Overview

Students receive comprehensive training in the key ideas, issues, and debates central to global development. All GDEV students take a breadth of interdisciplinary coursework in development scholarship and practice and gain depth in a concentration of their choice, selecting from social and economic development, agriculture and food systems or environment and development.

As a Global Development major from Cornell University, students are required to spend at least eight weeks in a field-based internship. In their field experience, students work with and learn from innovative development practitioners and community leaders, crafting cutting-edge strategies to address some of the world’s most significant challenges and advance the well-being of people and the planet.

Key Facts

The following learning outcomes are general learning outcomes for the Global Development major. By the completion of the program, students will be able to:

Describe, critique and debate competing global development paradigms, and craft and defend a personal philosophy of development.

Demonstrate an ability to apply systems perspectives to analyses of current and future development problems, and to draw upon multiple disciplines for supporting evidence.

Exhibit basic skills appropriate to development practice, including group facilitation, team building, multi-stakeholder problem assessment and priority setting, and participatory learning and action.

Demonstrate proficiency in applying at least one research or program evaluation approach (quantitative, qualitative, participatory learning and action, etc.) in a real-world situation.

Propose, plan, secure and carry out an approved summer or semester-long internship or professional practice activity. As part of that experience, demonstrate skill in reflective writing and cross-cultural communication.

Exhibit attitudes of tolerance, humility and respect in interactions with others, including those who hold different perspectives and world views, or who differ along lines of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual identity, socioeconomic class or political or religious affiliation.

Programme Structure

Courses included:

Global Development Cornerstone

Just Food

Social & Economic Dimensions of Development

Environmental Conservation

Perspectives in Global Development

Research Methods

Senior Seminar

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-08-25 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-01-02 00:00:00

Language

English

TOEFL^® IBT

100

Schedule TOEFL®

Duolingo English Test

130

Take A Free Practice Test!

Credits

120 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Ithaca, United States

Disciplines

Sociology International Development Environmental Sciences View 1488 other Bachelors in Environmental Sciences in United States

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

TOEFL^® IBT

100

Schedule TOEFL®

Duolingo English Test

130

Take A Free Practice Test!

Other requirements

General requirements

The Common Application (CA)

The School Report

Counselor Recommendation

Two Teacher Evaluations

The Midyear Report, when your mid-year grades are available

Official secondary/high school transcript

$80 application fee or fee waiver

Cornell University Questions and Writing Supplement (CA) or Cornell Supplement (UCA)

Items that are required by the Cornell undergraduate college or school to which you’ve applied: Interviews or portfolio and design submissions.

Student insurance

Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items, so make sure your student insurance ticks all the following:

Additional medical costs (i.e. dental)
Repatriation, if something happens to you or your family
Liability
Home contents and baggage
Accidents
Legal aid

We partnered with Aon to provide you with the best affordable student insurance, for a carefree experience away from home.

Get your student insurance now

Starting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time.

Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at Cornell University and/or in United States, please visit Student Insurance Portal.

Tuition Fee

To always see correct tuition fees

International

71266 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 71266 USD per year during 48 months.
National

71266 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 71266 USD per year during 48 months.
In-State

48010 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 48010 USD per year during 48 months.

Living costs for Ithaca

1128 - 2460 USD /month

Living costs

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Bachelor's scholarship opportunities for Global Development.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

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