Environment & Sustainability (BA) at Cornell University

Programme overview

The Environment & Sustainability (E&S) major is available in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences. The E&S major spans perspectives needed to build a world with more socially just and sustainable conditions for biodiversity and human prosperity. E&S provides students with a basis for understanding the structure and functioning of the earth's environment, and critically analyzing the sustainability of social-ecological systems.

Faculty: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences / College of Arts & Sciences | Duration: 120 credits minimum | Study mode: full-time | Location: Ithaca, NY, United States

What you will study

Students declaring or adding the E&S major must complete at least three Core Curriculum courses beforehand. This does not apply to first-year CALS students who are admitted directly into the E&S major.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admission is to the university through the undergraduate college that offers the major (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences / College of Arts & Sciences); no separate programme-specific admission requirement is listed in the catalogue entry. See Cornell undergraduate admissions.

USD 73,946 a year (2026-27). Endowed Ithaca undergraduate tuition (Architecture, Art and Planning; Arts and Sciences; Engineering; Hotel Administration), one rate for all students; tuition only, excludes mandatory fees, housing and meals. The programme is listed under an endowed coll Source

First-year applicants: Early Decision (binding) and Regular Decision for fall entry. Transfer applications are considered for the fall semester only.

First-year Early Decision: application and fee due November 1, other required materials November 13, decisions mid-December. Regular Decision: application and fee due January 2, other materials January 19, decisions late March. Applications are submitted through the Common Application; the application fee is $85 (fee waiver available). SAT or ACT scores are required for first-year applicants.

Transfer applicants: application and fee due March 15, other required materials April 15, decisions late April through June, for fall entry only. Applications use the Transfer Common Application; the fee is $85. SAT or ACT scores are neither required nor expected for transfer applicants.

Apply through the official page: https://admissions.cornell.edu/how-to-apply

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