Cornell University Registrar

Program Description

This minor field offers qualified engineers and scientists an opportunity to broaden their knowledge in physical, chemical, and biological areas related to environmental-quality problems and their control. It is intended to encourage interdisciplinary study. The objective is to understand human interaction with the environment.

Students in this minor take the combination of courses, seminars, and projects considered best for them. Master's degree candidates ordinarily take a minimum of three courses; the courses must be in at least two areas outside their major field. Doctoral degree candidates ordinarily take a minimum of five courses in at least two areas outside their major field.

This is a minor field. Application for admission is made only to the major fields. After matriculation, a student may select minor subjects from the major or minor fields.

Graduate Minor Requirements

For students in graduate research degrees, earning a “minor” in a specific subject or concentration is not explicitly linked to the completion of coursework but is instead defined by the student’s special committee. Faculty serving on the student’s special committee each represent a concentration. Because many graduate faculty are active in more than one graduate field or academic discipline, students and faculty should be clear about which concentration will be represented when a committee is formed.