Students taking water samples at the UC Davis Arboretum.

Why Study Here

You Belong at the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Our Aggies are problem solvers and innovators who learn by doing alongside researchers and faculty who are leaders in agriculture, environmental science, food systems and human development. As the No. 1 agricultural school in the nation, we’ve built a college experience where learning doesn’t stay in the classroom. It’s happening in fields, barns, waterways, labs, design studios and community spaces. You belong at our college, where you’ll experience an education designed to make an impact.

UC Davis is known and respected across the country and around the world, and employers know our graduates are career ready leaders. That means you’ll have access to research projects, internships and professional connections that launch meaningful careers. Our alumni are running farms that grow a variety of important crops, taking care of animals big and small, managing vineyards, brewing beer sold across the country, breeding plants and designing landscapes and programs that strengthen communities.

We’ve built something special here and we can’t wait for you to be part of it!

A graduate student harvesting tomatoes at the UC Davis Student Farm.

Majors Focused on the Future of Food

Food connects us all. Learn about breeding crops to withstand a changing climate, how food is developed and tested and how nutrition can build healthier communities. Our college has unique educational facilities that offer students real world experiences, including the Student Farm, state-of-the-art greenhouses, dairy barn a food innovation lab and more.
A student using a measuring device while visiting a stream.

Majors Focused on the Environment and Climate

Rising temperatures, shifting water patterns and stronger storms are changing the world around us. You can study how research, technology and smart resource management can help communities and ecosystems adapt and thrive. Majors like wildlife, fish and conservation biology or environmental science and management bring you out into experimental fields, waterways and the State Capitol, giving you skills to design solutions to complex environmental challenges.
A childhood development major works with an infant.

Majors Focused on Strengthening Communities

In majors like human development, community and regional development and landscape architecture, you’ll explore how neighborhoods thrive, how children and families grow and how public spaces influence daily life. With many opportunities for hands-on projects, you’ll see how thoughtful planning and collaboration can make a real difference in people’s lives.
Interning at UC Davis CA&ES facilities offers students the opportunity to put their classroom teachings into action.
Discover CA&ES
Interning at UC Davis CA&ES facilities offers students the opportunity to put their classroom teachings into action.
Students can live and work at several of our animal facilities on campus, including our dairy, sheep barn and more.
Students can live and work at several of our animal facilities on campus, including our dairy, sheep barn and more.
Students learn how to fly a drone in our “Introduction to Unmanned Aerial Systems for Agriculture and Environmental Science” course.
Students learn how to fly a drone in our “Introduction to Unmanned Aerial Systems for Agriculture and Environmental Science” course.
CA&ES students give back to the community and gain experience as interns at a clinic in Knights Landing.
CA&ES students give back to the community and gain experience as interns at a clinic in Knights Landing.
At the UC Davis Student Farm, students plant and harvest fruits and vegetables.
At the UC Davis Student Farm, students plant and harvest fruits and vegetables.
Nutrition 10 is one of our more popular classes.
Nutrition 10 is one of our more popular classes.
Classroom trips are an important part of learning. This landscape architecture class visited the Jepson Prairie Preserve.
Classroom trips are an important part of learning. This landscape architecture class visited the Jepson Prairie Preserve.
A CA&ES student volunteers with staff and students during a special dean's office service trip.
A CA&ES student volunteers with staff and students during a special dean's office service trip.
Human Development majors get hands-on experience interacting with preschool children at the UC Davis Center for Child and Family Studies.
Human Development majors get hands-on experience interacting with preschool children at the UC Davis Center for Child and Family Studies.
A wildlife, fish, and conservation biology major works on a condor at the UC Davis Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology.
A wildlife, fish, and conservation biology major works on a condor at the UC Davis Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology.
Students from a landscape architecture class work on the hill in front of Mrak Hall for a class assignment about grading.
Students from a landscape architecture class work on the hill in front of Mrak Hall for a class assignment about grading.
Field trips and hands-on learning are an important part of classroom teaching for this soil science class.
Field trips and hands-on learning are an important part of classroom teaching for this soil science class.
During finals week, the CA&ES Dean’s office hosts ‘Study Break’ to offer free scantrons, snacks and drinks to students.
During finals week, the CA&ES Dean’s office hosts ‘Study Break’ to offer free scantrons, snacks and drinks to students.
Students harvest sustainably grown flowers from the UC Davis Student Farm all year long.
Students harvest sustainably grown flowers from the UC Davis Student Farm all year long.
The Draft Horse and Driving Club at UC Davis is one of 30 student organizations and clubs associated with the college.
The Draft Horse and Driving Club at UC Davis is one of 30 student organizations and clubs associated with the college.
This class is stepping outside the classroom to learn about soil striations in the field.
This class is stepping outside the classroom to learn about soil striations in the field.
This "Water Science and Management" class visited the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center to practice different tools and methods to understand the water cycle.
This "Water Science and Management" class visited the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center to practice different tools and methods to understand the water cycle.
Our faculty try to make learning fun. This atmospheric science professor and his class share a laugh as they learn how to read a rain catcher.
Our faculty try to make learning fun. This atmospheric science professor and his class share a laugh as they learn how to read a rain catcher.
Undergrads can work with faculty on research projects, such as tagging trout near Fall River. (Photo by Val Atkinson)
Undergrads can work with faculty on research projects, such as tagging trout near Fall River. (Photo by Val Atkinson)