Dyson Concentrations: Find Your Focus
11 Concentrations. Infinite Possibilities.
Dive deeper into the issues and topics you’re most passionate about. As part of the interdisciplinary curriculum at the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, you’ll choose at least one concentration (but not more than two).
Fueled by faculty expertise in an array of industries, Dyson concentrations allow you to develop specialized knowledge and practical skills in a range of real-world-relevant areas.
Cornell Dyson Requirements for AEM Concentrations
Choose at least one, but not more than two.
Each of our AEM concentrations has its own requirements; this includes a set of core courses everyone in the concentration must take, plus the flexibility to choose your remaining credits from a list of other approved classes.
In this section, we answer some of the most common questions about Dyson’s applied economics and management concentrations.
11 Concentrations at Your Fingertips
As a student at Dyson, you can choose up to two concentrations from the list below:
- Accounting
- Agribusiness
- Applied Economics
- Business Analytics
- Entrepreneurship
- Environmental, Energy, and Resource Economics (EERE)
- Finance
- Food Industry Management
- International Trade and Development
- Marketing
- Strategy
In the following section, we’ll cover the Cornell Dyson requirements for each of our 11 AEM concentrations.
Note: Concentration requirements and courses are subject to change. Please always refer to the Dyson Office of Student Services and Advising for the most current information. All courses are 3 credits each unless specified otherwise.
Accounting Concentration
Today, the boundaries between accounting, finance, and management are blurred—and technology has dramatically shifted the skills demanded of accounting professionals. In Dyson’s accounting concentration, you’ll learn about innovative financial statement analysis, applied tax strategies, cutting-edge tools, and other approaches to accounting.
Agribusiness Management Concentration
As a land grant institution, agribusiness is an important part of Cornell’s culture. In this concentration, you’ll explore the role business plays in society’s effort to feed the world and engage in policy discussions that impact food production, consumption, and trade around the globe. Cornell Dyson students with an agribusiness concentration also have the opportunity for hands-on learning experiences, such as our Farm Credit Fellows program.
Applied Economics Concentration
Applied economics and management is the cornerstone of Dyson. This applied economics concentration strengthens your foundation in macroeconomics, microeconomics, and econometrics. With strong critical thinking skills and data analysis proficiency, you’ll be ready to apply economic theory to real-world problems in industries and markets of all kinds.
Business Analytics Concentration
The ability to extract useful and actionable insights from big data is one of the most desirable business skills today. Analyst positions of all kinds—from management analyst to data analyst—are on the rise across sectors and industries. With a wide range of courses, you’ll have the chance to enhance your schedule with areas of analytics that interest you the most. Perhaps you’ll pursue additional programming classes or maybe you’ll dive deeper into marketing strategy or risk management.
Entrepreneurship Concentration
The most flexible of all Dyson concentrations, this path is all about turning ideas into action—and solving societal and economic problems through business endeavors. Whether you’re interested in tech start-ups, social enterprises, or small businesses, the entrepreneurship concentration will prepare you to launch a venture of your own or contribute to one as an early employee.
Environmental, Energy, and Resource Economics (EERE) Concentration
What role does sustainability play in business and economic development? That question is central to Dyson’s EERE concentration. You’ll explore the relationship between the economy and the environment and learn how to design policies that consider clean technology and optimal use of natural resources.
Finance Concentration
Finance careers are in demand. Year after year, positions like finance manager and financial analyst rank high on U.S. News & World Report Best Jobs in America lists. This Dyson concentration prepares you for high-level finance careers in investment banking, asset management, equity research, management consulting, and more.
Food Industry Management Concentration
Cornell’s agricultural history and Dyson’s expertise in consumer packaged goods come together in our Food Industry Management concentration. Whether you’re interested in food production, restaurant management, product marketing, or retailing, you’ll get a taste of leading-edge theory and industry best practices. Classes and activities related to this concentration also offer opportunities to meet experts through guest lectures and conferences.
International Trade and Development Concentration
Dyson’s International Trade and Development concentration is built on Cornell’s long tradition of leadership in international agriculture. Our faculty and students continue to address pressing questions facing developing countries such as “How do we increase food production without harming the environment?” or “How can we grow the income of small-scale farmers?”
Marketing Concentration
Audience is everything. In Dyson’s marketing concentration, you’ll explore what makes someone choose one product or service over another through courses in customer strategy, pricing analysis, and market research. The broad array of classes available in this concentration reflects the breadth of career paths in the marketing field, from the theoretical—such as neuroscience and consumer behavior—to the tactical, like sales operations and supply chain strategy.
Strategy Concentration
Why are some companies more successful than others? Dyson’s Strategy concentration explores that—and many more—questions about how businesses can establish and sustain a competitive edge in an ever-changing market. With a wide range of course options, this concentration allows you to be, well, quite strategic about building a schedule that fits your goals.
Dyson Alumni: Making a Difference Is Their Business
Innovators. Entrepreneurs. Movers and shakers. Dyson alumni make a difference in companies and communities around the world. As a Dyson graduate, you’ll also become part of the broader Cornell University community. Affectionately known as the Big Red network, this distinguished group spans the globe and is more than 250,000 strong.
How to Apply to Cornell Dyson
With 11 relevant and exciting AEM concentrations to choose from, Dyson can prepare you for the business career of your dreams. Learn more about our admissions requirements and application deadlines on our How to Apply page.
Start Your Application
Prepare for today’s competitive marketplace with the depth of an intense core curriculum—and the breadth of relevant, high-demand AEM concentrations at Dyson.