Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 68.46
Liaison Lisa Kilgore
Submission Date March 20, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Cornell University
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 Lauren Chambliss
Communications Director
Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future
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Does the institution offer at least one sustainability-focused major, degree program, or the equivalent for undergraduate students?:
Yes

The name of the sustainability-focused, undergraduate degree program (1st program):
Environmental Science and Sustainability

A brief description of the undergraduate degree program (1st program):

This interdisciplinary and integrated major seeks to advance students’ critical abilities to solve real-world environmental problems, manage social-ecological systems in a sustainable manner, and affect decisions involving environmental policy, resource management, and biodiversity conservation. The curriculum comprises an intensive foundation in the biological sciences, physical-chemical sciences, social sciences, and the humanities, as well as the integration of these areas of study.

Concentrations include: (1) Environmental Biology and Applied Ecology, (2) Environmental Policy and Governance, (3) Environmental Economics, and (4) Biogeochemical Sciences.


The website URL for the undergraduate degree program (1st program):
The name of the sustainability-focused, undergraduate degree program (2nd program):
Environmental Engineering

A brief description of the undergraduate degree program (2nd program):

Environmental engineers are called upon to understand and shape biological, chemical, ecological, economic, hydrological, physical, and social processes in an effort to balance our material needs with the desire for sustainable environmental quality.

The mission of the Environmental Engineering program is to: (1) educate the next generation of environmental engineering professionals and assist in the education of other engineers and environmental scientists; (2) discover and develop new knowledge in environmental engineering; and (3) share cutting edge research and new information and ideas through the scientific media and outreach programs.


The website URL for the undergraduate degree program (2nd program):
The name of the sustainability-focused, undergraduate degree program (3rd program):
International Agriculture and Rural Development

A brief description of the undergraduate degree program (3rd program):

The International Agriculture and Rural Development (IARD) major is designed for students who are interested in tackling the unique and interdisciplinary issues associated with food systems and rural development in emerging nations. IARD majors have the opportunity to gain meaningful, in-situ experience by participating in projects and research all over the world. Students acquire valuable insight and skills while working within rural communities to: address poverty and hunger through innovations in agriculture, increase food security, advance science and policy related to sustainable development, and contribute to the economic development of emerging economies by strengthening private strategies and informing public policies.


The website URL for the undergraduate degree program (3rd program):
The name and website URLs of all other sustainability-focused, undergraduate degree program(s):

The Atkinson Center provides links to other undergraduate degree programs related to sustainability: http://www.sustainablefuture.cornell.edu/education/majors.php.


Does the institution offer one or more sustainability-focused minors, concentrations or certificates for undergraduate students?:
Yes

The name of the sustainability-focused undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (1st program):
Climate Change

A brief description of the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (1st program):

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time, and dozens of courses at Cornell explore the many facets of a warming world – from impacts on farming and food, to the causes of climate change, the potential of sustainable energy to replace fossil fuels, to the slow response of governments worldwide. The climate change minor, which launched in September of 2012, gives undergraduates the opportunity to explore climate change from varied disciplinary perspectives, while getting a firm grounding in the basic physical, ecological and social science as well as its interactions with history, philosophy and the arts. Based in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the minor is available to all Cornell undergraduates.


The website URL for the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (1st program):
The name of the sustainability-focused undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
Sustainable Energy Systems

A brief description of the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):

The minor is intended to emphasize the importance of viewing the challenge of meeting the world’s energy needs as a system of interacting themes. The requirements of the minor are designed to provide a systems framework for the energy landscape; breadth across a range of energy resource types, with consideration of conversion, transmission and storage technologies (existing and future solutions); and an appreciation for the interrelation and importance of environmental, policy, economic, business, political, ethical, risk and social consequences of pursuing potential energy options.


The website URL for the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
The name of the sustainability-focused undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
Soil Science

A brief description of the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):

A minor in Soil Science prepares students for work on agricultural and natural ecosystems by learning to identify, understand and manage soils in agriculture and forestry in an environmentally responsible way.


The website URL for the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
The name, brief description and URL of all other undergraduate-level sustainability-focused minors, concentrations and certificates:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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