Cornell University Registrar

Program Description

Public health is the prevention of illness and promotion of wellness in communities, both large and small. The Global & Public Health Sciences (GPHS) major teaches the tools of public health research, action, and their application to population health issues in the U.S. and globally. The work of public health professionals is distinct from the work of clinical professionals, who typically treat individuals after they have become sick or injured. Public health actions often involve educational and/or governmental approaches that influence many people simultaneously, for example, to address issues such as obesity and diabetes, food security, HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases, quality of food, water and air, and access to health care. Sustained improvement of the health of populations often requires a multidisciplinary approach involving the biomedical, behavioral, social, political and environmental sciences, and careful consideration of the importance of cultural and ethical contexts.

The GPHS major is intended for students who are interested in:

• Health problems of communities as small as a village and as large as a country, and the actions that will protect or improve the lives of large numbers of individuals within communities
• Advanced study leading leadership positions in governmental or non-governmental organizations that deal directly with current and emerging health concerns in the U.S. or internationally

Academic Standards

• All major requirements must be taken for a letter grade.
• A passing grade must be earned to meet major requirements within a course.
• In addition to the major requirements outlined below, all students must meet their college graduation requirements.​

Program Information

• Instruction Mode: In Person
• Location: Ithaca, NY
• Minimum Credits for Degree: 120

Program Requirements

The requirements listed below pertain to all students matriculating in August 2025 and January 2026. In addition to the major requirements indicated below, all students must meet the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) graduation requirements.

Global & Public Health Core Courses (14 Credits)

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NS 1600	Introduction to Public Health	3
NS 2060	Preparation for Engaged Learning in Global and Public Health Sciences	2
NS 2600	Introduction to Global Health	3
NS 3600	Epidemiology	3
NS 4600	Explorations in Global and Public Health	3

Supervised Experiential Learning in Global & Public Health (Variable Credit)

Approval required. May be completed anytime from spring semester sophomore year onward. Must be completed before the fall semester of senior year. 

This experience may be obtained through one of several options, including (but not limited to):

• Cornell Cooperative Extension (Tompkins County and others) (NS 4060)
• Cornell in Washington (NS 4998)
• Public Health Research and Internship (NS 4060)
• Weill Cornell Clinical & Translational Science Center (NS 4060)
• Study abroad programs with a public health focus/internship (NS 4060)

Social & Behavioral Health Selective (3-4 Credits)

Course should cover some aspect of public health (including nutrition) from a social and/or behavioral health perspective. More than half of the course content must be devoted to consideration of issues of public health from a social science perspective (e.g. sociology, anthropology, psychology, economics, communication, and other social science disciplines).

See the Requirements for GPHS majors for regular updates to course options and information; new options are available to all class years.

Choose from the following options, must take a minimum of 3 credits. Courses used to fulfill this requirement must be at the 2000-level or above.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Select one of the following options:
NS 2450	Social Science Perspectives on Food and Nutrition
NS 4480	Economics of Food and Malnutrition
NS 4510	Nutrition and Health Equity
NS 4570/ECON 3910	Health, Poverty, and Inequality: A Global Perspective
ANTHR 2468	Medicine, Culture, and Society
COMM 2850	Communication, Environment, Science, and Health
COMM 4760	Population Health Communication
HD 4600	Professional Development in Geriatric and Palliative Research
GDEV 3020	Political Ecologies of Health
PUBPOL 3180	Health Disparities
PUBPOL/GDEV 3280	Fundamentals of Population Health
PUBPOL 4280/ECON 3710	The Economics of Risky Health Behaviors
SOC 4120	Health and Social Context

Biological Aspects of Public Health Selective (3-4 Credits)

Courses should cover some aspect of public health (including nutrition) from a biological perspective. More than half of the course content must be devoted to consideration of issues of public health from a biological perspective (e.g. biochemistry, molecular biology, physiology, neuroscience, and other biological sciences disciplines). Courses used to fulfill this requirement must be at the 2000-level or above. 

See the Requirements for GPHS majors for regular updates to course options and information; new options are available to all class years. 

Choose from the following options, must take a minimum of 3 credits. Courses used to fulfill this requirement must be at the 2000-level or above.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Select one of the following options:
NS 3060	Nutrition and Global Health
NS 3150	Obesity and the Regulation of Body Weight
NS 4140	Maternal and Child Nutrition and Health
NS 4200	Diet and the Microbiome
NS 4210	Precision Nutrition and Health
NS 4300	Proteins, Transcripts, and Metabolism: Big Data in Molecular Nutrition
NS 4410	Nutrition and Disease
NS 5510	Nutrition Assessment
BIOMG 4390	Molecular Basis of Disease
BIOMG 4870	Human Genomics
BIOMI 2600	Microbiology of Human Contagious Diseases
BIOMI 2950	Biology of Infectious Disease: From Molecules to Ecosystems
BIOMI 3210	The Gut Microbiome
BIOMI 4040	Pathogenic Bacteriology
BIONB 3920	Drugs and the Brain
ENTOM 4000	Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases
PLSCI 2100	Medical Ethnobotany

Environmental Health Selective (3-4 Credits)

Courses should cover some aspect of public health (including nutrition) from an environmental perspective. More than half of the course content must be devoted to consideration of issues of public health from an environmental perspective (e.g. entomology, design and environmental analysis, microbiology, and other related disciplines). Courses used to fulfill this requirement must be at the 2000-level or above.

See the Requirements for GPHS majors for regular updates to course options and information; new options are available to all class years. 

Choose from the following options, must take a minimum of 3 credits. Courses used to fulfill this requirement must be at the 2000-level or above.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Select one of the following options:
DEA 2700	Healthy Places: Design, Planning and Public Health
GDEV 3020	Political Ecologies of Health
GDEV 3400	Agriculture, Food, Sustainability and Social Justice
BIOMI 2500	Public Health Microbiology
BIOMI 2950	Biology of Infectious Disease: From Molecules to Ecosystems
BIOMI/BIOMS 4310	Medical Parasitology
COMM 2850/STS 2851	Communication, Environment, Science, and Health
ENTOM 2100/BSOC 2101	Plagues and People
ENTOM 4520	Biology of Disease Vectors
FDSC 3960	Food Safety Assurance
PLSCI 2100	Medical Ethnobotany
PLSCI 2400	Green World, Blue Planet
PLSCI 4140	Global Cropping Systems and Sustainable Development
PLSCI 4450	Urban Plants and Public Health

Health Policy & Practice Selective (3-4 Credits)

Courses should cover some aspect of public health (including nutrition) from a health policy and/or practice perspective. More than half of the course content must be devoted to consideration of issues of public health from a health policy and/or practice perspective (e.g. policy analysis and management, developmental sociology, economics, government, nutritional sciences, and other public policy and practice disciplines). Courses used to fulfill this requirement must be at the 2000-level or above. 

See the Requirements for GPHS majors for regular updates to course options and information; new options are available to all class years. 

Choose from the following options, must take a minimum of 3 credits. Courses used to fulfill this requirement must be at the 2000-level or above.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Select one of the following:		3
NS 4450	Toward a Sustainable Global Food System: Food Policy for Developing Countries
NS 4500	Public Health Nutrition
NS 4510	Nutrition and Health Equity
NS 4570/ECON 3910	Health, Poverty, and Inequality: A Global Perspective
AMST/GOVT 2225/ILROB 2220/PUBPOL/SOC 2220/PHIL 1950	Controversies About Inequality
ANTHR/EDUC/FGSS 4458	Girls, Women, and Education in Global Perspective: Feminist Ethnography and Praxis
CRP 3430	Affordable Housing Policy and Programs
GDEV 3020	Political Ecologies of Health
PUBPOL/SOC 2208	Social Inequality
GDEV 3700/SOC 3710	Comparative Social Inequalities
GOVT 3032	Politics of Public Policy in the U.S.
HD 4600	Professional Development in Geriatric and Palliative Research
PUBPOL 2030	Population and Public Policy
PUBPOL 2350	The U.S. Health Care System
PUBPOL 3110	Pharmaceutical Management and Policy
PUBPOL 3230	Public Policy for an Aging Society
PUBPOL 3650	Social Care Navigation to Advance Health Equity
PUBPOL 3780	Sick Around the World? Comparing Health Care Systems Around the World
PUBPOL 3870/5870	Economic Evaluations in Health Care

Introductory Chemistry (4-8 Credits)

This fulfills the college distribution natural sciences requirement.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Select one of the following options:
Option A: (two-semester sequence required for pre-health)
CHEM 2070 & CHEM 2071 & CHEM 2080 & CHEM 2081	General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory and General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Laboratory
Option B: (single semester not adequate for pre-health)
CHEM 2070 & CHEM 2071	General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory 1, 2
Option C: (not for pre-health)
CHEM 1560 & CHEM 1561	Introduction to General Chemistry and Introduction to General Chemistry Laboratory 1
Option D: (not for pre-health)
CHEM 2150	Honors General and Inorganic Chemistry 2, 3

¹

Students may use an AP Chemistry score of 5 to place out of CHEM 2070 + CHEM 2071. However, GPHS students must take at least one semester of general chemistry at Cornell—i.e., students who use AP credit toward their general chemistry requirement must take an additional general chemistry course (i.e., CHEM 2080 + CHEM 2081, CHEM 2150, or other, but not CHEM 1560 + CHEM 1561). Students interested in the pre-health track should take two semesters of chemistry at Cornell.

²

Students who take CHEM 2070 + CHEM 2071 forfeit AP credit. Students who take CHEM 2150 may keep AP credit.

³

Students should only select option (d) if they are very strong in chemistry and are not considering a pre-health (e.g. pre-med) track.

Introductory Biology (8 Credits)

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Select one of the following labs:		2-3
BIOG 1500	Investigative Biology Laboratory
BIOSM 1500	Investigative Marine Biology Laboratory
Select two out of the three lecture options: 1		6-7
BIOMG 1350	Introductory Biology: Cell and Developmental Biology
BIOG 1440	Introductory Biology: Comparative Physiology 2
or BIOG 1445	Introduction to Comparative Anatomy and Physiology, Individualized Instruction
BIOEE 1610	Introductory Biology: Ecology and the Environment 2
or BIOEE 1780	An Introduction to Evolutionary Biology and Diversity

¹

Students may use an AP Biology score of 5 to place out of one introductory biology lecture. Pre-health (e.g. pre-med) students should not use AP scores to fulfill biology requirements.

²

Cannot take both courses within one category to fulfill this requirement.

Organic Chemistry Lecture (3+ Credits)

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Select one of the following options:		3-8
Option A:
CHEM 1570	Introduction to Organic and Biological Chemistry (not for pre-health)
Option B:
CHEM 3530	Principles of Organic Chemistry
Option C:
CHEM 3570 & CHEM 3580	Organic Chemistry for the Life Sciences and Organic Chemistry for the Life Sciences
Option D:
CHEM 3570	Organic Chemistry for the Life Sciences (single course not adequate for pre-health) 1
Option E:
CHEM 3590 & CHEM 3600	Honors Organic Chemistry I and Honors Organic Chemistry II 2

¹

Students interested in pre-health tracks should take a two-course sequence of organic chemistry lectures (option C or E above).

²

Students who select option e above must take both courses in sequence; one course alone will not fulfill the requirement.

Physiology (3-4 Credits)

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Select one of the following:		3-4
NS 3410	Human Anatomy and Physiology 1
BIOG 1440	Introductory Biology: Comparative Physiology 2
or BIOG 1445	Introduction to Comparative Anatomy and Physiology, Individualized Instruction
NS 1150	Nutrition, Health, and Society
NS 1220	Nutrition and the Life Cycle

¹

Pre-health students might also consider taking NS 3420 Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory (2 cr).

²

Cannot take both to fulfill this requirement. Can only be used to fulfill the physiology requirement if not used to fulfill the introductory biology requirement.

Biochemistry (4-6 Credits)

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Select one of the following: 1		4-6
NS 3200	Introduction to Human Biochemistry (F)
BIOMG 3300	Principles of Biochemistry, Individualized Instruction (F/S)
BIOMG 3310 & BIOMG 3320	Principles of Biochemistry: Proteins and Metabolism and Principles of Biochemistry: Molecular Biology 2
BIOMG 3310 & BIOMI 2900	Principles of Biochemistry: Proteins and Metabolism and General Microbiology Lectures 3
BIOMG 3350	Principles of Biochemistry: Proteins, Metabolism, and Molecular Biology (S)

¹

Students who take only one semester of introductory chemistry should talk with their advisors and biochemistry instructors as early as possible to determine which biochemistry course is best for them and how they may access resources for the best chance of success.

Social Sciences

Students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS): 

Students in CALS fulfill this requirement with Human Diversity (D-AG) and CALS Cultural, Social & Historical Understanding. Students must take one (1) course with attribute Human Diversity (D-AG) and must complete two (2) courses of the below distributions, with a maximum of one (1) course in each category. Cultural Analysis (CA-AG), Foreign Language (FL-AG), Historical Analysis (HA-AG), Literature and the Arts (LA-AG), and Social and Behavioral Analysis (SBA-AG).  See the CALS Graduation Requirements for more information.

Students in Cornell Human Ecology (CHE):

Students in CHE fulfill this requirement with the CHE Social Sciences Distribution Requirement by completing one course in any two of the following four areas:

Statistics (4 Credits)

This fulfills the college distribution quantitative and analytical courses requirement. Must be taken at Cornell; AP Statistics is not accepted.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Select one of the following:
STSCI 2150	Introductory Statistics for Biology	4
or BTRY 3010	Statistics I

Global and Public Health Sciences majors must take two first year writing seminar courses during their first two semesters at Cornell. ¹

¹

Also fulfills the Human Ecology First Year Writing Seminar Requirement. For CALS students, these courses may count towards the CALS Oral and Written Expression distribution requirement.

University Graduation Requirements

Requirements for All Students

In order to receive a Cornell degree, a student must satisfy academic and non-academic requirements.

Academic Requirements

A student’s college determines degree requirements such as residency, number of credits, distribution of credits, and grade averages. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the specific major, degree, distribution, college, and graduation requirements for completing their chosen program of study. See the individual requirements listed by each college or school or contact the college registrar’s office for more information.

Non-academic Requirements

Conduct Matters. Students must satisfy any outstanding sanctions, penalties or remedies imposed or agreed to under the Student Code of Conduct (Code) or Policy 6.4. Where a formal complaint under the Code or Policy 6.4 is pending, the University will withhold awarding a degree otherwise earned until the adjudication process set forth in those procedures is complete, including the satisfaction of any sanctions, penalties or remedies imposed.

Financial Obligations. Outstanding financial obligations will not impact the awarding of a degree otherwise earned or a student’s ability to access their official transcript. However, the University may withhold issuing a diploma until any outstanding financial obligations owing to the University are satisfied.

Additional Requirements for Undergraduate Students

The University has two requirements for graduation that must be fulfilled by all undergraduate students: the swim requirement, and completion of two physical education courses. For additional information about fulfilling University Graduation Requirements, see the Physical Education website.

Physical Education

All incoming undergraduate students are required to take two credits (two courses) of Physical Education prior to graduation. It is recommended they complete the two courses during their first year at Cornell. Credit in Physical Education may be earned by participating in courses offered by the Department of Athletics and Physical Education and Cornell Outdoor Education, by being a registered participant on a varsity athletic team, or performing in the marching band.

Students with medical concerns should contact the Office of Student Disability Services. 

CALS Graduation Requirements for the Bachelor of Science

Students are responsible for understanding and fulfilling all the requirements necessary for graduation. Additionally, students must promptly notify the college of any discrepancies or issues with their academic records.

CALS undergraduate students follow college distribution requirements corresponding to their matriculation/entry term and class standing. Students matriculating/entering before Fall 2025 will complete the existing CALS distribution requirements. First-year students matriculating/entering Fall 2025 or later will be subject to the new CALS 2025+ distribution requirements. However, sophomore and junior transfer students matriculating/entering in Fall 2025 will follow the existing CALS distribution requirement to align with students in their corresponding cohort year. All students must adhere to the requirements designated for their matriculation/entry term and class standing. There are no exceptions to this policy. 

Although specific requirements vary between the curriculums, all students must complete the following Graduation Requirements to earn the Bachelor of Science degree:

1. University Graduation Requirements
2. Credit Requirements
3. Distribution Requirements
4. Residency Requirement
5. GPA Requirement
6. Major Requirements
7. Application to Graduate

Credit Requirement Policies 

1. Minimum total credits: 120 academic credits are required for graduation. 
   • Important Exceptions:
     • Repeated Cornell courses that do not allow repeat for credit  will not count towards the number of credits required for graduation. These credits do count toward the minimum twelve (12) credits required for full-time status and good academic standing.
     • Forbidden Overlaps will not count towards credits required for graduation. These credits do count toward the minimum twelve (12) credits required for full-time status and good academic standing. More information can be found under the Course Enrollment and Credits page.
     • Review or supplemental courses (e.g., 1000- to 1099-level) do not count towards the number of credits required for graduation. These credits do not count toward the minimum twelve (12) credits required for full-time status or good academic standing.
     • Physical Education courses do not count toward the required 120 credits for graduation. They also do not count toward the minimum twelve (12) credits required for full-time status or good academic standing.
2. Minimum Credits at Cornell: Sixty (60) academic credits must be completed at Cornell (includes Cornell in Rome, Capital Semester, and Brooks School Cornell in Washington DC Connect Program, and Shoals Marine Laboratory).
3. Maximum Non-Cornell Credits: Sixty (60) non-Cornell credits (AP, CASE, IB, GCE, French Baccalauréat, Cambridge Pre-University, and external transfer coursework) can be applied toward degree requirements. A student can transfer in a maximum of fifteen (15) academic credits earned before matriculation as a first-year student at any accredited college/university (AP, CASE, IB, GCE, French Baccalauréat, and external transfer credits). Refer to Non-Cornell (Transfer) Credit under Policies and Procedures for additional information. 
4. All CALS students are required to fulfill a minimum number of CALS Credits, structured credits, and letter-graded credits. Specific policies are in the curriculum sections below.

Residency Requirements

• Eight (8) semesters of full-time study are expected. External transfer students are credited with one (1) semester in residence for each full-time semester (or equivalent) completed at another accredited institution prior to matriculation at Cornell.
• Internal transfer students must complete two (2) semesters in residence in CALS.
• The final semester before graduation must be completed in a Cornell program as a full-time student. Summer or winter semesters cannot be counted as a final semester. (The School of Continuing Education does not count towards a final semester in residency.)
• Students in the ninth (9^th) (or equivalent) and final semester may be eligible to apply for prorated tuition. The eligibility criteria are listed online.
• The following programs are in residency: Cornell in Washington DC Connect Program (Fall or Spring only), Capital Semester, Shoals Summer Semester.

Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirements

Minimum cumulative GPA: 2.00 or above must be maintained. Students must earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 or better to graduate. The cumulative GPA includes all letter grades earned at Cornell.

CALS Degree Requirements Prior to 2025 (applies to Transfers entering Fall 2025)

These requirements apply to: First-year students who matriculated before Fall 2025, sophomore transfers who matriculate prior to Fall 2026, and junior transfers who matriculate before Fall 2027. All students must follow the requirements based on their matriculation and expected graduation dates. There are no exceptions to this policy.

Students are required to fulfill:

1. University Graduation Requirements:
   1. Physical Education.
   2. Swim Requirement. 
2. Credit Requirements: 120 academic credits, of which a minimum of fifty-five (55) must be taken from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell. A minimum of one hundred (100) credits must be in courses for which a letter grade was received. PE and supplemental courses do not count as academic credit.
   1. Fifty-five (55) CALS Credits are required for graduation. CALS Credits consist of courses offered within CALS and in Applied Economics and Management, Biological Sciences, Biology & Society, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Environment and Sustainability, Information Science, Nutritional Science, and the Department of Statistics and Data Science. CALS Credits include all courses with the following subjects: AGSCI, AIISP, ALS, AEM, ANSC, BEE, BIOG, BIOAP, BIOCB, BIOEE, BIOMG, BIOMI, BIOMS, BIONB, BIOSM, BSOC, BTRY, COMM, DSOC, EAS, EDUC, ENTOM, ENVS, FDSC, GDEV, IARD, INFO, LA, LEAD, NS, NTRES, PLBIO, PLBRG, PLHRT, PLPPM, PLSCI, PLSCS , STSCI, VIEN.
   2. Minimum Letter-Graded Credits: One hundred (100) credits. Proration of letter-graded credits may be applicable to students that transfer non-Cornell credits (see Proration Chart for non-Cornell credit).
   3. Maximum Credits earned through Special Studies (Independent Study, Research, Teaching Assistantships, and/or Internships): Fifteen (15) credits of “unstructured” coursework can be applied towards graduation requirements. Proration of structured credits may be applicable to students that transfer non-Cornell credits (see Proration Chart for non-Cornell credit). 
3. Residency: Eight (8) semesters of full-time study are expected. External transfer students are credited with one (1) semester of residence for each full-time semester (or equivalent) completed at another accredited institution prior to matriculating at Cornell.
4. GPA: Students must earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 or better to graduate. The cumulative GPA includes all letter grades earned at Cornell.
5. Physical and Life Sciences: Eighteen (18) credits, of which six (6) credits must be Introductory Life Sciences/Biology and three (3) credits must be Chemistry or Physics.
6. Quantitative Literacy: Faculty legislation requires minimum competency in quantitative literacy. This requirement can be satisfied by taking an approved calculus or statistics class.
7. Social Science and Humanities: Students must complete four (4) courses within the seven (7) categories of Humanities and Social Sciences. The courses MUST span at least three (3) different categories. Human Diversity (D) is a required category. Humanities courses must be a minimum of three (3) credits.
8. Written and Oral Expression: Nine (9) credits total, of which at least six (6) must be in Written Expression. Oral Expression is not required by the college but may be required for some majors.  If Oral Expression is not required by the major, all nine credits may be in Written Expression.
9. Major: See individual department listings for major requirements.
10. Application to Graduate: See Graduation Resources.

Distribution Requirements

The purpose of the distribution requirement is to have all students achieve common learning outcomes. It is expected that through college and major course requirements graduates will be able to:

• Explain, evaluate, and effectively interpret factual claims, theories, and assumptions in the student’s discipline(s) (especially in one or more of the college’s priority areas of Food & Energy Systems, Social Sciences, Life Sciences, and Environmental Sciences) and more broadly in the sciences and humanities.
• Find, access, critically evaluate, and ethically use information.
• Integrate quantitative and qualitative information to reach defensible and creative conclusions.
• Communicate effectively through writing, speech, and visual information.
• Articulate the views of people with diverse perspectives.
• Demonstrate the capability to work both independently and in cooperation with others.

Through the study of Physical and Life Sciences, students develop their understanding and appreciation of the physical sciences, enhance their quantitative reasoning skills, and gain an appreciation of the variability of living organisms. Social Sciences and Humanities gives students perspective on the structure and values of the society in which we live and prepares them to make decisions on ethical issues that will affect their work and role in society. Written and Oral Expression is designed to help students become competent and confident in the use of oral and written communication to express themselves and their ideas.

Important Notes:

• Credits received for independent study, fieldwork, teaching, research, work experience, and internships cannot be used to fulfill the distribution requirements
• Review or supplemental courses, such as 1000- to 1099-level courses, will not be counted in the distribution areas.
• First-Year Writing Seminars (FWS) cannot be used to satisfy the Physical and Life Sciences distribution area.
• Courses that fulfill distributions are approved by the CALS Curriculum Committee. Distributions cannot be applied to a course retroactively, and individual student petitions for Cornell courses to fulfill distributions will not be accepted. Students may request a review of external transfer courses for fulfilling distribution requirements. 

Physical and Life Sciences:

Eighteen (18) credits, of which six (6) credits must be Introductory Life Sciences/Biology and three (3) credits in Chemistry or Physics. Courses that count for Introductory Life Sciences/ Biology, Chemistry/Physics, Quantitative Literacy, and Other Physical and Life Sciences count towards the eighteen (18) credits for this requirement

Introductory Life Sciences/Biology Requirement (BIO-AG):

Students must complete at least six (6) academic credits of Introductory Life Sciences/Biology. Courses that count towards this requirement have the BIO-AG distribution attribute. Note: CALS does NOT accept BIO-AS for BIO-AG.

Offerings in the area provide a foundation in the field of biology. Courses must include: an evolutionary component, instruction on applying the process of science and a significant student-centered teaching component.

Chemistry/Physics (CHPH-AG):

Students must complete a minimum of three (3) credits of Chemistry or Physics. Includes all Cornell courses with the CHEM or PHYS prefix (excluding courses that are supplemental, independent study, research, TA, internship, and First-Year Writing Seminar). Courses that count towards this requirement have a CHPH-AG distribution attribute. Additionally, courses with the prefix CHEM or PHYS of at least 11xx numbering and a minimum of three (3) credits are accepted as fulfilling CHPH-AG.

Courses that meet the CALS Chemistry or Physics (CHPH) requirement provide students with a foundational understanding of key scientific principles. These courses delve into the study of chemistry (focusing on the composition, properties, and transformations of substances) or physics (exploring the principles of matter, energy, and their interactions). Fulfilling this requirement equips students with essential scientific knowledge that supports practical and innovative applications in fields like agriculture, environmental science, and food science, thereby fostering their ability to address and solve critical challenges within these domains.

Quantitative Literacy (MQL-AG):

Students must complete one (1) Quantitative Literacy course. Courses that count towards these requirements have an MQL-AG distribution attribute. Additionally, courses of at least 11xx numbering with the MATH prefix may fulfill this category. Calculus courses and Introductory Statistics courses may also fulfill MQL-AG.

Faculty legislation requires minimum competency in quantitative literacy. Courses that fulfill the Mathematics and Quantitative Literacy distribution in CALS enhance students’ problem-solving skills by teaching them to understand abstract, logical relationships. These classes focus on the mathematical analysis of data, modeling natural and man-made systems, and developing algorithms critical for computation. Students will learn various quantitative methods and how to apply quantitative reasoning across different fields.

This requirement can also be satisfied by earning a score of four (4) or five (5) on the AP Calculus exam or a score of five (5) on the AP Statistics exam, or transfer of an approved calculus or statistics course with a minimum letter grade of “C” or better.

Other Physical Life Sciences (OPHLS-AG):

Other Physical Life Sciences courses count towards the eighteen (18) credit total for the Physical and Life Sciences requirement.  Courses that count towards this requirement have the OPHLS-AG distribution attribute. The number of OPHLS-AG courses taken will vary by student.  Courses with the following distributions are also accepted for the CALS OPHLS-AG distribution: PBS-HE, BIO-AS, PHS,AS, SDS-AS.  Additionally, any course with BIO-AG, CHPH-AG or MQL-AG may alternatively fulfill OPHLS-AG.

Offerings in this area explore additional physical and life science subjects as well as quantitative literacy (math) courses. Courses satisfying this requirement help students understand and appreciate the physical sciences, enhance quantitative reasoning skills, or explore the variability of living organisms.

Social Sciences and Humanities:

Students must complete four (4) courses within the seven (7) categories of Humanities and Social Sciences. The courses MUST span at least three (3) different categories. Human Diversity (D) is a required category. Humanities courses must be a minimum of three (3) credits.

No more than two (2) courses in the same department will be counted toward the distribution requirement. Social Sciences & Humanities Categories:

(Also refer to Distribution Requirement Codes)

Cultural Analysis (CA-AG)

These courses study human life in particular cultural contexts through interpretive analysis of individual behavior, discourse, and social practice. Topics include belief systems (science, medicine, religion), expressive arts and symbolic behavior (visual arts, performance, poetry, myth, narrative, ritual), identity (nationality, race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality), social groups and institutions (family, market, community), and power and politics (states, colonialism, inequality).

CALS also accepts courses of at least three (3) credits with the following distributions as fulfilling CA-AG: ALC-AS, ALC-HA, ALC-AAP, CA-HE, CA-AAP, GLC-AS

Foreign Language (FL-AG)

Foreign Language courses available for CALS students at Cornell are offered by several departments, including Africana Studies and Research Center (AS&RC – language courses only), Asian Studies with languages such as Bangla-Bengali, Burmese, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Sanskrit, Tagalog, Thai, and Vietnamese, and Classics (CLASS – language courses only). Additional offerings are provided by German Studies, which includes German, Dutch, and Swedish (language courses only), Linguistics (LING – language courses only), Near Eastern Studies (NES - language courses only), Romance Studies with languages like Catalan, French, Italian, Portuguese, Quechua, and Spanish, and Russian Studies, covering Russian, Hungarian, Polish, Serbian/Croatian, and Ukrainian. CALS will recognize these Foreign Language (FL) classifications by any college at Cornell, provided the class is taken for three (3) or more credits. Transfer students may have non-Cornell courses that meet SUNY World Languages requirements and are a minimum of three (3) credits reviewed as fulfilling FL-AG.

Human Diversity (D-AG)

These courses analyze historical or contemporary marginalized communities and the culturally specific contexts that produce unequal power relations in terms of race, nationality, ethnicity, indigeneity, sexuality, disability, religion, gender, or economic status.

Definition of “marginalize”: Any groups with reduced access to social status, political influence, economic advancement, educational advancement, healthcare, information, or any of the goods, services, and powers of a society can be considered “marginalized.” Causes of marginalization may be related to ethnic status, religion, country of origin, sexual orientation, geography, economics, and government policies. Those who exist on the furthest margins of a society are frequently subject to several of these forces.

CALS also accepts courses of at least three (3) credits with the following distributions as fulfilling D-AG: SCD-AS, SCD-HA, D-HE.

Non-equated external transfer courses will only be considered for junior transfer students who have taken an appropriate course at their prior institution and whose schedule does not allow space to take a Human Diversity (D-AG) course at Cornell. These situations will be reviewed individually after a required appointment with CALS Student Services.

Historical Analysis (HA-AG)

These courses interpret continuities and changes—political, social, economic, diplomatic, religious, intellectual, artistic, scientific—through time. The focus may be on groups of people, dominant or subordinate, a specific country or region, an event, a process, or a time period.

CALS also accepts courses of at least three (3) credits with the following distributions as fulfilling HA-AG: HA-AAP, HST-AAP, HST-AS, HST-HA, HA-HE

Knowledge, Cognition, and Moral Reasoning (KCM-AG)

These courses investigate the bases of human knowledge in its broadest sense, ranging from cognitive faculties shared by humans and animals such as perception, to abstract reasoning, to the ability to form and justify moral judgments. Courses investigating the sources, structure, and limits of cognition may use the methodologies of science, cognitive psychology, linguistics, or philosophy. Courses focusing on moral reasoning explore ways of reflecting on ethical questions that concern the nature of justice, the good life, or human values in general.

CALS also accepts courses of at least three (3) credits with the following distributions as fulfilling KCM-AG: ETM-AAP, ETM-AS, ETM-HA, KCM-AAP, KCM-HE

Literature and the Arts (LA-AG)

These courses explore literature and the arts in two different but related ways. Some courses focus on the critical study of artworks and on their history, aesthetics, and theory. These courses develop skills of reading, observing, and hearing and encourage reflection on such experiences; many investigate the interplay among individual achievement, artistic tradition, and historical context. Other courses are devoted to the production and performance of artworks (in creative writing, performing arts, and media such as film and video). These courses emphasize the interaction among technical mastery, cognitive knowledge, and creative imagination.

CALS also accepts courses of at least three (3) credits with the following distributions as fulfilling LA-AG, ALC-AS, ALC-HA, ALC-AAP, LA-AAP

Social and Behavioral Analysis (SBA-AG)

These courses examine human life in its social context through the use of social scientific methods, often including hypothesis testing, scientific sampling techniques, and statistical analysis. Topics studied range from the thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and attitudes of individuals to interpersonal relations between individuals (e.g., in friendship, love, conflict) to larger social organizations (e.g., the family, society, religious or educational or civic institutions, the economy, government) to the relationships and conflicts among groups or individuals (e.g., discrimination, inequality, prejudice, stigmas, conflict resolution).

CALS also accepts courses of at least three (3) credits with the following distributions as fulfilling SBA-AG: SSC-AS, SBA-HE, SBA-AAP, SSC-AAP

Written and Oral Expression:

Nine (9) credits total, of which at least six (6) must be in Written Expression. Oral Expression is not required by the college but may be required for some majors.  If Oral Expression is not required by the major, all nine (9) credits may be in Written Expression. Writing in the Majors (WIM) courses do not count towards Written Expression.

Written Expression (WRT-AG)

All students are required to take at least six (6) credits of Written Expression and may take nine (9) credits to fulfill the Written and Oral Expression requirement. Courses that fulfill the Written Expression requirement in CALS focus on enhancing students’ writing skills. Courses meeting this requirement devote at least 50% of class time to writing proficiency, involve at least five (5) writing assignments with detailed feedback, and emphasize revision and development. These courses ensure personalized attention and help students articulate ideas clearly, argue effectively, and engage with evidence critically. This structure supports students in improving both their writing mechanics and their ability to communicate persuasively across contexts.

CALS also accepts FWS courses as fulfilling WRT-AG. Transfer students may have courses that meet the SUNY Writing Requirement considered to fulfill this requirement.

Oral Expression (ORL-AG)

Students may take one (1) Oral Expression course towards the nine (9) required credits for Written and Oral Expression. Courses that fulfill the CALS Oral Expression requirement enhance students’ public speaking and communication skills. Courses meeting this requirement center on improving oral proficiency, dedicating over 50% of class time to the principles of effective communication. Each course involves at least five (5) formal oral presentations, with four (4) undergoing detailed revisions based on structured feedback that focuses on speech organization, clarity, evidence use, and delivery. These courses offer personalized guidance and encourage students to apply feedback to subsequent presentations. The aim is to refine students’ abilities to articulate ideas persuasively and adapt messages for different contexts, ensuring they can communicate effectively on any topic.

CALS 2025+ Degree Requirements (applies to first-year students who start Fall 2025 or after)

The 2025+ CALS Curriculum applies to first-year students who enter CALS starting Fall 2025 and all semesters after. Transfer students entering Fall 2025 and all continuing students will follow the Prior to Fall 2025 Requirements. There are no exceptions to this policy.

All students are required to complete:

1. University Graduation Requirements
2. Credit Requirements
3. 120 Credits are required to graduate, of the 120:
   • A minimum seventy-five (75) must be CALS Credits (fifty-five (55) for transfer students).
   • A minimum of 105 must be structured academic credits (transfer courses can count towards this requirement).
   • A minimum of one hundred (100) letter-graded academic credits (transfer courses can count towards this requirement).
   • The following courses do not count towards the 120: PE course, courses numbered 1000-1099, forbidden overlap courses, and repeated courses (that do not allow repeats).
4. Residency Requirement
5. GPA Requirement
6. Distribution Requirements
7. E3 Learning Milestone
8. Major Requirements: See individual department listings for major requirements.
9. Application to Graduate: Information can be found on graduation webpage.

75 CALS Credits

Students are required to take seventy-five (75) CALS Credits. The following counts as CALS Credit:

• Any course with the following prefixes: AGSCI, AIIS, ALS, ANSC, BEE, BIOG, BIOAP, BIOCB, BIOEE, BIOMG, BIOMI, BIOMS, BIONB, BIOSM, BSOC, BTRY, COMM, EAS, EDUC, ENTOM, ENVS, FDSC, GDEV, INFO, LA, LEAD, NS, NTRES, PLSCI, STSCI, VIEN
• Courses with the FWS attribute (two (2) courses maximum)
• For BSBU students only: prefix AEM
  • AEM courses will not count towards the required seventy-five (75) CALS Credits, except for students who have officially been accepted to the AEM major. CALS students who choose to complete an AEM minor cannot count AEM courses towards their seventy-five (75) required CALS courses. 

Students with matriculation status of Transfer will have a requirement of fifty-five (55) CALS Credits.

Distribution Requirements 

Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation with the GPHS major, students should be able to:

• Integrate knowledge from the biological and social sciences and experiential learning to address public health problems facing populations.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the complex and evolving nature of scientific knowledge in the promotion of health and the etiology and prevention of disease.
• Demonstrate the ability to use epidemiological principles to evaluate critically scientific information from the primary research literature investigating influences on human health and disease.
• Develop positions on public health issues. Communicate positions on public health issues to colleagues and lay/target audiences.
• Demonstrate knowledge of ethical principles, considerations and dilemmas relevant to the research and practice of public health.