Recently, Cornell University officially announced the establishment of a new college:
Ashley School of Global Development and the Environment
Ashley School of Global Development and the Environment
Source: Cornell
Cornell Establishes a New College
The new college is named after donor Stephen B. Ashley, a 1962 alumnus, and is part of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). The $55 million endowment is the largest gift CALS has ever received.
The new school will integrate the two existing departments in CALS—the Department of Global Development and the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment—focusing on solving environmental problems through interdisciplinary education in ecological sciences, social innovation, and community engagement.
The new school will continue to support the existing programs of both departments, including two undergraduate majors (one of which is the Environment and Sustainability major co-offered with the College of Arts and Sciences), five undergraduate minors, four master’s programs, and two doctoral programs.
There are currently no plans for new programs, majors, or minors, but the school will work with faculty to consider future proposals.
Source: Cornell
It is worth noting that Cornell University was originally founded with a focus on agricultural and mechanical arts, and its agricultural sciences program has consistently ranked first in the nation. The establishment of this new school will undoubtedly bring more opportunities for students.
Source: Niche
This year, top U.S. universities have been actively establishing new colleges and programs to vigorously promote interdisciplinary education.
Top U.S. Universities Ride the Wave of Interdisciplinary Education
NYU Establishes School of Mathematics, Computing, and Data Science
In November this year, New York University announced the establishment of a new school:
School of Mathematics, Computing, and Data Science
The Courant Institute School of Mathematics, Computing, and Data Science
Source: NYU
The new school includes the Department of Mathematics, the Center for Data Science, and an expanded Department of Computer Science, further strengthening NYU’s leadership in cutting-edge fields such as mathematics, applied mathematics, data science, computer science, and engineering, and more comprehensively preparing students for careers in computing.
Computing and big data are highly sought-after technologies today, with rapid advancements and significant roles in most disciplines. This newly created school integrating mathematics, computer science, and data science marks a major step forward in the university’s strategic commitment to science and technology.
Georgia Tech Launches New Bachelor’s in Mathematics and Computing
Georgia Institute of Technology announced the launch of:
Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Computing
Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Computing
The program is designed to prepare students for careers in interdisciplinary fields such as artificial intelligence, computational science, data-driven modeling and automated design, algorithm design, quantitative finance, data science, and the mathematical foundations of machine learning.
Source: Georgia Tech
The degree stands out with its balanced and comprehensive curriculum, emphasizing both mathematical depth and computational skills. Students will choose from three concentrations: Theoretical Computer Science and Discrete Mathematics; Modeling, Simulation, Data and Applied Mathematics; and Mathematical Intelligence and Data Science.
UCSD Launches New Bachelor’s in Artificial Intelligence
The University of California, San Diego has launched a new undergraduate program in Artificial Intelligence, housed in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering with connections across campus, including other academic units in the Jacobs School of Engineering and the School of Computing, Information, and Data Sciences.
Source: UCSD
Students in the AI program will receive a strong foundation in computer science, mathematics, and statistics, and will also take a newly designed required ethics course.
Faculty members are developing new interdisciplinary elective courses, such as AI in Biology, Computational Robotics, and Machine Learning in Music, which will also be open to non-AI majors.
Interdisciplinary education is a growing trend in higher education. In the AI era, more universities are expected to follow suit, offering new options for incoming students that meet the demands of the job market.
Students who aspire to be more competitive and become 'polymath' talents can start paying attention now and sprint toward their dream schools!









