A statutory college at Cornell exploring human ecology through design, nutrition, and psychology.
The college enrolls approximately 1,250 undergraduates and 458 graduate students across three departments: Human Centered Design, Nutritional Sciences, and Psychology. Seven undergraduate majors include Design and Environmental Analysis, Fiber Science, Fashion Design, Global and Public Health Sciences, Human Biology Health and Society, Human Development, and Nutritional Sciences. Graduate programs span 11 degrees at the master's and doctoral levels. The college emphasizes a liberal arts foundation supporting career-specific preparation in a small college environment, with 35–40% of undergraduates continuing to professional or graduate degree programs.
The college was founded in 1925 as the New York State College of Home Economics, growing from a department established in 1907 by pioneers Martha Van Rensselaer and Flora Rose. It was renamed the New York State College of Human Ecology in 1969 to reflect its broader focus on the relationships between people and natural and constructed environments. The college's mission, inspired by professor Urie Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory of human development, emphasizes translational research and community engagement to improve the human experience.
The college is housed primarily in Martha Van Rensselaer Hall (MVR), a Georgian Revival brick building completed in 1933 at 116 Reservoir Avenue. Subsequent expansions include a 1968 addition by architect Ulrich Franzen and a 2003 west wing. In 2011, a new 89,000-square-foot facility designed by Gruzen Samton and IBI Group was completed, providing a green-certified parking garage, a three-story building, and a commons space. The college also operates facilities in New York City and maintains research centers including the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research and the Center for Precision Nutrition and Health.
The college is open to both New York State residents and non-residents, with residents paying reduced tuition rates. The admitted freshman profile falls in the middle 50th percentile. The college offers first-year, transfer, and graduate admissions pathways, as well as exchange programs. Student life emphasizes community engagement, social impact, and justice initiatives, with opportunities for off-campus learning and research partnerships with local and global communities.