School of Continuing Education
Overview
Cornell University's School of Continuing Education (Cornell SCE) is dedicated to providing outstanding educational opportunities throughout the year in as many subject areas and formats as possible. And if we don't have what you're looking for, we'll help you design it.
SCE offerings include full-semester classes for credit, international programs, online classes, part-time study, and precollege programs. The School is unique in the University for its ability to move quickly and flexibly in response to the changing needs and interests of our students and participants.
Our classes are taught by Cornell faculty members; leaders in higher education, industry, and government; and distinguished scholars from around the world. Our participants range from high school students to Cornell students, faculty, staff, alumni, family, and friends; undergraduates and graduate students from institutions worldwide; international students and scholars; area residents; and retirees.
In addition to a broad range of academic programs, from the established to the experimental, SCE also offers a wide variety of summer concerts, lectures, and special events, which are free and open to the public.
To learn more, visit sce.cornell.edu, email cusce@cornell.edu, call (607) 255-4987, or write to B20 Day Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853.
General Information
Administration
- Mary Loeffelholz, Dean
- Ben Balkaya, Associate Dean, Administration
- Daniel Kratochvil, Senior Associate Director, Academic Affairs
- James A. Schechter, Director, Cornell University Precollege Studies for High School Students
- Emily Ivory, Director of Admissions and Registrar
- Amie Goble, Assistant Registrar
The School
The School of Continuing Education (Cornell SCE) provides outstanding educational opportunities throughout the year for people of all ages and interests. We present programs in a wide variety of formats on campus, online, and around the world.
SCE has its roots in summer study at Cornell, which began in 1876, only eight years after the opening of the University. The Cornell University Summer Session, established in 1892, is one of the oldest such programs in the United States and continues today as one of the most highly regarded of its kind among peer institutions.
For information about our programs, visit sce.cornell.edu, email cusce@cornell.edu, call (607) 255-4987, or write to:
The School of Continuing Education
B20 Day Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853
Counseling/Advising
In addition to the academic counseling and advising available to Cornell undergraduates through the colleges and schools, SCE staff members provide counseling and/or advising to students registered in summer and winter courses. Students who would benefit from counseling or advising may contact the SCE office directly or may be referred by faculty or other university personnel.
For information, visit https://sce.cornell.edu/sce/contact, email cusce@cornell.edu, call (607) 255-4987, or write to:
The School of Continuing Education
B20 Day Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853
Degrees
SCE is developing a part-time, online bachelor's degree for students with non-traditional paths to higher education (see https://provost.cornell.edu/academic-initiatives/) and currently helps students working toward degrees by enrolling them in Cornell courses.
Facilities
Most on-campus Summer and Winter Session classes are held in Cornell's state-of-the-art classrooms and facilities.
Summer Session
During Summer Session, you can complete prerequisites, lighten your fall or spring course load, accelerate your degree program, or study something new. Regular Cornell courses are offered in three-, six-, or eight-week sessions. Summer Session features open admissions and outstanding instructors, nearly all of whom are regular Cornell faculty members. Courses are offered on and off campus and online.
Summer Session courses: For courses, on- and off-campus programs, and online learning options, visit summer.cornell.edu.
Winter Session
You can earn up to four credits between the fall and spring semesters by enrolling in Winter Session. During this time, you'll enjoy generally smaller classes and be able to concentrate on intensive study with a Cornell expert. Courses are offered online.
Winter Session courses: For online learning options, visit winter.cornell.edu.
Independent Study
Have a special interest you'd like to pursue? Want to do research and get credit for it? Need a particular course to graduate on time? Consider independent study.
Independent study encompasses courses of your own design, special topics courses, undergraduate research, or any regular course from the fall and spring semesters not being offered. If you can find a professor willing to supervise your study, all you need to do is complete the application for independent study (available on our website) and register at least two weeks prior to beginning the independent study course. Also, please let the SCE registrar know if there are courses you would like to see offered next summer or winter. For information, email cusce@cornell.edu or call (607) 255-4987.
Online Learning
Students: Need a flexible schedule? Planning to travel or work during the winter break or summer months? Don't let that stop you from taking a class, earning credits, or learning something new. You'll interact with the instructor and other students in Canvas. For information, visit sce.cornell.edu/online, email cusce@cornell.edu, call (607) 255-4987, or write to:
Online Learning
B20 Day Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853
Faculty: If you are a faculty member interested in developing credit-bearing online courses, SCE offers a broad range of services, including determining technological needs, resolving copyright issues, creating a marketing plan, and fulfilling administrative duties related to your course. Visit sce.cornell.edu to see what's possible.
Non-degree/Part-Time Study
If your studies are interrupted for any reason, you may find it useful to take classes on a non-degree basis. SCE also offers non-degree study to staff and faculty members, area residents, and anyone interested in taking courses at the university, improving their job skills, continuing their education, or simply having fun learning something new.
Thanks to the non-degree study, almost anyone may enroll in almost any course at Cornell during the fall and spring semesters if space is available. Non-degree study at Cornell is a great opportunity to take fascinating courses and study with world-renowned faculty members. For information, visit parttimestudy.cornell.edu, email cusce@cornell.edu, call (607) 255-4987, or write to:
Non-degree Study
B20 Day Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853
Special Programs and International Opportunities
If you want to immerse yourself in a particular subject, consider enrolling in a special program. Programs are offered during the summer and winter sessions. For information, email cusp@cornell.edu, call (607) 255-4987, or write to:
Special Programs
B20 Day Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853
On-Campus Special Programs Roster may include
Off-Campus Special Programs Roster may include
- International Programs (primarily offered through the Office of Global Learning’s Education Abroad office):
Cornell-Keystone NFLP Summer Program in India
Cornell Prelaw Summer Program in Paris
Cornell Summer Program in Madrid
Cornell Summer Program in Turin–Public Policy - U.S. Programs:
Marine Science: Shoals Marine Laboratory (Maine)
Precollege Studies for High School Students
If you know any high school students, be sure to tell them about Cornell's Precollege Studies. This award-winning program offers three- and six-week courses for motivated sophomores, juniors, and seniors from around the world.
Participants can study online in the summer or winter, or as residential or commuter students during the summer. Students take college classes with leading Cornell instructors, earn an average of 3 to 12 credits, and explore careers and academic majors.
The program is a wonderful opportunity for high school students to experience college life and make some great friends. At the end of the program, students often say it's been the best time of their life.
For information, visit precollege.cornell.edu, email precollege@cornell.edu, call (607) 255-4987, or write to:
Cornell University Precollege Studies
B20 Day Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853
Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) Pre-medical Program
The Pre-medical Program at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) is a two-year non-degree course of study designed to help prepare students to meet the educational requirements to apply to WCM–Q's four-year, degree-awarding medical program. The first-year course content focuses on those aspects of the basic sciences that have direct relevance to medicine. The courses are identical to those taught at the Ithaca campus and are supplemented by laboratory sessions. Second-year courses include more advanced courses in biology and chemistry, as well as psychology and medical ethics. For information, visit qatar-weill.cornell.edu or call (646) 962-4950 (New York) or (974) 4492-8800 (Doha).
Outreach Programs
The School of Continuing Education actively supports a number of programs and activities that serve our regional communities and beyond. Among these are programs that offer employees, retirees, and area residents an opportunity to study at Cornell; free summer events for area residents, visitors, and the campus community; the Cornell Prison Education Program; and the Veterans Summer Bridge Program.
In addition, SCE collaborates with eCornell and the nonprofit National Education Equity Lab to offer The Cornell University–National Equity Lab program for high school students. This effort provides students in underserved communities the opportunity to enroll in credit classes while also gaining the confidence to recognize they can excel in college, including in the Ivy League.
For a complete list of the School's outreach programs, visit sce.cornell.edu/sce/about/outreach, email cusce@cornell.edu, call (607) 255-4987, or write to:
SCE at B20 Day Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853