Undergraduate Admissions Office
Admissions Bulletin
Preparing for the Business World
Getting Down to Business at Cornell
aybe you’ve always been interested in business and management, but
M you’re not sure where to take that general interest. Maybe you want to
run a company someday, or perhaps you’ve always been drawn to the intri-
cacies of the manufacturing end of things—but you’re just not sure which
things. Or are you called to the adventurous life of the entrepreneur? Maybe
all you know at this very moment is that the world of business attracts you.
Fair enough. Whatever your particular area of interest in business, chances
are Cornell offers a surprising variety of ways to develop it. The general
business degree program is Applied Economics and Management, offered
in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Programs in other colleges
give you a chance to explore areas such as business law, human resources,
manufacturing, international business, regulation and ethics, public policy,
management, and real estate.
In fact, you can prepare for a business career in six of Cornell’s seven
undergraduate colleges (listed here alphabetically):
Agriculture and Life Sciences, Charles H. Dyson School of Applied
Economics and Management:
Applied economics and management
(Cornell’s undergraduate general business degree program)
Arts and Sciences:
Economics, math, sociology, etc.
Engineering:
Operations research and engineering
Hotel Administration:
Hospitality management, entrepreneurship, finance, real estate
Human Ecology:
Apparel and textile management
Facility planning and management
Policy analysis and management
Industrial and Labor Relations:
Human resource management and labor relations
Each program offers a different slant on preparing for a business career as
you’ll see in the descriptions that follow. Whichever field you choose, you’ll
leave Cornell more certain of where it is you want to go and very well-
prepared to get there!
Applied Economics and Management Cornell’s general busi-
ness degree at the undergraduate level is offered by the Charles H. Dyson
School of Applied Economics and Management (formerly the Department of
Applied Economics and Management). The Dyson School offers the small-
est, most selective four-year program in the U.S. and one of only two in the
Ivy League to be accredited by AACSB International.
The Dyson School’s core curriculum reflects its 100-year legacy of apply-
ing practical economics and management tools on every continent to solve
the world’s most significant business and social issues. Business students
build on this core by specializing in one or more of ten in-demand business
and applied economics areas: finance, marketing, strategy, accounting,
entrepreneurship, agribusiness, food industry management, international
Cornell University Undergraduate Admissions Office
trade and development, environmental and resource economics, and applied
economics.
The Dyson School’s flexible degree requirements also give students ample
opportunities to explore areas beyond their business and applied economics
classes. Because of its unique location in one of the world’s leading land-
grant colleges, students can easily combine business with a focus or double
major in the life sciences, environmental sciences, agricultural sciences, or
applied social sciences. It’s not unusual, for example, for a Dyson School
student to double major or minor in biological sciences, communication,
natural resources, biometry and statistics, animal science, or development
sociology. And that’s just six of 24 major fields of study in which a Dyson
School student can double major or minor.
This rich, unbounded exposure to courses taught by Dyson School fac-
ulty, well known for their commitment to innovative teaching and student
advising, prepares students to lead in a future where the sciences, social
sciences, and the arts will increasingly converge. As a result, when it’s time
to land an internship or a full-time job, Dyson School students are in big
demand by the world’s top employers. Learn more at aem.cornell.edu.
Arts and Sciences Nearly 60 percent of CEOs of Fortune 500 compa-
nies hold an undergraduate degree in the liberal arts and sciences, and an
education in the liberal arts and sciences will provide you with a broad—
and deep—background with which to prepare for a career in business.
Any successful career requires certain fundamental elements. You’ll need
the ability to analyze an issue or a problem and develop thoughtful, workable
solutions. You’ll need to sharpen your critical thinking to discover the flaws
in a competitor’s market position or the fine points not dealt with in a col-
league’s presentation. You’ll need to write powerfully and effectively so that
memoranda or position papers command attention. You should have a grasp
of the essentials of logic so that you’ll be able to follow a proposal through
its twists and turns or detect the errors in reasoning in the latest report that
crosses your desk. Those abilities are developed in courses traditionally
found in a liberal arts and sciences education.
In certain liberal arts majors, there are even more direct links to business.
Mathematics majors can choose a concentration in economics, computer
science, or operations research and use mathematical modeling to prepare
for a career in actuarial science or in financial markets. If you are interested
in understanding the human dimensions of business, take a look at sociol-
ogy. An economics major is a clear choice if your interests include money
and banking, international and comparative economics, economic theory, the
history of economics, and the organization, performance, and control of the
industry.
Engineering More than half of the management-level personnel of major
American corporations hold engineering degrees. This trend has profoundly
affected the practice of business, expanded marketplace options for engi-
neers, and significantly influenced the quality of undergraduate engineering
education. Cornell’s thirteen engineering majors will sharpen your technical
skills while preparing you to problem-solve in the rapidly changing world of
business. If your interests lie in the science of management, consider Opera-
tions Research and Engineering (OR&E) or Information Science, Systems,
and Technology (ISST). Graduates in these majors pursue a wide range of
Preparing for the Business World
professional opportunities, from investment banking to process engineering.
Students in any engineering field have access to several business-oriented
minors, including engineering management, industrial systems and informa-
tion technology, and operations research and management science. Engineer-
ing students can also earn a minor in business through the applied economics
and management major in the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics
and Management. An Entrepreneurship in Engineering option is available, and
many students take advantage of coursework in Cornell’s Graduate School of
Management. Beyond the undergraduate program, a one-year Master of Engi-
neering degree can also enhance your engineering experience and prepare you
for managing complex technical projects. This program, as well as undergrad-
uate study in engineering, provides excellent preparation for MBA studies.
If it’s practical, on-the-ground experience you want, the Engineering
Co-operative Education Program links engineering students with companies
from around the United States and the world. Annually, more than 20 percent
of Cornell engineering juniors spend about 28 weeks working as engineers
in fast-paced business environments. And more than 60 percent of co-op
students receive full-time job offers before graduation from participating
co-op companies.
Hotel Administration Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration is the
business management program for undergraduates interested in the hospital-
ity, travel, tourism, and service industries. When you study hospitality at
Cornell, you learn how to manage global business, including strategic
planning, design and construction, financing, management operations, and
e-commerce and marketing—all to prepare you for the world’s largest and
most diverse industry. If you see yourself as a leader or entrepreneur, and if
you’re outgoing, service oriented, and good at motivating others, consider this
program.
The school has the most comprehensive curriculum of its kind, giving you a
professional management program in a liberal arts context with an emphasis
on management. The school is unequaled as the place to prepare for corporate
or entrepreneurial careers in managing hotel, resort, cruise line, casino,
restaurant, or entertainment companies; consulting for investment banks; or
developing, trading, or managing real estate.
Our business education isn’t limited to the experience of our faculty mem-
bers in the classroom. The Statler Hotel, the school’s 153-room on-campus
working hotel, is your real-world laboratory. The industry’s top companies
offer summer- and semester-long internships around the world. You will also
benefit from the extensive network of more than 11,000 Hotel School Alumni
in sixty chapters worldwide.
Recent graduates have accepted positions in the following fields: hotels and
resorts - property (22%); real estate (15%); banking and financial services
(14%); consulting (14%); managed services (7%); restaurant (6%); hotels and
resorts - corporate (4%); casinos and gaming (4%); and e-commerce (2%).
Cornell graduates have a reputation for innovation and leadership in the
industry.
Human Ecology Whether you plan to influence business through policy;
manage real estate of corporations, health care or educational institutions, or
research laboratories; or shape the international apparel industry, the
College of Human Ecology offers three majors that combine the liberal arts
with business-oriented courses:
• Apparel and textile management Intrigued by the textiles and apparel
industry? This major prepares you for a career in apparel or other business-
related fields while sharpening your critical thinking, problem-solving, and
management skills. Courses in management, communications, design,
psychology, and economics prepare students for careers as market editors,
strategic analysts, and product development consultants.
Cornell University Undergraduate Admissions Office
• Facility planning and management Interested in architecture,
business, and human resources? Students in this major learn about space
planning, building systems, real estate, management, and environmental
psychology. Graduates are hired to plan facilities that maximize usefulness
and cost-effectiveness and to determine how an organization’s physical space
can accommodate growth and change. This major is the first program of its
kind in the world, the first to be professionally accredited, and the only one in
the Ivy League.
• Policy analysis and management Want to have a direct impact on
people’s lives in the public or private sector? This major explores how private
and public sector policies influence consumer, family, and community well-
being. Courses in economics, statistics, sociology, public policy, government,
and ethics provide the foundation to analyze how government policies address
social issues and how corporate interests interact with government agencies.
With concentrations in health care, consumer policy, or family/social welfare,
graduates pursue careers as lawyers, policy analysts, nonprofit managers,
consumer advocates, finance specialists, and branding consultants, to name
a few.
Industrial and Labor Relations Are you fascinated by the “people”
side of business? Perhaps you are interested in:
• Improving interactions between employers and employees
• Understanding the impact of new technologies and globalization on the
workplace and the economy
• Studying the dynamics of leadership, supervision, team-building, and
negotiation
• Developing effective policies that improve opportunities and conditions in
government, business, and unions
Unique among undergraduate institutions, the ILR School (School of Industrial
and Labor Relations) offers professional-level coursework, with strong
management applications, that enables students to build careers in a variety
of areas, such as management, financial services, consulting, law, and public
policy. The ILR curriculum provides a strong social-science foundation in
economics, history, organizational behavior, human resource management,
law, and statistics. From there, you can develop special interests in manage-
ment, dispute resolution, employee relations, labor unions, public policy,
and international labor issues. The curriculum also leaves room for “free”
electives, enabling you to broaden your intellectual growth by choosing from
among the 4,000 other courses offered at Cornell University.
As an ILR graduate, you’ll join more than 10,000 alumni who are leaders in a
diverse array of businesses, law firms, labor unions, and government offices.
Most ILR graduates go directly into positions in the business world, including
human resource management, and after obtaining the recommended work ex-
perience, many ILR grads enter MBA programs. About one-fourth go directly
from ILR to law school.
Perks for Every Cornell Student
Once you’ve chosen a major, academic options abound for Cornell students
interested in business:
Internships and Summer Jobs
As a major in any college at the university, you can gain job and internship
experience in the field you’ve chosen. Take advantage of Cornell’s online
listings of student jobs and internships, which provide information about paid
internships and career-related or academically relevant summer job opportu-
nities nationwide. You’ll find local listings through the Office of Financial Aid
and Student Employment; and opportunities beyond Ithaca can be found in the
CCNet system managed by Cornell Career Services.
Preparing for the Business World
Entrepreneurship and Personal Enterprise Program
If you’re ready to head up your own business, you can sign up for the Entre-
preneurship and Personal Enterprise Program, established by the College
of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the S. C. Johnson Graduate School
of Management, open to every Cornell student. Through a series of linked
courses, internships, guest lectures, and seminars, entrepreneurs-to-be get
a lively and accurate picture of what it’s like out there, from men and women
who are making it big with their own companies.
The New York City Urban Semester
Offered through the College of Human Ecology, spend a semester in the city
taking courses that focus on multicultural issues and participating in research
in professional settings that facilitate experience-based learning. Live in
a Weill Medical College of Cornell University residence hall and conduct
fieldwork through internship and community service opportunities in areas
such as private and public law; Wall Street firms and other private businesses;
government and community agencies; private not-for-profit organizations; and
in medicine, health care, and nutrition areas.
Capital Semester in Albany
Also offered through the College of Human Ecology, students can combine a
full semester of credit with a paid legislative internship doing research proj-
ects, meeting with lobbyists and constituents, writing reports for legislation
and publication, and working on legislative hearings.
one-on-one with an alumnus/a and discuss how he or she moved ahead: the
strategies, the risks, and the path taken to advance in the very field you might
want to pursue.
For More Information
With so many paths open to students interested in the business world,
deciding which route to follow at Cornell sometimes can be difficult. The
best advice we can give you is to do some additional investigating. Details
about the programs described in this bulletin can be found on the Web and
in other written materials produced by the undergraduate colleges. For
contact information, please refer to the chart on this page. Whatever your
decision, rest assured that you’ll leave Cornell with thorough training in your
field and a solid background in management preparation. That and your
Cornell degree are a powerful combination!
General Information
Undergraduate Admissions Office
Cornell University
410 Thurston Avenue
Ithaca, NY 14850-2488
Telephone: 607.255.5241
Web: admissions.cornell.edu

Cornell in Washington Program-Specific Information

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Live and study for a semester or a year in Washington, D.C., at our Cornell
177 Roberts Hall
Center near Dupont Circle. Discover for yourself how the workings of various Telephone: 607.255.2036
government agencies have an impact on the economies of the United States Web: www.cals.cornell.edu
and the world. You will take a core course taught by a Cornell faculty mem- Email: cals_admissions@cornell.edu
ber, engage in research, and participate in an externship at a government
office, nonprofit organization, or a major American cultural institution. College of Arts and Sciences
Binenkorb Center, 172 Goldwin Smith Hall
S. C. Johnson Graduate School of Management Telephone: 607.255.4833
If you think you might want to continue your business studies beyond your Web: www.arts.cornell.edu
Email: as_admissions@cornell.edu
bachelor’s degree, you’ll find one of the nation’s premier graduate business
schools—the S. C. Johnson Graduate School of Management—right here College of Engineering
on campus. A host of the best-known names in the business world routinely Swanson Center, 102 Hollister Hall
visit Cornell and lecture, hold classes and informal seminars, and otherwise Telephone: 607.255.5008
share their expertise, providing a great way for Cornell undergrads to keep in Web: www.engineering.cornell.edu
touch with the hustle and bustle of the business world. Email: engr_admissions@cornell.edu

Why The Business World (and We Mean World) School of Hotel Administration
180 Statler Hall
Beats a Path to Our Door Telephone: 607.255.6376
You should know that J.P. Morgan Chase, Procter & Gamble, GE, Goldman Web: www.hotelschool.cornell.edu
Sachs, Abercrombie & Fitch Co., and several hundred other companies Email: hotelschool_admissions@cornell.edu
routinely come to campus. Their recruiters are interested in talking with and
hiring Cornell students because of the undisputed value of an employee with College of Human Ecology
a Cornell education. A large number of not-for-profit employers also come to 170 Martha Van Rensselaer Hall
Cornell seeking students with business skills. Telephone: 607.255.5471
Web: www.human.cornell.edu
Before you make an appointment with a recruiter, be sure to pay a visit to Email: humec_admissions@cornell.edu
Cornell Career Services, in your undergraduate college or the university-wide
career services offices in Barnes Hall. They are staffed with professionals who School of Industrial and Labor Relations
will be glad to suggest job-hunting strategies, discuss interviewing tech- 216 Ives Hall
niques, and work with you on putting together an effective resume. Telephone: 607.255.2222
Web: www.ilr.cornell.edu
If you’re looking for advice about or insight into a field, tap into the Cornell Email: ilr_admissions@cornell.edu
alumni network through Cornell Career Services’ CCNet Mentor system or
one of Cornell’s formal job-shadowing programs. You can meet virtually or

Cornell University Undergraduate Admissions Office Preparing for the Business World