Colleges, Schools, and Academic Areas of Interest
Choose Your Path
From Africana studies to environmental engineering, from human development to hotel administration, we offer nearly 80 majors and more than 120 minors. If your interests don't fit into a preexisting major, design an independent course of study. You can also take advantage of our pre-med, pre-vet, and pre-law advising programs.
Colleges & Schools
Explore Colleges & Schools
Understand Your Academic Options
Cornell University is both a privately endowed university and the federal land grant institution of New York State. Each individual college and school has its own faculty, academic requirements, and programs. Our eight admitting undergraduate colleges and schools offer more than 4,000 courses across 100 academic departments. Our faculty, numbering more than 2,900 worldwide, includes Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and recognized leaders in their respective fields.
The College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University is a pioneer of purpose-driven science and offers a broad and deep expertise needed to affect real change in the world. Choose from over 20 majors and 30 minors, and dive into your studies right away.
The College of Architecture, Art, and Planning
The College of Architecture, Art, and Planning teaches and practices architecture, fine arts, and city and regional planning as creative and powerful forces with the potential to improve the world.
The College of Arts & Sciences
Cornell’s College of Arts & Sciences is the university’s largest undergraduate college. Exploration and an uncommon diversity are the hallmarks of this college’s liberal arts approach. Design your education in over 40 areas of study, and with an Arts & Sciences education, be prepared to engage with the world.
The Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy
The Brooks School offers you the opportunity to be part of a small, welcoming community while enjoying access to the people and resources of a world-renowned Ivy League institution. You will graduate with the skills to shape and evaluate policy in a range of settings, in the public and private sectors. You will be part of a vibrant school intentionally created to address the problems confronting society now and those that will emerge in the years to come.
The College of Engineering
Cornell engineers are motivated, collaborative, compassionate, and intelligent. Students are emboldened to break the rules of conventional thought—to think independently and explore new ways to improve the quality of life on our planet.
The College of Human Ecology
The College of Human Ecology at Cornell University examines human life from scientific, social, and design perspectives. Organized around the themes that profoundly affect individuals, communities, and the institutions that shape our lives, Human Ecology’s academic programs are interdisciplinary and flexible.
The Cornell SC Johnson College of Business
The Cornell SC Johnson College of Business houses the Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration and the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management. Through both of these schools, students receive the hands-on experience, knowledge, and skills to be successful in impactful businesses.
The School of Industrial and Labor Relations
The ILR School at Cornell University explores the most pressing issues that affect society, organizations, the economy, and international affairs. Industrial and Labor Relations students develop a solid background in the liberal arts and social sciences with required courses in management, economics, psychology, history, law, government, and statistics.
Cornell Bowers Computing and Information Science
Cornell Bowers CIS offers courses and programs campuswide in various academic disciplines and is committed to both developing state-of-the-art computing and information technologies, and in studying and understanding the societal and human impact of these technologies.
Study what you love.
Do you love physics or American literature? What about economics or art history? Explore our academic areas of interest to find what you love, and then explore associated majors and their colleges and schools.
While each academic area of interest can be found in multiple colleges and schools at Cornell, it’s important to explore the curriculum and culture of each to find your best fit.
If you have a keen eye for design and like to express yourself through visual or sensory-thrilling mediums, you may find your fit at Cornell. Innovative and creative minds bring a unique perspective to problem-solving and tackle problems with aesthetically captivating solutions. Students interested in arts & design may choose mediums of architecture, art, fashion, fiber science, landscape architecture, and more.
Explore Arts & Design Majors
Associated Colleges & Schools
Business programs attract problem-solvers, future leaders, and change-makers. Consider business and related fields if you're interested in embarking on your own venture, better understanding market dynamics, or learning about organizational strategy and people management. At Cornell University, you’ll find a diverse curriculum and many ways to study business, to best prepare you whether you’re interested in local business or the global market. Business & Entrepreneurship Majors
Associated Colleges & Schools
Are you an analytical, forward-thinker? Do you follow trends and have a genuine interest in the rapidly evolving field of technology? You may be interested in pursuing computer and information sciences, where motivated learners can find success in fields ranging from artificial intelligence to data science or human-computer interaction to cyber security. Explore Computer & Information Sciences Majors
Associated colleges & schools at Cornell
(*not an admitting college)
If you envision yourself immersed in other languages, cultures, and history, you may find your academic niche improving the world through your understanding of cultural differences. Students seeking a degree in the humanities pursue subjects like philosophy, history, and literature to communicate ideas. Focusing on the humanities allows people to understand themselves and how they interact with the world. Explore Humanities Majors
Associated Colleges & Schools
If you’re curious about the living world around you, pursuing a degree in one of the life sciences may be a good fit for you. Understanding this broad field and the interconnectedness of ecology, biology, botany, climate, sustainability, and animal science can lead to far-reaching advancements in medicine, agriculture, biotechnology, and more.
Life Sciences Majors
Associated Colleges & Schools
Are you interested in learning more about the world around you? Studying physical & applied sciences may be a good match for you! Physical science topics involve the study of matter and energy; they include astronomy, chemistry, Earth sciences, and physics. Applied sciences utilize the scientific method to solve problems that impact organisms or the environment through areas of practice, like epidemiology, engineering, medicine, nutrition, or statistics. Explore Physical & Applied Sciences Majors
Associated Colleges & Schools
If you’re passionate about understanding the social and cultural aspects of human behavior, you’ll find a home in one of Cornell University’s social science programs.
From psychology to sociology, anthropology and public and labor policy, there are many educational pathways to understanding the individual, their culture and community, and society as a whole. Armed with this knowledge, students can learn how to affect change, through policies or otherwise, on a local and global scale. Explore Social Sciences Majors
Associated Colleges & Schools
Pre-professional Planning
For many, Cornell University is a pivotal experience before pursuing law, medical, veterinary, or other health profession programs. While there’s not one set major, path, or curriculum at Cornell for these fields, course offerings are vast and interdisciplinary, so you’ll be encouraged to delve into the areas of study that interest you most across our 80+ majors and 4,000+ courses. You will be supported through every step in the process, from career exploration to academic advising and course selection to crafting a strong application — you’ll graduate well-prepared for your next academic endeavor!
