Agricultural Sciences Major :: College of Agriculture&Life Sciences

MAIN MENU

Careers

Internships

Links/Resources

Program Coordinator

Krista Isaacs
605 Bradfield Hall
(607) 255-0660
agsci@cornell.edu

Program Director

Dr. Antonio (Toni) DiTommaso
903 Bradfield Hall
(607) 254-4702
ad97@cornell.edu

Curriculum and Concentrations

All students are required to take the core courses in sustainable agriculture, soil sciences, animal sciences, horticulture, 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.

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.

Concentrations

Animal Sciences (sample schedule)

The Animal Science concentration within the Agricultural Sciences major focuses on the biology, nutrition, and management of farm animals. Courses offered in this concentration are designed to complement the collective agricultural skills gained from the major core requirements. There are additional courses on dairy, swine, sheep, and poultry management where students can train in technical as well as practical areas. For students that are interested, Cornell also has an extensive dairy management program that students can get involved in with hands on educational facilities on campus and a training and research center nearby. This concentration will help prepare students in a variety of careers in animal and agricultural operations.

Crop Production & Management (sample schedule)

The Crop Production and Management concentration aims to strengthen the student’s knowledge and skills in the production and management of crop systems, including the use of both organic and conventional methods. Within the concentration, students take courses in field crops, horticulture, pest management, and soil science. Students can learn the importance of weed management, the principles of vegetable production, nutrient cycling in cropping systems, and how to calculate returns on different management systems. This concentration allows students to learn more about how to overcome environmental stresses such as drought, cold and weeds in cropping systems and to develop pest control methods that are sustainable and do not harm the ecosystem.

Sustainable Agriculture (sample schedule)

Sustainable Agriculture generally refers to land management practices designed to provide goods and services over time while maintaining natural resources for the future. Sustainable practices encompass the entire ecological system, including both social and biological conditions, in order to understand and develop holistic management plans. This concentration allows students to combine interests in environmental and social studies with current topics in agriculture: such as organic farming practices, local food initiatives, farmworker’s rights, energy sources, and farm policy. Graduates from this concentration have the skills to work in a range of agricultural related fields such as sustainable education, immigration rights, social activism, farm management, environmental studies, and agricultural policy.

Applied Economics & Management (sample schedule)

A concentration in Applied Economics and Management allows students to focus on farm level business management through the proprietorships/partnerships focus, or in farm policy and law through the Corporate Business focus. Improved farm management may range from decreasing the environmental impacts of dairy production to increasing production through better farm management practices. Students can take courses in economics to better understand economic efficiency, while gaining a solid background in a range of agricultural practices. Important current topics in agricultural economics and management include bio-fuels and new agri-product development and marketing.

Education & Communication (sample schedule)

Students concentrating in Education and Communication can choose from two focus options: Teaching or Communication/Extension. This concentration prepares students to communicate and teach effectively in the field of agriculture. Students will be exposed to a range of educational topics such as working with youth organizations, educational psychology, adult education, communication, and the art of teaching. Students interested in this concentration may go on to teach in secondary education, work in extension, farm policy, or pursue interests in social activism and issues surrounding food policy and education.

Curriculum (pdf version) (Curriculum Checklist)

The Agricultural Sciences Major - Required and Recommended Courses (48-52 credits) An equivalent course may be transferred to satisfy a requirement.

Core Courses (required)
	AG SCI 4950; Capstone (3 credits) - Designed for seniors, this course involves team identification and analysis of agricultural problems through design, evaluation, synthesis, and a written and oral report of the end product. AG SCI 4010; Agricultural Sciences Seminar: Issues in Agricultural Systems (1 credit each semester) - Students in major come together once each week to learn about current debates and hot issues in the agricultural sciences today from invited guest speakers. Includes internship and capstone seminar presentations AG SCI 4960, Internship Experience (1-6 credits) - In this experiential learning opportunity, students participate in structured, on-the-job learning under supervision of qualified professionals in a cooperating external organization. Internships and learning goals are arranged by the student in conjunction with a faculty advisor and the internship host. AN SC 1120; Sustainable Animal Husbandry (3 credits, summer) OR AN SC 1600, Animal Agriculture and Society (spring, 3 credits) CSS 1900; Sustainable Agriculture (3 credits, fall) CSS 2110; Field Crop Systems (4 credits, fall) CSS 2600; Soil Science (4 credits, fall) ENTOM/CSS 4440; Integrated Pest Management (4 credits, fall) HORT 1010; Horticultural Science and Systems (4 credits, fall) Applied Economics (select one course: AEM 2200 or AEM 3020) Education and Communication (select one course: COMM 2850, COMM 4210 or 4860 or EDUC 2400, 3310, 3350, or 4110) Food Science (select one course: FD SC 1500 or 2000) Genetics (select one course: AN SC 2210, BIOGD 2810, PL BR 2250) International Agriculture (select one course: IARD 3000, 4140, 4020, 4800, or AEM 3290 or AN SC 4000)
Concentration (a concentration is required and it must include at least 12 credits)
	Animal Science (select 6 credits from AN SC 1000, 1500, 2120, and 6 credits from 2150, 2500, 2650, 2900, 3600, 3700, 3800) Applied Economics and Management (select from Corporate Business option AEM 2210, 2400, 3200, and 4270, or Proprietorships/Partnerships option AEM 2400, 3020, 4050, and 4270) Education and Communication (select from Teaching option EDUC 3350, 4040, 4050, 4110, or Communication/Extension option COMM 4210, 4860 or EDUC 2400 or 4110) Plant Production and Management (select at least one course in each of four categories: 1. Field crops-AGSCI 3800, HORT/CSS 3170, CSS 4100, 4910, IARD/CSS 4140, PL BR 2010; 2. Horticulture-HORT 2200, 3100, 4000, 4200, 4250, 4420, 4450, 4500, 4550, 4600; 3. Pest Management- CSS 3150, ENTOM 2410, ENTOM/TOX 3700, PL PA 3010, PL PA/ENTOM 4430; 4. Soil Science-CSS 3210, 3720, CSS 4200, 4210, CSS/AN SC 4120, CSS/HORT 4660) Sustainable Agriculture- D SOC 3400, and HORT/BIOEE 4730, or HORT 2200, or HORT 4600 required. select 6 credits from AEM 4310, AGSCI 3800, BEE 4010, BIOEE 2610, CSS/HORT 4660 or 4260, CSS 4910, DSOC 3240, EDUC 6820, FD SC 4050, HORT 2200, 4450, or 4600, HORT/BIOEE 4730, IARD 4800, NS 6500)
Additonal Foundational Core Courses
Intro Biology (6 credit minimum, applies to CALS distribution requirement)
	BIOG 1010-1040 BIOG 1050-1060 (AT) BIOG 1090 -1100 (recommended) BIOG 1070-1080 (summer)
Chemistry (3 credit minimum, applies to CALS distribution requirement)
	CHEM 1560 (recommended) CHEM 1560/2070-2080-2570 (recommended for those in the life sciences)
Mathematics (3 credit minimum of introductory statistics, applies to CALS distribution requirement)
	AEM 2100 BTRY 3010/NTRES 3130 PAM 2100 ST SCI 2100

Additional CALS Distribution Requirements include 39 credits in Social Sciences and Humanities, Written and Oral Expression, and Physical and Life Sciences. (See the curriculum pdf for more details).

Top of page