CALS

See how our current work and research is bringing new thinking and new solutions to some of today's biggest challenges.

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Undergraduate Admissions

Pursue knowledge while pursuing your purpose

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is a pioneer of purpose-driven science and home to one of Cornell University’s largest populations of students, faculty, and staff. We work across disciplines to tackle the challenges of our time through world-renowned research, education, and outreach.

The questions we probe and the answers we seek focus on three overlapping concerns: natural and human systems; food, energy, and environmental resources; and social, physical, and economic well-being.

Since our founding, we have evolved continuously to meet the changing needs of our world. Our top-ranked programs include over 20 majors in community and rural development, environment and natural resources, food and nutrition, communication, applied economics, agriculture, international programs, and life sciences.

Degrees & Programs

We've created several ways for you to delve into what CALS has to offer.  Not sure what major is right for you? Explore our offerings grouped by Interest.  Want to head straight to our majors?  Discover our majors grouped under Degree Programs.  Curious which majors might fit with your career aspirations?  Check out our Careers! 

Find a program
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First-Year Students

Applying to college is an important step! From admissions requirements to a list of CALS majors, you'll find it all here.  We can't wait to CUatCALS! 

Learn About Applying

Transfer Applicants

Many pathways can lead to a degree from Cornell CALS. We welcome students with diverse experiences. 

Learn About Transferring

Tuition & Aid

You’re encouraged to work closely with our Financial Aid Office.

Learn About Tuition & Aid

Let’s connect

Learn how you can spark unexpected discoveries, inspire pioneering solutions and improve lives through purpose-driven science.

Undergraduate Stories

Improving therapeutics for Type 1 diabetes

Gaby Markle ’26 was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 4 years old. Working with Cornell CALS biological and environmental engineering professor Minglin Ma, Gaby is researching potential treatments using synthetic biology.

Discover synthetic biology at CALS
Play CALS Undergraduate Research Experience: Gaby Markle ’26
Jonathan Chai in a green house with datura and squash flowers

Field Note

Jonathan Chai ’24: Exploring plants, insects and floral microclimates
Jonathan Chai ‘24 worked for two years as an undergraduate research assistant in the lab of Robert Raguso , professor of neurobiology and behavior. Raguso’s lab made the first discovery that insects are attracted to plants as much by humidity as...
  • Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station
  • School of Integrative Plant Science
  • Agriculture
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Field Note

Real-world experience is shaping me into the clinician I want to become
by Sydney Zarb ’27 As an undergraduate in Cornell Animal Science, with the goal of becoming a veterinarian, I want to more deeply understand solutions that benefit cows, the environment and the people that depend on them. I am particularly...
  • Animal Science
  • Animals
  • Bacteria
Emma Alexander standing on top of Phnom Kulen Mountain

News

Global intern explores archives, creates community

Being a Global Intern in Cambodia helped Emma Alexander explore her career interests and opened a world of possibilities in global studies.

  • Communication
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News

Students learn in global communities

International summer experiences sent groups of students abroad to pursue their personal and professional goals. At the Nov. 19 International Research Showcase, they'll share their work with the Cornell community.

  • Biological and Environmental Engineering
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News

CALS, Einhorn Center launch new E3 milestone celebrating student impact
More than 60 students from the Department of Global Development, the Lund Fellows Program for Regenerative Agriculture and the CALS Global Fellows Program presented on their engaged learning experiences at the second CALS Engaged and Experiential Learning Symposium.
  • CALS Global Fellows Program
  • Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management
  • Applied Economics

Opportunity Spotlight

Apply what you learn through real-world experiences and internships.

Faculty Spotlight

Passionate teachers, researchers & world-renowned leaders in their fields.

Research Spotlight

Join research teams taking on some of today’s most pressing issues.

Student and CALS faculty member planting in a greenhouse
three people examining plants under a plastic covering
graduate students doing research