Applied to through a college
Cornell says you apply directly to one of its colleges or schools. Cornell Admissions lists Environment & Sustainability under both Cornell CALS and the College of Arts and Sciences.
Undergraduate · Cornell CALS and A&S
Cornell Environment & Sustainability: one major, two colleges, six concentrations
Cornell asks applicants to apply directly to one of its colleges, and Environment & Sustainability is listed under both the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences. The CALS page describes a cross-college major with core courses and six concentrations that give depth from environmental science and environmental studies perspectives. The applicant's first decision is therefore which college to apply through.
Official information · read 31 October 2026, no entry-year label
What Cornell says about Cornell Environment and Sustainability
Taken from the Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Environment & Sustainability major page, Cornell Admissions' Majors, First-Year Applicants and Standardized Testing Policy pages, read on 31 October 2026. The pages carry no entry-year label, so for a 2028-entry application every statement below is evidence for the previous cycle and may change; check Cornell's pages for the 2028-entry details.
A cross-college major
It is a collaboration between CALS and the College of Arts and Sciences.
Core courses, then six concentrations
Concentrations give depth in environmental science and environmental studies perspectives.
Environmental justice in view
The page says it fosters awareness of links between environmental degradation and inequities.
The SAT or ACT is required
Cornell has reinstituted standardized testing and requires first-year applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores.
Official sources
- Cornell Admissions: First-Year Applicantsadmissions.cornell.edu
- Cornell Admissions: Majorsadmissions.cornell.edu
- Cornell CALS: Environment & Sustainability Majorcals.cornell.edu
- Cornell Admissions: Standardized Testing Policyadmissions.cornell.edu
Read on 2 November 2026 on the Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Environment & Sustainability major page, Cornell Admissions' Majors, First-Year Applicants and Standardized Testing Policy pages, which describes 2027 entry. The pages carry no entry-year label. The major's curriculum pages, course descriptions, college admission requirements, deadlines and financial aid were not read, and the pages do not mention A-levels or the IB by name and are not stated.
The major
What the CALS page says the major is
The page describes a major that spans the perspectives needed to build more sustainable environmental conditions, offered as a cross-college major in CALS and Arts and Sciences. Core courses provide fundamental understanding of environment and sustainability issues, and six concentrations provide depth. The page emphasises active, engaged and experiential learning. The pages read do not name the six concentrations or set out credit requirements, so this guide states none.
Is it the right major?
Environment & Sustainability beside Animal Science and Environmental Engineering
Cornell lists these as separate majors, and the colleges differ, so the choice starts at application. Avandy's comparison is general.
Environment & Sustainability fits if
you want environmental problems studied from science and social-science angles, with a choice of college.
Animal Science fits if
you want animal biology as the subject. Avandy's Cornell Animal Science guide covers it.
Environmental Engineering fits if
you want an engineering route. Avandy's Cornell Environmental Engineering guide covers it.
Admission and testing
A college application and the SAT or ACT
Cornell says you apply directly to one of its colleges or schools, so the college is part of the application; the pages read list Environment & Sustainability under both Cornell CALS and the College of Arts and Sciences. Cornell has reinstituted standardized testing and requires first-year applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores. The pages read do not mention A levels or the IB by name, and Cornell says all students must show a strong command of English. This guide states no score.
A decision framework
Three questions before you commit
This is Avandy's own framework, not Cornell's.
CALS or Arts and Sciences?
The majors list shows the major under both, and the college is part of the application.
Environmental science or environmental studies?
The six concentrations span both perspectives.
Can you plan the SAT or ACT alongside your A levels or IB?
Cornell requires scores from first-year applicants.
Planning for 2028 entry
Planning for 2028 entry: what carries over and what is awaiting publication
Cornell's pages carry no entry-year label, so nothing on them is confirmed for 2028 entry. Use them to understand the structure of the application, then check Cornell's own pages for the 2028-entry details.
The requirements and descriptions on the pages read on 31 October 2026, which carry no entry-year label
These are the best guide to what to prepare. Cornell has not confirmed them for 2028 entry.
Deadlines, fees, financial aid and any department prerequisites not quoted here: not stated
This guide has not read them. Check Cornell for the values that apply to your application year.
What to do now
Read the major page and plan the SAT or ACT alongside your A levels or IB.
Support
Independent support with planning your own application
Avandy provides independent academic and admissions support. It is not affiliated with Cornell University or any of its colleges or departments. Preparation sits within the Avandy Trinity Advisory Model: a Strategic Admissions Consultant, a PhD-level Academic Mentor and a Subject-specific Tutor, working to the actual requirements of each course. Support here is limited to understanding the requirements and planning the applicant's own work; Avandy does not write or edit essays, does not submit any materials and has no partnership with Cornell University. No outcome is promised.
Questions
Questions applicants ask
Which Cornell college is Environment & Sustainability in?
Cornell Admissions lists it under both Cornell CALS and the College of Arts and Sciences.
Which Cornell college offers Environment & Sustainability?
Cornell Admissions lists it under both CALS and the College of Arts and Sciences, and the CALS page calls it a cross-college major.
How many concentrations are there?
The CALS page says six concentrations provide depth, but the pages read do not name them.
Do I need the SAT or ACT?
Cornell says first-year applicants are required to submit SAT or ACT scores.
Does Cornell name A levels or the IB on these pages?
No. The pages read do not mention them by name.
Are these the rules for 2028 entry?
No. They are Cornell's wording with no entry-year label. Check Cornell's pages again when Cornell publishes its 2028-entry requirements.
Students and families
Talk to us about Cornell Environment and Sustainability
Tell us about the student's curriculum, which college they would apply through, whether they lean towards environmental science or environmental studies and their SAT or ACT plan, the universities on the list, and the intended year of entry. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to prepare.