Cornell University Registrar

Overview

The College of Human Ecology offers multidisciplinary programs that focus on how humans interact with their various environments, from biological and social to economic and physical. With a mission to advance and improve the human experience, Human Ecology integrates academics, research and outreach in the areas of nutrition and health, design and technology, human development, and public policy. All programs combine theory with application to foster creative problem solving skills and develop leaders who can anticipate, analyze, and address contemporary societal issues. Graduates become employed or pursue advanced study in a wide variety of fields including health, business, policy, law, interior and fashion design, public service, and research. The College provides a distinct research and learning environment; one that fosters collaboration across Cornell's academic units, contributes to its disciplinary strengths and addresses the critical human challenges of the 21st century.

Human Ecology majors include: Design and Environmental Analysis, Human Biology Health and Society, Human Development, Nutritional Sciences, and Fiber Science & Apparel Design.

Website: www.human.cornell.edu

General Information

Administration

• Rachel Dunifon, Dean
• Nancy Wells, Associate Dean for Research and Outreach
• Marianella Casasola, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs
• Andrea Poag, Assistant Dean for Student Experience 
• Tracey Thompson, College Registrar
• Bernadette Parr, Director of Admission

College Focus

The College of Human Ecology anticipates and responds to human needs in the areas of nutrition and health, economic and social well-being, environmental design and technology, and human development through education, basic and applied research, and the extension of knowledge. The college is distinctively characterized by the quality of its research in the natural and social sciences and the design arts, a global perspective in academic programs, a preventive approach to contemporary societal problems, multi-disciplinary departments and programs, development of leadership in students and citizens, and a commitment to diverse populations. Faculty and students examine individuals in relation to their family, neighborhood, workplace, and community, seeking a balance between theory and practice that will improve the quality of everyday life.

Facilities

The college is housed in Human Ecology Building (HEB), Martha Van Rensselaer (MVR), Savage, and Kinzelberg Halls; as well as the Biotechnology Building and Weill Hall. The buildings include administrative and faculty offices, classrooms, auditoriums, galleries, and lecture halls; wet chemistry and biochemistry laboratories; design studios and computer-aided design laboratories; woodworking shops; human factors and infant research facilities; and classrooms for distance learning. Also included are learning resource centers for career planning, a historical costume collection, a human metabolic research unit, an animal research facility, cold rooms, and a constant temperature and humidity laboratory.

Specialized equipment for teaching and research includes biochemical and chemical instruments for spectroscopy, chromatography, radioisotope analysis, electrophoresis, microscopy, and ultracentrifugation; physical testing equipment; and cameras, videotape, and sound recording equipment.

The college requires students to fulfill requirements for a major to graduate. Students must declare a major by the end of the sophomore year. It is common for students to change interests during their undergraduate careers. Counselors in the Office of Student and Career Development (1210 MVR Hall), academic advisors, and directors of undergraduate study in each of the academic departments can help students to consider their options and engage in academic planning. All changes of major require submission of the change of major form and are processed through the college registrar's office, 1204 MVR Hall. Change of major will trigger re-evaluation of all academic credit and assignment of a new faculty advisor.

Departments

• Human Centered Design
• Nutritional Sciences
• Psychology
• Design Tech

Special Academic Opportunities 

Study Abroad

Each year over 75 Human Ecology students spend a semester or more off campus in places spanning the globe, from Australia to Zaire. There they supplement their Cornell studies with a wide range of cross-cultural and academic experiences. Study-abroad opportunities are available through Cornell–sponsored programs and other U.S. college–sponsored programs as well as by direct enrollment at foreign universities.

Exchange Programs

Exchange programs offer a unique opportunity for Human Ecology Students to take classes in some of the best Universities abroad in order to gain a global outlook from their fields.  They have been hand picked by Human Ecology Faculty to offer the best curriculum matches with Human Ecology Departments. We have faculty and student connections at these institutions that provide another layer of support.  Students take classes in their majors alongside degree-seeking students from the host Universities.  In exchange students from the partner Universities study in Human Ecology and enrich the experience of Cornell students in Ithaca.  Nearly all partner institutions in non-English speaking countries offer a wide range of classes taught in English.  Students are billed their regular Human Ecology tuition with no additional fees.  For more information, see the Experience Cornell website.

Residency Requirements

All study-abroad students must meet college study-abroad requirements and remain registered at Cornell during the overseas study. Credits earned count toward the 60 Cornell credits required for graduation (in unusual circumstances some credits earned abroad may be considered as transfer credit).

Requirements for College Approval

• GPA of 3.0 or higher, good academic standing, and well-articulated goals for students’ study abroad semester.
• Completion of the Cornell application; applications from individual programs also must be submitted to Cornell.
• Completion of the equivalent of 15 semester credits per semester while abroad.
• Courses taken for a letter grade (unless course is offered with only an S–U option).
• Submission of a petition by second-semester seniors going abroad.

Application Process

Typically, students considering study abroad begin their planning at least a year before the semester abroad. Students should carefully consider what they hope to get out of a study-abroad experience (academically and culturally) when investigating program options. Resources can be found in the Office of Global Learning (300 Caldwell Hall), through the Human Ecology study-abroad advisor (1220 MVR), or in the Human Ecology Career Exploration Center (1203 MVR).  Program information along with application deadlines are listed on the Experience Cornell website.  Some programs will fill quickly, use of early deadlines is strongly recommended.

Credits Abroad and Transfer of Credit

Most study abroad courses are transferred to the Cornell degree program as electives or liberal arts distribution credit. Study abroad credit awarded toward one’s major is much less common and must be approved via signature of the student’s department advising coordinator on the Cornell application. Credit for study abroad will be awarded only after successful completion of the semester abroad (marks equivalent to a Cornell grade of C or higher) and receipt of the official transcript by the college. Official transcripts should be sent to the Cornell Abroad office, which will process and forward them to the Human Ecology registrar.

Courses must be pre-approved before the student’s departure. Any variances must be cleared with Human Ecology. Students must include a foreign language course in the country’s native language if studying in a country where English is not the native language. All courses taken abroad and grades received will appear on the Cornell transcript. Grades earned do not, however, become part of the Cornell GPA. Students should save all written work from all classes until courses are officially transferred.

Independent Research

Research opportunities for undergraduates are extensive and valued as an important part of the learning experience. The opportunity to engage in substantive research with some of the leading scientists in their fields is so compelling that approximately half of the college’s undergraduates conduct research projects. Students may become involved in research with the guidance of faculty members by conducting research assigned in a class, joining a faculty member’s research group, completing an independent study research project, or carrying out an honors program project.

For further information, students should contact individual faculty members or the director of undergraduate studies in their department.

Honors Programs

Students interested in college honors programs that lead to the degree “bachelor of science with honors” usually apply to the appropriate honors committee no later than the end of the first semester of their junior year. A minimum GPA of 3.3 and demonstrated potential for honors-level research is required. Students take approved courses in research methodology and evaluation, attend honors seminars, complete a written thesis, and defend it in an oral examination. Students who are interested in the honors program should contact the director of undergraduate studies in their department or division for information and guidelines.

Field Study and Internships

Field study and internships provide experiential learning opportunities in real-life circumstances where classroom knowledge is tested and applied. Students are able to master new skills, develop and implement plans of action, solve problems, interact in multicultural situations, and build networks for future job opportunities. By applying techniques of research methods, critical thinking, and self-directed learning, students learn to think conceptually while becoming agents of change.

Check with the director of undergraduate studies for major-specific information. The Career Exploration Center (1203 MVR) and career counselors in 1210 MVR also can provide resources and assistance in finding internships and other experiential opportunities.

Concentrations

The College of Human Ecology formally recognizes as concentrations computer information sciences and international relations (both administered by the College of Arts and Sciences). Students interested in pursuing these concentrations should inquire with the college department offering them. If successfully completed before graduation, these concentrations will be posted as part of the student’s official transcript.

Students may develop an unofficial concentration in additional fields taught at Cornell by taking 12 credits in an approved area. Africana studies, communications, and business are just a few examples of concentrations that are possible. While these unofficial concentrations are not part of a student’s transcript, students may choose to publicize these concentrations on their personal résumés.

Off-Campus Programs

Capital Semester

Combine a full semester of 12 Cornell credits with a paid internship and a reduction in tuition. Students intern directly for a New York State legislator (Senate or Assembly) in Albany to explore their policy interests in greater depth. Interns attend hearings and legislative sessions, meet with lobbyists and constituents, write reports for legislation and possible publication, and generally help conduct the work of their legislator. All Cornell students, regardless of major, are encouraged to apply. The program is available during the spring semester only, and it is open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Interns benefit greatly when subsequently applying for future employment, law school, graduate school, or business school. Information is available from the Career Exploration Center (1203 MVR Hall).

Brooks School Cornell in Washington DC Connect Program

Cornell in Washington DC Connect is a spring semester or summer program in the heart of Washington, D.C., our nation’s capital. This unique experience offers students in all colleges an opportunity to earn full academic credit for the spring semester or summer. Students take part in small courses led by Cornell faculty, and gain work experience through an internship of their choosing, while living in the Brooks School's residence hall near Dupont Circle. Learn more about the Cornell in Washington DC Connect.

Courses at Ithaca College

Full-time undergraduate students at Cornell may petition to enroll in courses at Ithaca College. Students pay regular full tuition to Cornell and only special fees to Ithaca College where applicable. Students are allowed to register for one course per semester and a maximum of 12 credits in four years. Exceptions will be granted to Cornell students enrolled in methods and practice teaching courses at Ithaca College, and those students pursuing a concentration in exercise science through a specially arranged program with Ithaca College.

Cornell students are eligible to register only for Ithaca College courses that are relevant to their program and that do not duplicate Cornell courses. Ithaca College credit counts as Cornell credit but not as Human Ecology credit. Students are accepted on a space-available basis. Participation in this program is not guaranteed, and Ithaca College has the right to accept or reject students for any reason deemed appropriate. The program is available only during the fall and spring semesters. For further information, contact the college registrar (1204 MVR Hall, (607) 255-2235).

Double-Registration Program for Law

A small number of highly qualified applicants may be admitted to the Cornell Law School after only three years of undergraduate education. The requirements for admission under these circumstances are more stringent than for acceptance after four years of undergraduate study. Applicants must present outstanding qualifications and strong professional motivation. The junior year applicant follows the ordinary application procedures for Cornell Law School admission.

Interested students should contact the Law School director of admissions (Myron Taylor Hall, 607-255-5141) to discuss the admissions criteria. Because students accepted to this program will be spending their senior year away from Human Ecology/Brooks School, they need to plan ahead to ensure that distribution and major requirements for the B.S. degree will be met. Successful applicants need the approval of the College Registrar for Human Ecology and Brooks School of Public Policy.

College of Human Ecology Graduation Requirements

It is important for students to track their graduation progress by comparing their Advisement Report in Student Center and current transcript with an appropriate curriculum sheet. Official transcripts may be obtained at the Office of the University Registrar (B07 Day Hall). Curriculum sheets are available on the Human Ecology website. Students are responsible for planning course selections to ensure that graduation requirements are fulfilled in eight semesters. Transfer students are allowed fewer semesters based on the number of transferable credits granted at admission. Students requiring additional semesters to fulfill their graduation requirements must meet with a Human Ecology counselor (1210 MVR Hall) and request to petition for an extension.

Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement for Graduation

• Students must earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 (C) or better to graduate.

Credit Requirements

Cornell Credit Requirements

• To graduate, a student must earn a minimum of 120 academic credits. Physical education credits and 10XX courses do not count toward the 120 required credits.
• Of the 120 credits required to graduate, at least 60 credits must be earned at Cornell University (applicable to transfer students).
• Students who matriculate as first-years may apply a maximum of 15 non-Cornell credits earned toward the 120 credits required for graduation. These credits include AP, IB, and college credits earned elsewhere. Refer to Advanced Placement Credit for full details.
• No college credit earned before matriculation and used to meet Cornell's minimum admission requirements may be counted in the 120 credits required for graduation. This policy does not apply to transfer students.
• Courses taught by a college in the high school setting or counted toward high school graduation are not allowed to count for either credits or fulfillment of requirements (i.e., Syracuse Project Advance).
• Cornell extramural credit (defined below) is limited to 15 credits toward the 120 required.
• Strict limitations exist on the number of credits that can be applied toward the 120-credit minimum for special studies courses (including but not limited to 4000, 4010, 4020), for 4030 courses, and for courses taken with an optional S–U grade. Details follow.

Human Ecology Credit Requirements

The college divides the 120 minimum required academic credits into four general categories. (Students should refer to curriculum sheets for their major for specific details on course selections. Curriculum sheets are available on the college website.) These categories are detailed below.

• College distribution
  • Natural sciences
  • Social sciences
  • First-year writing seminars
  • Humanities
  • Quantitative and analytical courses (math and statistics)
• Major Requirements
• Elective credits
• Physical education

Human Ecology General Requirements 

Human Ecology Core Courses 

Students must complete these three courses in their first three semesters (beginning with students entering in Fall 2024):

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
HE 1800	Blazing Your Trail in Human Ecology (Required in the first fall semester of matriculation to HE (first-year students only))	1
HE 1850	Introduction to Human Ecology (Required in the first spring semester of matriculation to HE Human Ecology (first-year, internal & external transfers) )	1
HE 2000	Social Justice, Thriving, and the Human Experience (First-Year students will complete HE 2000 in their third semester. ) 1	3

¹

Internal and external transfer students must complete HE 2000 in their first fall in Human Ecology.

Human Ecology Credits: 45 credits from College Distribution, Major Requirements and Electives. 

• Courses from: DEA, FSAD, HD, NS, PUBPOL at any level or Human Ecology (HE) non-departmental courses above the 1500-level.

• Students must enroll in a minimum of one 3-credit course each semester in HE for their first four semesters, excluding winter and summer sessions.
• Additional course-specific rules are listed below.

S–U grading rules for this requirement are as follows:

1. If a course is a requirement in College Distribution or Major Requirements, the course may not be taken for an S–U grade (unless it is the only grade option offered for the course).
2. Courses used to count toward Electives that are taken for an S–U grade may also count toward the 45 credit requirement.
3. Students should refer to the section on S–U grading rules for full S–U grading details.

​Human Ecology Credits Outside the Major: 11 credits  

• Students must complete 11 Human Ecology (HE) credits from outside their major department or PUBPOL at any level or HE above 1500 level.  ​
• FWS, HE non-departmental courses below the 1500 level, Statistics and Research Methods courses (PUBPOL 2100, PUBPOL 3120, DEA 3550, or 
• HD 2830), Special Studies (4000, 4010, 4020), and teaching assistantships (HE 4030) do not count toward this requirement.
• These can be taken S/U only if course is NOT used to fulfill a curriculum requirement.
• A maximum of 3 credits from the 4000–4020 special-studies series may be applied to this requirement. 
• Additional course-specific rules are listed below.

S–U grading rules for this requirement are as follows:

1. If a course counting toward the 9 credit outside-the-major requirement is also a requirement in College Distribution or Major Requirements, the course may not be taken for an S–U grade unless it is the only grade option offered for the course.
2. Courses used to count toward Electives that are taken for an S–U grade may also count toward the 9 credit outside-the-major requirement.
3. Students should refer to the section on S–U grading rules for full S–U grading details.

Course-specific rules that apply to both the 45 Human Ecology credit requirement and the 11 Human Ecology credit outside-the-major requirement:

1. Human Ecology (prefix HE) courses below the 1500-level (e.g., HE 1115) do not count toward either the 45 credit requirement or the 11 credit outside-the-major requirement. These HE–prefix courses that are below 1500-level may be used as elective credit.
2. Experiential credit is applied to Human Ecology's 45 and 11 credit outside-the-major requirements as follows:
   • Capital Semester (HE 4970). All students earn:
     • Human Ecology credits and 8 credits toward the 9 credit outside-the-major requirement.

• Cornell in Washington (PUBPOL 4060).
  • For this entire semester, Public Policy majors earn 8 credits toward the 43 credit requirement, which also count as 8 Public Policy credits.
  • Non–Public Policy majors earn 8 credits toward the 45 credit requirement, which also count as 8 credits toward the 11 credit outside-the-major requirement. The remainder of the credits counts as elective credit.

Elective Credits

Students have individual objectives in choosing courses beyond the minimum requirements of the major. The university is diverse; the departments, centers, and special programs numerous; and the fields of study almost unlimited. Counselors and faculty advisors are available to discuss which courses may interest students and best round out their education. Elective credits can be earned in the endowed and contract colleges of Cornell.

Course Distribution Requirements

Course Distributions are groups of courses categorized by course content. Some requirements on your Curriculum Sheet direct you to choose courses with a specific distribution. This is common for Humanities or Additional Credit requirements, depending on your major.

Minimum Semester Requirements

1. Students enrolling in the college as first-years must enroll in a minimum of one 3-credit course each semester in HE for their first four semesters, excluding winter and summer sessions (beginning with students entering in fall 2022).
2. Students must carry 12 credits each semester, excluding physical education, to be matriculated as full-time students. Mature students must carry a minimum of 6 credits each semester (see Mature Student Guidelines for details).
3. In special cases, a student may petition to carry between 8 and 12 credits. Forms for petitioning this exception and advice on how to proceed are available in the Human Ecology Registrar's Office (1204 MVR Hall).

Special Studies

• A maximum of 12 credits of special study course work from Human Ecology or other colleges will count towards the 120 overall credits. Courses will be indicated on the class roster with a Component of either IND or RSC. (Additional credits can be taken but will not be applied.)
• A maximum of 12 credits of 4000-4030 may count toward the 43 HE credit requirement.
• A maximum of 3 credits of 4000-4020 (not including 4030) may count towards the 9 HE credits outside the major requirement as long as the special study is in a department outside the student's major.
• Students cannot TA (4030) the same course for credit more than once or take and TA the same course simultaneously.  4030 does not fulfill any requirements towards the major.  Registration for 4030 may not exceed 5 credit hours per semester.

10XX Courses

• 10XX numbered courses do not count toward graduation requirements but do count toward full-time semester status.

Requirements for Majors

• Students must fulfill the requirements specified for a major that are in effect at the time of their matriculation or thereafter. The requirements are detailed in curriculum sheets that are maintained for each academic year.

S-U Grade Options

• The S-U grading option may not be used for College Distribution courses or required major courses unless it is the only grade option offered for those courses. S-U grades may be used for the 9 credits of Human Ecology course work outside of one's major and for Electives.
• Students may apply no more than 12 credits of S-U toward the 120 credits required for graduation. If a required course is offered only S-U, it will not count toward this limit. Also, Honors Research 4990 taken S-U does not count against the 12 maximum limit. Students may take more S-U courses if they choose, but the additional credit may not be applied toward graduation.

First-Year Writing Seminars

In each of their first two semesters of matriculation at the College of Human Ecology, students are required to take a Knight Program First-Year Writing Seminar. This policy also applies to transfer students. One or more of the seminars may be waived for transfer students if the college registrar grants credit for equivalent course work taken before matriculation at Cornell.

Those who do not fulfill this requirement on time will be referred to the Committee on Academic Status. Refer to Criteria for Good Standing on Policies and Procedures page for specifics on warning statuses that the committee applies to students who do not complete this requirement.

First-year writing seminars must be taken at Cornell and may not be taken in absentia. Students who receive a score of 5 on either the English Literature and Composition or English Language and Composition Advanced Placement (AP) exams can be exempt from one semester of their first-year writing seminar requirements. No other AP scores will allow a student this exemption or allow for elective credits in the college. Students should be aware that the add/drop period for first-year writing seminars may be shorter in duration than the add/drop period for most Cornell classes.

Ithaca College and Study Abroad Credits

Any credits earned with the Ithaca College exchange program are considered Cornell credits for the purpose of fulfilling the 60 Cornell credit graduation requirement. They may not be used for Human Ecology credit. Study abroad, including exchange, courses may also count as Cornell credit (but not for Human Ecology credit).

Advanced Placement Credit

Students can earn advanced placement credit from one of the following:

1. The requisite score on a departmental examination at Cornell (usually given during orientation week) or on a College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) achievement test. The requisite scores for the CEEB exams are determined by the relevant department at Cornell, vary by subject, and are listed in the beginning of this catalog. College-specific rules apply toward many AP courses such as biology, English literature, English composition, and statistics.
2. A regular course taught at an accredited college to college students and approved by the relevant department at Cornell. Some departments have delegated the review of courses to college staff according to guidelines they have formulated. Some departments review each request individually. Some departments accept credit from virtually all accredited colleges; some do not.
3. Credit from the International Baccalaureates (IB) is evaluated individually.
4. Refer to Cornell Credit Requirements for details on how many Advanced Placement (AP) credits can be applied toward the 120 credits needed for graduation.

Note: Cornell does not accept credit for courses sponsored by colleges but taught in high schools to high school students, at colleges if enrollment is targeted at high school students, or if the course was used toward high school credit. This is true even if the college provides a transcript of such work. These courses also may not be used to fulfill college requirements. Students who have taken such courses may, however, take the appropriate CEEB test to qualify for credit as in paragraph 1 above. For further information and limitations on Advanced Placement credit, see the front pages of this catalog.

Foreign Language Study and Placement

Students who studied a foreign language before coming to Cornell and who want to continue must take either the CEEB test in that language or a Cornell departmental language placement test. Students should contact the appropriate language department for testing schedules. Human Ecology students who plan to work with non-English–speaking people in this country or abroad often find it necessary to be proficient in another language. Many study abroad programs in non–English-speaking countries require the equivalent of two years of college-level language study.

Extramural Credit

Extramural credit is administered by the Office of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions (B20 Day Hall, (607) 255-4987). Extramural credit is charged by the credit hour at the endowed tuition rate. Students may count only 15 credits of extramural credit toward their degree requirements. A student may enroll for extramural credit during the fall or spring semester only if he or she is not registered in the College of Human Ecology. For example, some students enroll for extramural credit before matriculating at Cornell.

An exception to this rule is credit earned in the Ithaca College exchange program. Students enrolled in this program simultaneously maintains their status as students registered in the College of Human Ecology.

Math Requirement

Students may meet the college level requirement in one of the following ways.

• Any Cornell math course except MATH 1101 Calculus Preparation or MATH 1710 Statistical Theory and Application in the Real World.
  or
• Any Cornell statistics course
  or
• Score of 4 or 5 on the AP Calculus BC exam. (Other AP math credit could be used toward graduation credit but may not be used to meet the math requirement)

Notes:

• Departments may impose additional requirements for majors or specify courses within this requirement.
• Students entering as transfers may apply to have their statistics or math courses approved, but pre-calculus courses will no longer meet this requirement or receive graduation credit.

Degree Programs

Human Ecology programs lead to the degrees of bachelor of science (B.S.), master of arts (M.A.), master of science (M.S.), master of professional studies in human ecology (M.P.S.), master of health administration (M.H.A.), and doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.). Human Ecology does not permit double majors. Programs leading to master and doctoral degrees are administered by the Graduate School.

Undergraduate Degrees

Bachelor of science (B.S.) degrees are offered in the following areas:

• Design and Environmental Analysis (BS)
• Fashion Design and Management (BS)
• Fiber Science (BS)
• Global & Public Health Sciences (GPHSHE-BS)
• Human Biology, Health, and Society (BS)
• Human Development (BS)
• Nutritional Sciences (BS)

Undergraduate Minors

Undergraduate students may pursue minors in a wide variety of areas offered by multiple colleges in the University. Completed minors will appear on the student’s transcript. Not all departments offer minors and some may include specific limitations. Contact the appropriate department for information and how to pursue the minor.

• Design and Environmental Analysis Minor
• Fashion Studies Minor
• Fiber Science Minor
• Gerontology Minor
• Healthy Futures Minor
• Human Development Minor

Graduate Professional Masters Programs

• Human Ecology (MPS) - (administered by the Graduate School)

Policies and Procedures

Human Ecology Office of Student Services

Enabling students to thrive academically, personally, and professionally while contributing to our vibrant Human Ecology community. 

The Human Ecology Office of Student Services is committed to cultivating a supportive and empowering environment keeping student well-being and success at the forefront. Our partnership with the Human Ecology Office of Undergraduate Admissions marks the beginning of a relationship that extends throughout each student's journey at Cornell. 

Through an integrated approach, Human Ecology Student Services brings together the Registrar’s office and a team of College Advisors from the Student and Career Development Office. This collaboration ensures comprehensive guidance for students, enabling them to thrive academically, personally, and professionally. Our office embodies a “one-stop” model, uniquely positioned to address both academic and career development needs. 

We continually innovate and adapt to meet the evolving needs of our students, equipping them to navigate future challenges and opportunities with confidence. By fostering meaningful connections within the Human Ecology community and the broader Cornell network, our advisors link students to valuable resources and support systems across campus.mailto: humec_students@cornell.edu. 

Student and Career Development 

The College Advisors from Student and Career Development team, including the Registrar, educate students around degree requirements, degree progress, course planning, petitions, and off-campus coursework. Advising is a purposeful and evolving process designed to help students define, clarify, and work towards their educational and personal goals. College Advisors also support students as they work through various circumstances and challenges impacting their academic and overall well-being. 

College Advisors closely collaborate with students as they explore potential career paths, often integrating these discussions naturally into academic meetings.  

Pre-Law or Pre-Health 

Students interested in Pre-Health fields can also access support and resource connections through the Student and Career Development team. Each week, we host advisors from the Cornell Health Professional Advising Center (HPAC) weekly as a partnership in support of Human Ecology students. 

Cornell’s Health Professions Advising Center (HPAC) is centralized advising support specifically for student interested in Pre-Health. HPAC provides resources to the student and alumni community through enhanced support and innovative ways to help students make informed decisions about their future. 

Students interested in pursuing a health-related career are welcome to join PATCH (Pre-professional Association Toward Careers in Health), which provides opportunities for students to explore various careers in medicine and health care. PATCH provides guidance as students prepare for the graduate or medical school application process, and it offers a mentor program for incoming students. 

Students interested in law can learn more about applying to law school, preparing for the LSAT, and exploring career opportunities using a legal education.  

Director of Undergraduate Studies 

Each department within Human Ecology (Nutritional Sciences, Human-Centered Design, Human Development) has a faculty member designated as the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS). The DUS can be a helpful resource and connection point for students in thinking through their degree, course planning, and more.  

Human Ecology Registrar's Office 

The Human Ecology Registrar’s Office (1204 MVR Hall), partnering closely with the University Registrar (B07 Day Hall), is a vital part of Student Services and serves to educate students, faculty, and staff regarding issues related to compliance with university-wide policies and state and federal laws and regulations related to students’ academic records.  

Faculty Connections 

Faculty help students explore the intersection of their educational and career interests through networking, career opportunities, alumni links, letters of recommendation, graduate school applications and more. Students can build relationships with faculty through courses, research opportunities, or initiating outreach to discuss their future interests.  

Communication to Students 

Each week all Human Ecology students receive an email newsletter referred to as Communecology. The Communecology newsletter is Human Ecology’s official way to communicate important updates around degree requirements, deadlines, policies, as well as notify students about events of interest.  

Students with Disabilities 

Students who have documented disabilities or would like to speak with someone about their potential challenges in the classroom, should reach out to the Students with Disabilities Office located at 110 Ho Plaza inside the Cornell Health building. They will help assess your concerns and offer potential options and accommodations depending on your situation. It is encouraged for students to connect with SDS early or as soon as there is a concern. You can also learn more about SDS from your Human Ecology College Advisors.  

Career Exploration Center (CEC) 

Supervised by the Office of Student and Career Development, the Career Exploration Center (CEC) is a student-led organization that supports career exploration and professional development for undergraduate students in the College of Human Ecology. The CEC offers walk-in resume reviews, cover letter critiques, practice interviews, career advice, career readiness workshops, and more. 

Central Career Development 

Central Career Development is located in 103 Barnes Hall and open to all Cornell students to provide a comprehensive array of support and resources including career exploration, resumes, graduate and professional school advising, legal careers, internship and full-time job searches, fellowships, and more. 

CUeLINKS

CUeLINKS is a university-wide online networking platform where you can connect with Cornell alumni, your peers, faculty/staff and friends of Cornell to explore and achieve your academic, career, and personal goals. As a knowledge seeker (student), you can connect with Knowledge sharers (alumni or peers) to share information on topics from career exploration, the student experience, job search strategies, workplace experiences and more! 

Global Education 

Global education broadens understanding of the world’s many different societies as well as the various cultural communities of this country. Students take courses in the Cornell programs listed below that may be used to meet degree requirements. The college encourages students to incorporate courses from these cultural programs and from study abroad experiences in their degree programs. See information on study abroad and exchange program opportunities. 

Human Ecology Peer Partnership Program  

Supports incoming students of color and first-generation college students transition to the college and university. Small groups of first-year students, usually about six to eight students, are paired with faculty and upper-class students. They meet weekly for discussions, guidance, and exploration of the Cornell campus and the Ithaca community. For more information, contact Verdene Lee in the Office of Student and Career Development (1210 MVR Hall, (607) 255-2532) or Gary Evans (E306 MVR, (607) 255-4775) in the Department of Human Centered Design. 

The Human Ecology Alumni Association Student Grants 

Students in the college can apply for these competitive grants to further their academic interests through independent research, community outreach, conference travel, and limited summer study related to career preparation/professional development. Applications are available on the college website. 

The Human Ecology Peer Partnership Program addresses the needs of incoming students as they make their transition to Cornell by providing a supportive community of peers, upper-class students, and faculty members. With family and friends far away, students may miss the safety of a community where they are completely free to be themselves. The Peer Partnership program supports students' personal growth and academic success by facilitating relationships and the sharing of information among new students, upper-class students, and faculty. Participants in the program meet weekly in small groups for planned academic and social activities. In the process, they make informal contacts, discuss questions and concerns, receive tips on resources available at Cornell and in the Ithaca community and get to know their peers. 

International Students 

The International Services Office of Global Learning (300 Caldwell Hall, (607) 255-5243) provides a broad range of services to international students. All international students should maintain contact with the International Services Office. College Advisors in Student and Career Development are also available for assistance and support.  

International students in the College of Human Ecology are encouraged to meet with the college registrar to discuss any questions or concerns that they have about their academic record.

Office of the Registrar

The Office of the University Registrar (B07 Day Hall) maintains the official academic records for the university and provides students with their official university transcripts. Additional information is available on the university registrar's website. The college registrar (1204 MVR Hall) maintains students' official academic records, including the audit of progress toward the degree. The college registrar also provides services such as adding and dropping courses, correcting student records, and approving the transfer of credit from other institutions. Additional information is available on the HE registrar's website.

Registration

University Record Holds

The University assumes certain legal responsibilities for persons who participate as students in the University environment. As a result, specific requirements must be met in order to be eligible to remain enrolled for a current term or enroll in a subsequent term. For more information, refer to University Record Holds.

Verification of Registration (Enrollment)

Many insurance companies or scholarship funds require verification of full-time registration at Cornell. Should students need such verification, they should use the official university verification service at certification.cornell.edu or request an official letter from the Office of the University Registrar (B07 Day Hall). Students who need letters of good standing should contact the Human Ecology registrar's office (1204 MVR Hall).

Bursar Bill

A bursar bill is sent to each student over the summer and winter breaks; it summarizes what is owed to the university. The bursar bill can also be viewed through Student Center. Any questions regarding the bursar bill should be directed to the bursar's office (260 Day Hall, (607) 255-2336). Initial New York State residency eligibility is determined during the admissions process, but the bursar's office will handle any request for a status change after matriculation.

Proration of Tuition

To be eligible for proration of tuition a student must have completed a minimum of 8 (Fall/Spring) semesters of study at Cornell and have fewer than 9 credits remaining to complete degree requirements. The student must be in good standing and meet all other proration requirements. See the college registrar (1204 MVR Hall) for more information.

Students of mature status may carry 6 to 11 credits but must request that their tuition be prorated. Prorated tuition will be considered only for requests of between 3 and 10 credits. All requests should be made to the college registrar (1204 MVR Hall) by the end of the pre-enrollment period in the semester before the term in which proration is requested.

Course Enrollment

Initiating the Process

Course Pre-enroll selections are only "requests" for seats in classes. Between the end of the course enrollment period and the beginning of the next semester, course requests are evaluated by the offering college department. Students can determine if their requests have been successful when final schedules are published before the add/drop period. Students are expected to make course requests for the subsequent semester during a specified time in the current semester. Those dates are advertised publicly and are available on the university registrar's website. Course Pre-enroll takes place electronically, using software available through Student Center. During this time, each student should meet with his or her faculty advisor to discuss academic plans.

Information on courses is readily available in this catalog and in the Class Roster for each semester.

Incoming students will meet with faculty advisors during the orientation period.

Course Loads

Full-time matriculated students must carry minimum of 12 credits (exclusive of physical education) to maintain full-time status. Refer to the section, "Minimum Semester Requirements," for details. The normal course load in the college ranges from 12 to 18 credits. Students who wish to enroll in more than 18 credits per semester must petition. They must have completed at least two semesters at Cornell with a cumulative GPA of 3.50. A strict maximum of 22 credits are allowed by petition, this includes PE and Supplemental courses. Students may not withdraw from courses after the 57th calendar day of the semester without petitioning and by substantiating extenuating circumstances. Students should avoid the need to drop courses by taking on a reasonable workload and using the drop period to make changes in their program.

Petitions to enroll for more than 18 credits are not accepted during the pre-enrollment period.

Late Course Enrollment

Students who do not complete course enrollment during the pre-enrollment period must wait until the beginning of the next semester's add/drop period to enroll. Extensions are rarely granted and usually only for documented illness.

Students who do not meet the deadline for any reason should see the college registrar in 1204 MVR Hall as soon as possible. The college registrar can explain available options and course enrollment procedures under such circumstances.

Note: Students can review their course schedule using Student Center. Students are responsible for checking their course schedule for accuracy of course numbers, credit hours, grade options, and other data. Errors must be corrected immediately. Procedures for correcting enrollment errors as well as for making any other changes are described in the following section.

Course Enrollment Changes

It is to the student's advantage to make any necessary course enrollment changes as early in the semester as possible. Adding new courses early makes it easier for the student to keep up with course work. Dropping a course early makes room for other students who may need it for their academic programs.

Ideally, students evaluate their course load carefully at the beginning of the semester. If, in the first week or two, the instructors do not discuss the amount of material to be covered and the extent of student assignments, students need to ask about course requirements.

Deadlines for Add/Drop and Grade Option Changes

Note: Brief add/drop periods exist for half-semester courses.

1. During the first 15 calendar days of the semester, courses may be added, dropped, or the course credits changed. Special status courses (4000, 4010, 4020) and Teaching Apprentice courses (4030) may be added through the end of the 5th week of the semester.
2. During the first 57 calendar days of the semester, courses may be dropped or the grade option changed.
3. After the 57th calendar day of the semester, any requests for course changes must be made through the petition process. Students should request an appointment with a Student and Career Development counselor in 1210 MVR Hall to initiate the process.
4. After the 57th calendar day of the semester, any student granted permission to drop a course after petitioning will automatically receive a grade of W (Withdrawn), and the course and grade will remain on the official transcript even if repeated in a later semester. The deadline to petition to drop a course with a "W" is the end of the 12th week.

Deadlines for Half-Semester Courses

Students may drop half-semester courses within the first three-and-one-half weeks of the course. Students may add a course after the first week of classes only with the permission of the instructor. After the first three-and-one-half weeks, students must petition to drop the course.

Permission of Instructor/Department

Certain courses may be taken only with the permission of the instructor or department as indicated in this catalog or through Student Center. Undergraduates must obtain permission of the instructor to take any graduate course. Students must request the instructor's permission during the course enrollment period by placing their name on a list maintained by the departmental advising assistant.

Course Enrollment while Studying Abroad

Students who plan to study abroad should consult with their faculty advisor before departure to consider the schedule of classes that they will take upon their return to campus. Once abroad, the student can use the internet to access the Catalog and the Class Roster for the coming semester. The roster is available on the web approximately two weeks prior to pre-enrollment.

Enrollment Restrictions

Enrollment in many human ecology courses is limited. When a course is overenrolled, students are generally assigned on the basis of seniority or by criteria defined for each course as listed in the course description. Students' professional goals may be considered. Those students not admitted to a course may be placed on a waiting list maintained by the professor or the department offering the course. Course instructors are responsible for determining the criteria to fill their classes from waiting lists. Waiting lists are maintained only for the first three weeks of each semester.

Limited-Enrollment Classes

Students who do not attend the first two class sessions of courses with limited enrollment may be dropped from the course list. Students can avoid being dropped from a class by notifying the instructor that unavoidable circumstances have prevented their attendance.

Cross-Listed Courses

To apply a cross-listed course to graduation requirements, students must enroll in the department for which they need the credits. If changes in department designations need to be made, this must be done during the official course add period for the semester. To do so, students must complete a Cross-listed Course Change Request. 

Forbidden Overlaps

Students should scrutinize course descriptions for details about other Cornell courses with duplicate content that would preclude a student from receiving full credit for duplicate courses.

Special Studies Courses

Each department in the College of Human Ecology (DEA, FSAD, HD, HE, and NS) offers special studies courses that provide opportunities for students to do independent work not available in regular courses.

The other special studies courses are 4000 Directed Readings; 4010 Empirical Research; and 4020 Supervised Fieldwork. Juniors and seniors normally take those courses, and a faculty member in the department in which the course is offered supervises work on an individual basis. It is important for students to use the appropriate course number (3000, 4000, 4010, or 4020) for a special project.

To register for a special studies course, a student completes an online special studies form for the departmental office where he or she plans to take the course. The student discusses the proposed course with the faculty member under whose supervision the study would be done and then prepares a plan of work. If the faculty member agrees to supervise the study, the student completes a special studies request.  Once the instructor has signed the request, the student will receive an email with a permission code to enroll in the special studies course.  It is the responsibility of the student to make sure this is done in a timely manner. The deadline to enroll in Special Studies is the end of the 5th week of the semester.

Semester credits for special studies courses are determined by the number of contact hours the student has with the supervising faculty member (or a person designated by the faculty member). To earn 1 credit, a student must have the equivalent of three to four hours of contact time per week for 15 weeks (a total of 45 contact hours). For additional credit, multiply the number of credits to be earned by 45 to determine the number of contact hours needed for the course. Strict limitations exist on the number of special studies credits that can apply toward graduation and how these credits may be applied toward Major requirements. Refer to "Human Ecology Credit Requirements" for details. To register in a special studies course taught in a department outside the college, follow the procedures established by that department.

Changes in Status

General Petition Process

The petition process permits students to request exceptions to existing regulations. Petitions are considered individually, weighing the unique situation of the petitioning student with the intent of college and university regulations. In most cases, extenuating circumstances are needed for a petition to be approved if it involves waiving a deadline. These are situations beyond a student's control, such as a documented medical emergency.

Students can avoid the necessity to petition by carefully observing the deadlines that affect their academic program. See "Course Enrollment Changes" above for some of the important deadlines. If unsure of a deadline, check with a counselor in the Office of Student and Career Development (1210 MVR Hall) or with the staff in the college registrar's office (1204 MVR Hall).

A general petition may be needed to carry fewer than 12 credits, withdraw from a class after the 57th calendar day of the semester deadline, add a course after the first 15 calendar days of the semester (Add Deadline), change a grade option after the 57th calendar day deadline, be exempt from one or more of the college's graduation requirements, substitute a required course in one's major with another course, or stay an additional semester to complete the graduation requirements.

Although many kinds of requests can be petitioned in the college, options other than petitioning may be preferable in some cases. To explore whether a petition is appropriate, the student may discuss the situation with a college counselor or the college registrar.

If a student decides to submit a general petition, the form is available on the HE Student Portal. After completing the form, meeting with a counselor in 1210 MVR Hall, the form will route to the registrar. Once a decision is made, the student will be notified at their Cornell e-mail address indicating approval or denial of the petition.

Students may appeal the college registrar's decision to the Committee on Academic Status. A member of the counseling staff can guide a student through this process.

Off Campus Coursework

Under certain conditions, credit toward a Cornell degree may be given for courses taken away from Cornell at an accredited institution away from Cornell after the student matriculates in the College of Human Ecology. Courses can be taken off campus during any semester: fall, winter, spring, or summer. First-year writing seminars may not be taken off campus after matriculating at Cornell.

To be eligible for in absentia study, a student must be in good academic standing and must receive permission in advance from the college registrar. A student not in good standing may study in absentia but will not receive transcript credit until the Committee on Academic Status has returned the student to good standing. Students not in good academic standing who wish to finish their degree in absentia must seek pre-approval from the college's Committee on Academic Status via the general petition process. In some cases, students may petition for in absentia credit after the work has been completed, but there is no guarantee that such credit will be awarded without advance approval.

In absentia petition forms are available on the HE Student portal. In absentia study during the fall or spring semester carries a nominal administrative fee. (Contact the Bursar's office, 260 Day Hall, for the current amount.) Students will receive an e-mail from the college registrar notifying them of the petition decision.

Note: Students seeking pre-approval for in absentia course work should do so well in advance as turnaround time for the approval process can be variable.

The combined number of in absentia, AP credits and pre-matriculation credits applied to graduation requirements may not exceed 15 credits. Students who study abroad during the summer or winter term are limited to a maximum of 9 in absentia credits. Study abroad during the fall or spring semester must be done through the Study Abroad office or through formal Human Ecology Exchange Programs and is not considered in absentia study. Students studying while on a leave of absence during the spring or fall semesters may not receive credit for nondomestic campus programs.

The college registrar requests approval from the appropriate department if a student wants to apply in-absentia credit to requirements in his or her major. Students seeking in-absentia credit for a modern foreign language in which they have done work must obtain the approval of the appropriate language department (College of Arts and Sciences). The department will recommend the number of credits the student should receive and may require the student to take a placement test after returning to Cornell.

The student is responsible for having the registrar of the institution where in-absentia study is done send transcripts of grades directly to the Human Ecology registrar's office (1204 MVR Hall). Only then will credit be officially assessed and applied to the Cornell degree. Credit for in-absentia study will be granted only for those courses with grades of C or better. Courses may not be taken for S–U grades unless it is the only grade option offered. In-absentia courses appear on the Cornell University transcript, but the grades are not calculated in the student's GPA.

The rules regarding study in-absentia apply to transfer students with the additional stipulation that at least 60 credits must be taken at Cornell. At least 43 of the 60 credits must be in the College of Human Ecology at Cornell unless the student has transferred equivalent human ecology credit. (No more than 2 courses of equivalent credit may be applied to the 43 credits required in human ecology course work.)

Leaves of Absence

A student may request a leave of absence at any time after they have commenced attendance at the university as part of a Cornell degree program. A leave may be extended for a second semester by making a written request to the Office of Human Ecology Registrar (1204 MVR Hall). Note: In-absentia study status and leave of absence status are not the same; however, students may petition to earn credits with either status. Students on leave must notify the college registrar (1204 MVR Hall), of their intention to return to campus by returning the Return from Leave of Absence form by November 30 for a spring return and July 31 for a fall return. Those whose leave period has expired will be withdrawn from the college after the third week of the semester they were due back.

Students considering a leave of absence should discuss their plans with a counselor in the Office of Student and Career Development. The student must initiate the leave request using the Cornell Leave of Absence and Withdrawal Request to officially request a leave.  Leaves initiated after instruction begins will be charged a percentage of the semester tuition.  The University Registrar will determine the effective date of the leave.

The academic records of all students who are granted a leave of absence are subject to review, and the Committee on Academic Status may request grades and other information from faculty members to determine whether the student should return under warning or severe warning or in good academic standing.

Under certain documented medical circumstances a student may be granted a health leave of absence. Health leaves are initiated by the student with Cornell Health. If they recommend a health leave for the student, the college registrar may grant the leave. A health leave is for an indeterminate period of time not to exceed five years. Students who are granted a health leave of absence have the option to maintain contact with a counselor in the Office of Student and Career Development (1210 MVR Hall, (607) 255-2532). The counselor will advise the student on procedures to obtain a recommendation from Cornell Health to the college registrar for the student's return. Students should plan sufficiently in advance to assure time for Cornell Health and the college registrar to consider their request. The request should be initiated by November 30 for a spring return and by July 31 for a fall return.

Withdrawal

A withdrawal is a termination of student status at the university. Students may withdraw voluntarily at any time by submitting a withdrawal request. A student considering such an action is urged to first discuss plans with a counselor in the Office of Student, and Career Development (1210 MVR Hall, (607) 255-2532). The University Registrar will determine the effective date of the withdrawal.

In some instances, a student may be given a withdrawal by the college registrar. Students who leave the college without an approved leave of absence, or do not return after the leave has expired, will be given a withdrawal after the seventh week of the semester in which they fail to register.

A student who has withdrawn from the college or who has been given a withdrawal by the college registrar and who wishes to return at a later date must reapply through the Office of Admission for consideration along with all other applicants for admission. If the student was in academic difficulty at the time of the withdrawal, the request for readmission will be referred to the Committee on Academic Status (CAS) for consideration, and that committee may stipulate criteria under which the student may be readmitted to the college.

Grades and Examinations

Grade Definitions and Equivalents

The official Grading Guidelines use a system of letter grades ranging from A+ to D-, with F denoting failure. An INC grade is given for incomplete work, R is given at the end of the first semester of a two-semester course.

Repeating Courses

Students may enroll a second time for a course they have already passed or in which they received an F. If a student has previously passed a course he or she is taking a second time, the second enrollment will not count toward the degree/credit requirements, however the grade received will be included in the cumulative GPA.

If a student enrolls in a course in which he or she previously received an F, the credits from the second enrollment will count toward the graduation requirements and the grade will be included in the cumulative GPA. The F will also remain on the record and will be included in the GPA.

S–U Grades

Some courses in the college and in other academic units at Cornell are offered on an S–U basis. Courses listed as SX–UX are available only on an S–U basis and may not be taken for a letter grade. A student who is attempting to qualify for the semester's Dean's List must take at least 12 credits of course work graded non–S–U. See Awards and Honors for more details about the Dean's List.

No more than 12 S–U credits will count toward a student's 120-credit graduation requirement. However, a student may take more than one S–U course in any one semester. S–U courses may be taken only as electives or in the 9 credits required in the college outside the major unless the requirements for a specific major indicate otherwise. First-year students enrolled in WRIT 1370 FWS: Elements of Academic Writing and WRIT 1380 FWS: Elements of Academic Writing (offered for S–U grades only) are permitted to apply those courses to the first-year writing seminar requirement. If a required course is offered only S–U, it will not count toward the 12-credit limit.

To take a course for an S–U grade, a student must check the course description to make sure that the course is offered on the S–U basis; then either sign up for S–U credit during course enrollment, or obtain and file an add/drop form in the Human Ecology registrar's office before the end of the 57th calendar day of the semester.

Grades of Incomplete

A grade of incomplete (INC) is given when a student has completed a substantial portion of the class but has not completed all the work for a course on time but when, in the instructor's judgment, there was a valid reason. A student with such a reason should discuss the matter with the instructor and request a grade of incomplete. Students are at risk of going under the minimum semester requirement if an INC grade in a course puts the total number of credit hours under 12 for the semester. For more information, refer to Minimum Semester Requirements.

A grade of incomplete may remain on a student's official transcript for a maximum of two semesters and one summer after the grade is given, or until the awarding of a degree, whichever is the shorter period of time. The instructor has the option of setting a shorter time limit for completing the course work.

If the work is completed within the designated time period, the grade of incomplete will be changed to a regular grade on the student's official transcript. If the work is not completed within the designated time period, the grade of incomplete automatically will be converted to an F by the college registrar.

When a student wants to receive a grade of incomplete, the student must arrange a meeting with the instructor (before classes end and the study period begins) to work out the agreement. Within the On-line Grade Adjustment Application (OLGAA), there is the ability to Report on a Grade of Incomplete and Explanation for Reporting a Failing Grade of F or U. This form is submitted with the final grades whenever a grade of incomplete is given. This form is for the student's protection, particularly in the event that a faculty member with whom a course is being completed leaves campus without leaving a record of the work completed in the course. This form should be completed by the final grade submission deadline.

A student who completes the work in the required time and expects to receive a grade must take the responsibility for checking with the Human Ecology Registrar's Office (about two weeks after the work has been handed in) to make sure that the grade has been received. Any questions should be discussed with the course instructor.

The form for Reporting a Failing Grade of F or U must be completed by the instructor by the final grade submission deadline. This form is used by the Committee on Academic Status when reviewing students at the end of a semester to determine if an action should be taken regarding the students' progress to degree.

Grade Disputes

Students who find themselves in disagreement with an instructor over grades have several options:

1. Meet with the instructor and try to resolve the dispute.
2. Meet with the chair of the department in which the instructor has his or her appointment.
3. Meet with the associate dean for undergraduate studies of the college in which the course was taught.
4. Meet with the university ombudsman (118 Stimson Hall, (607) 255-4321).

A student may also seek advice from his or her faculty advisor, the college registrar, or with a counselor in the Office of Student and Career Development (1210 MVR Hall).

Examinations

Both the preliminary and final examination schedules are available on the university registrar's website.

Final Examinations

Final exam information is located in the Final Examinations section of this catalog.

Return of Exams, Papers, Etc.

Although there is no federal or state legislation that pertains to the manner in which graded work is to be returned to students, the returning of such materials should be handled in such a manner as will preserve the student's privacy. Students have a right to examine their corrected exams, papers, and the like, in order to be able to question their grading. They do not, however, have an absolute right to the return thereof. Exams, papers, etc., as well as grading records, should be retained for one year after completion of the course to afford students such right of review.

Due Date for Submitting Final Grades

Prompt submission of final grades is essential. Each college and school sets their own due dates for final grades independently each semester in consultation with the university registrar.

Preliminary Examinations

Preliminary exam information is located in the Evening Preliminary Examinations section of this catalog.

Academic Standing

Criteria for Good Standing

The College of Human Ecology has established a set of minimum academic standards that all students must meet or exceed each semester. These standards are as follows:

1. A student must maintain a semester and cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher.
2. A student must successfully complete a minimum of 12 academic credits per semester, excluding physical education courses. 
3. Students enrolling in the college as first-years must enroll in a minimum of one 3-credit Human Ecology course in each of their first four semesters, excluding winter and summer sessions. Transfer students must complete 12 Human Ecology credits by the end of their second semester at Cornell.
4. A student must be making "satisfactory progress" toward a Human Ecology bachelor's degree.
5. All students must complete their requirements for first-year writing seminars (FWS) during their first two semesters at Cornell. Students who do not take a required first-year writing seminar in the first semester that they matriculate at the College of Human Ecology will be placed on a warning status.

Students who have completed the second or subsequent semesters of matriculation at the college who have not taken both of the required writing seminars will be reviewed by the Committee on Academic Status. In these cases, if the student has not pre-enrolled for an FWS for the upcoming semester, a hold will be placed on the student's semester registration status until they are actually enrolled in an FWS. If this requirement is not completed by the end of that semester, the student may be withdrawn from the college.

At the end of each semester, the Committee on Academic Status (CAS) reviews each student's academic record to ensure that the minimum academic standards listed above are met. The committee takes appropriate action for students whose academic achievement is considered unsatisfactory as defined by these criteria. CAS considers each case individually before deciding on a course of action. In an effort to support every student's success, the committee may take any of the following actions:

1. Place a hold on a student's university registration status or course enrollment for the current or upcoming semester.
2. Withdraw the student permanently from the college and Cornell University.
3. Require the student to take a leave of absence for one or more semesters.
4. Issue a warning to the student at one of the following levels:

• Severe warning with danger of being withdrawn
• Severe warning
• Warning
  These imply that if the student does not show considerable improvement during the semester, the committee may withdraw the student.

2. Add the student's name to a review list; students with this status are monitored by the committee throughout the semester.
3. Return the student to good standing.

Students placed on a required leave must appeal to CAS to return. This appeal occurs at the end of the required leave period. Students who have been withdrawn may appeal the decision before the committee during the pre-semester appeals meeting. Students who have been placed on a status owing to incomplete or missing grades may request that their status be reviewed for possible updating to good standing once the grade records reflect the updates or corrections. These requests should be made using the general petition process and submitted to the college registrar.

All students with an academic warning status automatically will be reviewed for specific criteria at the end of the subsequent semester.  Students put on warning, severe warning, or severe warning with danger of being withdrawn status will be informed of conditions that they are expected to fulfill to return to good standing. In general, these conditions are that a student must earn a minimum semester GPA of 2.0, complete 12 credits (exclusive of physical education), and not have any incomplete, missing, F, or U grades on his or her most recent semester record.

If a student who has been previously placed on a required leave wishes to return to the college, they must submit a plan of study to the committee before being rejoined.  The student should contact a Human Ecology counselor in the Office of Student and Career Development (1210 MVR Hall) to discuss the process and due dates.

Students who have been withdrawn from the college by CAS may request that they be readmitted. Such students have three years from the date they were withdrawn to make this appeal with assistance from a counselor in the Office of Student and Career Development (1210 MVR Hall). After three years, a former student must apply for readmission through the college's Office of Admission. A student applying for readmission should discuss their situation with a counselor in the Office of Admission, Student, and Career Development. The student also should talk with others who may be able to help—faculty advisors, instructors, or a member of the university medical staff. Any information given to the committee is held in the strictest confidence.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a critical issue for all students and professors in the academic community. Refer to the Academic Integrity section of this catalog for complete information on the Code of Academic Integrity and Guidelines for Students.

The college's Academic Integrity Hearing Board, which consists of a chairperson, three faculty members, and three students, hears appeals from students who have breached the code. It also deals with cases brought directly to it by members of the faculty.

Academic Records

Students may obtain their Cornell academic record in several ways. The Cornell transcript, which is the official record of the courses, credits, and grades that a student has earned can be ordered with no charge at the Office of the University Registrar (B07 Day Hall) or online at transcript.cornell.edu. For more information, call (607) 255-4232. Students may also access their grades and course schedules electronically using Student Center. Students should be in the habit of checking Student Center by the second week of every semester to confirm that their schedule and grade options are correct. Adjustments must be made before published enrollment deadlines.

Students should use the Academic Advising Report through Student Center to track their degree progress.  It is important to check this document and bring any errors to the attention of the staff in the college registrar's office (1204 MVR Hall).

Access to Records

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 assures students of privacy of their records. The law also assures students' access to their records. Information concerning a student's relationship with the university is considered restricted and may be released only at the student's specific written request. Restricted information includes the courses elected; grades earned; class rank; academic and disciplinary actions by appropriate faculty, student, or administrative committees; and financial arrangements between the student and the university. Letters of recommendation are restricted information unless the student has specifically waived right of access.

Students who want additional information on access to their records may contact the Office of the College Registrar (1204 MVR Hall) or the Office of the University Registrar (B07 Day Hall). An inventory of those student records maintained by Cornell University offices in Ithaca, their location, and cognizant officers are available in the Office of the Dean of Students (401 Willard Straight Hall).

For specific information, refer to the university's policy Access to Student Information or talk with the college registrar.

Academic Honors and Awards

The college encourages high academic achievement and recognizes outstanding students in several ways.

Honors

Dean's List. Excellence in academic achievement is recognized each semester by placing on the Dean's List the names of students who have completed satisfactorily at least 12 credits of letter grades and who have a semester GPA of 3.7 or above. No student who has received an F or U in an academic course will be eligible.  Cornell University is phasing out individual school and college Dean's Lists. The Dean’s List designation will not be applicable to undergraduate students matriculating in Summer 2023 and beyond. The Dean’s List will be discontinued for all students at the end of the Spring 2026 semester.

Kappa Omicron Nu seeks to promote graduate study and research and to stimulate scholarship and leadership toward the well-being of individuals and families. As a chapter of a national honor society in the New York State College of Human Ecology, it stimulates and encourages scholarly inquiry and action on significant problems of living—at home, in the community, and throughout the world.

Effective November 2017, students are eligible for membership if they have attained sophomore, junior or senior status.  The top 25% of students in each major in the college are invited to join; induction is only in the Spring semester.

Bachelor of science with honors recognizes outstanding scholastic achievement in an academic field. Programs leading to a degree with honors are offered to selected students. Information about admission to the programs and their requirements may be obtained from the appropriate department or division. To graduate with honors a student must take approved courses in research methodology and evaluation, attend honors seminars, complete a written thesis, and successfully defend it in front of a committee.

Bachelor of science with high distinction/distinction recognizes outstanding scholastic achievement. High Distinction is awarded to graduates who earn a cumulative GPA of 4.000 or higher, Distinction is awarded to graduates who earn a cumulative GPA of 3.750 to 3.999. Latin Honors will be instituted across the University beginning with the December 2026 conferral date.

Awards

The Elsie Van Buren Rice Public Speaking Contest awards prizes totaling $2,500 for speeches related to published research by Human Ecology faculty members. The contest is held each year in March.

The Flora Rose Prize is given to a Cornell Human Ecology junior or senior whom, in the words of the donor, "shall demonstrate the greatest promise for contributing to the growth and self-fulfillment of future generations." Students apply in the spring semester. The recipient receives a cash prize.

The Florence Halpern Award is named for the noted psychologist, Dr. Florence Halpern, in recognition of her lifelong interest in "innovative human service, which betters the quality of life." In that spirit the award is presented to an undergraduate in the College of Human Ecology who has demonstrated, through supervised fieldwork or community service, creativity in the search for solutions to human problems. Students apply in the spring semester. The award carries a cash prize.

College Committees and Organizations

Student Groups and Organizations

Following are brief descriptions of some of the organizations that offer valuable experiences to human ecology students. Information about many other student activities on campus may be obtained from the Office of the Dean of Students (401 Willard Straight Hall).

The Cornell Fashion Collective (CFC) was formed to give students interested in apparel a chance to express their creativity outside of the classroom by producing a fashion show every spring. It has become concerned with all aspects of a professional presentation. Consequently, it also provides a creative outlet for those interested in graphics, photography, illustration, or theater production. Although many of its designers are part of the Fashion Design and Management and Fiber Science majors, the CFC welcomes people from all majors and schools.

Students have opportunities to work throughout the community in a variety of service capacities. They volunteer in day care centers, youth programs, health-related agencies, services for elderly people and people with disabilities, as well as nutrition programs, arts organizations, and Ithaca schools. For further information, contact the Public Service Center (200 Barnes Hall). Call (607) 255-1148 for information about volunteer work or (607) 255-1107 for information about work-study arrangements.

The Human Ecology Ambassadors is a group of Human Ecology undergraduates who assist the Office of Admission in the area of new student recruitment and yield. Ambassadors participate in group conferences with prospective students to provide information from a student's perspective, assist with on-campus programs for high school students and potential transfer students, and help with prospective student engagement and letter writing. In addition, ambassadors attend regular meetings and serve as coordinators for activities in the Office of Admission.

For information, contact the Office of Admission, Student, and Career Development (1210 MVR Hall, (607) 255-5471).

Students interested in the relationship between the physical environment and human behavior may join the Human-Environment Relations Students Association. For more information, contact the Department of Human Centered Design.

Association for Engagement and Partnership (AEP) — With the motto "Yesterday’s vision, today’s reality, and tomorrow’s hope," the Association for Engagement and Partnership (AEP) was created to bring together first-generation students and students from disadvantaged backgrounds in the college of Human Ecology to provide a supportive foundation for enrollment, retention, and graduation. AEP is open to all currently enrolled students. 

• participating in admissions. 
• sponsoring workshops and activities that support the retention of students in the college. 
• providing volunteer services to the Cornell and Ithaca communities; and 
• attending regular meetings and hosting an annual fall Alumni-Student Forum. 

The AEP student committees are: 

• recruitment and retention, 
• student relations and publicity 
• career development.

The International Facility Managers Association (IFMA) also has a student chapter. Membership information is available from the Department of Design and Environmental Analysis.

The Preprofessional Association Toward Careers in Health (PATCH) provides support, advising, and up-to-date information to students pursuing careers in health care. Programs include academic advising, guest speakers from allopathic and alternative medicine, information on medical school admissions, exposure to complementary health-care career options, MCAT preparation tips, information on research and internship opportunities, and a visit to a local medical school. This student-run organization is sponsored by Human Ecology and is open to the Cornell community. For more information, contact the Office of Student, and Career Development (1210 MVR Hall, (607) 255-2532).

The Health and Nutritional Undergraduate Society (HealthNutS) promotes nutritional well-being through education, communication, and research. Members of the student chapter organize programs and host on-campus speakers in nutrition and health-related fields. The student chapter is open to all students interested in nutrition education. For more information, contact DNS Student Services (dnsstudentservices@cornell.edu).

Committees and Councils

Several official organizations exist within the college to deal with matters of policy and to provide leadership in college planning. Most include elected student and faculty representatives; the actions of these various groups affect all students directly or indirectly.

The Educational Policies Committee (EPC) has two student members, one graduate and one undergraduate, who vote along with the faculty members on all matters relating to college academic policy. Recommendations are submitted to this committee regarding revisions in degree requirements, new curriculum changes, and new course approval.

The Committee on Academic Status (CAS) is composed of one member of the faculty from each Human Ecology major including the Division of Nutritional Sciences, the Human Ecology Registrar, and a Student and Career Development liaison. The committee reviews and makes decisions on: The academic standing of undergraduate students, leave of absences/withdrawal requests after published deadlines. The committee advises the Registrar, as requested, relative to actions on student petitions and hears appeals from students on; actions by the Registrar, and other appeals.

Students also have the opportunity to serve on the Admissions Policy Subcommittee and the Academic Integrity Hearing Board.

The Selection Committee for the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching or Professional Service handles the nomination and selection process for this prestigious yearly award. The committee consists of three teaching faculty members, one professional staff member, and three undergraduate members.

The Human Ecology Alumni Association Board of Directors includes two student board members—one junior and one senior. One student is selected each spring to begin a two-year term as student representative. The two students co-chair the board's Student Activities Committee, which works to increase the visibility of the Alumni Association among the student body by funding a variety of activities. The student members also bring an important perspective to board deliberations about programming and annual goals.

The Dean's Undergraduate Advisory Council is a student group whose members promote communication between undergraduates and the Human Ecology administration. Interested students apply each spring to join the council for the following academic year.

Undergraduate Affairs

Persons interested in undergraduate study in human ecology should contact the admissions office, 1220 MVR Hall, (607) 255-5471. Those interested in graduate study should contact the graduate field representative identified among the faculty of each department. Department faculty members are listed at the beginning of the course descriptions for each department.

Counselors in the Office of Admission, Student, and Career Development (1210 MVR Hall) can help current students understand college programs and requirements, as well as college and university resources and services. They provide a broad range of career services and personal support for all matriculated undergraduates. The college registrar (1204 MVR Hall) assists undergraduates with questions about academic credit and graduation requirements.

The Student Body

The college's undergraduate admissions committee selects applicants who are academically well prepared and appear most likely to profit from the college's various curricula. Admission is highly selective. Approximately half of the student body comes from New York State, with the remainder coming from other parts of the United States and abroad. Approximately 30 percent identified as members of minority groups. Members of the college faculty chair the special committees of approximately 200 graduate students.

Mature Students

The college recognizes that students who interrupted their formal education and are returning to school have needs different from those of younger undergraduates. To facilitate the education of mature students, defined as those 24 years old or older at first matriculation, the college has adopted certain procedures specifically for that group. Counselors in the Office of Student and Career Development (1210 MVR Hall) can provide information of interest to mature students. Mature students may petition to enroll in as few as 6 credits and also are permitted to extend their residency beyond the normal eight semesters. To find out about qualifying for prorated tuition, mature students must see the college registrar during the course enrollment period in the preceding semester.

Transfer Students

Students may be considered transfer students once they complete 12 college credits after high school graduation. An external transfer student is one who transfers to Human Ecology from an institution outside of Cornell University. Liberal arts credits from other institutions transfer readily, but students must earn a minimum of 60 Cornell credits to graduate. Internal transfer students are admitted to Human Ecology from one of Cornell's other seven undergraduate units. Students transferring internally should take special care to learn the policies of Human Ecology, because rules at the various Cornell colleges often differ. Before admission, both internal and external transfer candidates should contact the Office of Admission (1220 MVR Hall, (607) 255-5471) to discuss credit transfer. Upon matriculation, admitted transfer students should attend the orientation and contact the Human Ecology registrar's office (1204 MVR Hall, (607) 255-2235) to discuss how transfer credits will apply to their specific degree program.

External transfer students must spend a minimum of 4 academic (Fall or Spring) semesters in residence on the Ithaca Campus. Cornell in Washington/Study Abroad will not apply to this requirement. Summer session course work will not apply to this requirement.

Special Student Status

Students eligible for special status are those visiting from other institutions and interested in particular programs in the college, those with a bachelor's degree who are preparing for graduate study or jobs and careers in human ecology–related fields, or those who have interrupted their education and are considering completing degree programs. Students accepted in the non-degree status of special student may enroll for a maximum of two semesters. During the second semester of attendance, a special student must either apply for admission as a transfer student or plan to terminate studies in the college at the end of the semester. Special students are expected to take a minimum of 12 credits each semester and to take one-half to two-thirds of their work in the statutory divisions of the university. Courses taken while a person is classified as a special student may be counted toward the requirements of the bachelor's degree. Those interested in becoming special students should make appointments to discuss admissions procedures in the Office of Admission (1220 MVR Hall, (607) 255-5471).

Empire State Students

Occasionally, a student who is completing requirements for a degree through the Empire State College Program is interested in taking a human ecology course. This can be done by registering through the Division of Summer Session, Extramural Study, and Related Programs (B20 Day Hall, (607) 255-4987). All rules of the extramural division apply, and registrations will be accepted only on a space-available basis and with the written approval of the course instructor. At the time of registration, Empire State College students must provide the extramural division with a completed copy of Empire State College's notification of cross-registration (form number SA-22, F-031) to verify enrollment in Empire State College. Such students will be charged 25 percent of the standard extramural tuition per credit.

Faculty

A

Anderson, Adam, Ph.D., Yale U. Prof., Psychology

B

Baytar, Fatma, Ph.D., Cornell U. Asst. Prof., Human Centered Design

Beaman, Leighton, M.Arch, Harvard U. Assoc. Prof. of Practice, Human Centered Design

Brainerd, Charles, Ph.D., Michigan State U. Prof., Psychology

Burrow, Anthony, Ph.D., Florida International U., Assoc. Prof., Psychology

C

Casasanto, Daniel, Ph.D., U. of Chicago, Assoc. Prof., Psychology

Casasola, Marianella, Ph.D., U. of Texas, Austin. Prof., Psychology; Assoc. Dean

Ceci, Stephen J., Ph.D., U. of Exeter (UK). Prof., Psychology

D

Dahl, Audun, Ph.D., U. of California, Berkeley. Assoc. Prof., Psychology

DeRosa, Eve, Ph.D., Harvard U. Assoc. Prof., Psychology

Dunifon, Rachel, Ph.D., Northwestern U. Prof., Brooks School of Public Policy and the Rebecca Q. and James C. Morgan Dean of the College of Human Ecology

E

Eckenrode, John J., Ph.D., Tufts U. Prof. Emeritus, Psychology

Elliott, John, M.E. Des., U. of Calgary (Canada). Assoc. Prof., Human Centered Design

Evans, Gary, Ph.D., U. of Massachusetts, Amherst. Prof., Human Centered Design and Psychology

F

Frey, Margaret, Ph.D., North Carolina State U. Prof., Human Centered Design

G

Gonzalez, Marlen, Ph.D., U. of Virginia.  Asst. Prof., Psychology

Gowayed, Yasser, Ph.D., North Carolina State U. Prof. and Chair, Human Centered Design

Green, Denise, Ph.D., U. of British Columbia. Assoc. Prof., Human Centered Design

Green, Keith, Ph.D., U. of Pennsylvania. Prof., Human Centered Design

H

Hazan, Cindy, Ph.D., U. of Denver. Assoc. Prof., Psychology

Hinestroza, Juan, Ph.D., Tulane U. Assoc. Prof., Human Centered Design

Hobbs, William, Ph.D., U. of California, San Diego. Asst. Prof., Psychology

Hoffman, Adam, Ph.D., U. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Asst. Prof., Psychology

Hua, Ying, Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon U. Assoc. Prof., Human Centered Design

I

Inniss-Thompson, Misha, Ph.D., Vanderbilt U. Asst. Prof., Psychology

K

Kalantari, Saleh, Ph.D., Texas A&M U. Asst. Prof., Human Centered Design

Kao, Hsin-Liu (Cindy), Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Asst. Prof., Human Centered Design

L

Leitao, Renata, Ph.D., U. de Montreal, Asst. Prof., Human Centered Design

Lewis, Van Dyk, Ph.D., U. of Central England, Birmingham. Assoc. Prof., Human Centered Design

Loebach, Janet, Ph.D., Western U. Asst. Prof., Human Centered Design

Loeckenhoff, Corinna, Ph.D., Stanford U. Prof., Psychology

M

Mendle, Jane, Ph.D., U. of Virginia. Assoc. Prof., Psychology

O

Ong, Anthony D., Ph.D., U. of Southern California. Prof., Psychology

P

Park, Huiju, Ph.D., Oklahoma State U. Assoc. Prof., Human Centered Design

Pillemer, Karl A., Ph.D., Brandeis U. Prof., Psychology

R

Reed, Jaleesa, Ph.D., U. of Georgia, Asst. Res. Prof., Human Centered Design

Reyna, Valerie, Ph.D., Rockefeller U. Prof., Psychology

Robertson, Steven S., Ph.D., Cornell U. Prof. Emeritus, Psychology

S

Shepherd, Larissa, Ph.D., Cornell U., Asst. Prof., Human Centered Design

Shepley, Mardelle M., Ph.D., U. of Michigan. Prof., Human Centered Design

Sternberg, Robert, Ph.D., Stanford U. Prof., Psychology

T

Thoemmes, Felix, Ph.D., Arizona State U. Assoc. Prof. and Chair, Psychology

U

Uyar, Tamer, Ph.D., North Carolina State U. Assoc. Prof., Human Centered Design

W

Wang, Q. I., Ph.D., Harvard U. Prof., Psychology

Wells, Jenna, Ph.D., U. of California, Berkeley. Asst. Prof., Psychology

Wells, Nancy, Ph.D., U. of Michigan. Prof., Human Centered Design; Assoc. Dean

Wethington, Elaine, Ph.D., U. of Michigan. Prof. Emeritus, Psychology

Williams, Wendy M., Ph.D., Yale U. Prof., Psychology

Y

Yoon, JungKyoon, Ph.D., Delft U of Technology. Asst. Prof., Human Centered Design

Yoon, So-Yeon, Ph.D., U. of Missouri-Columbia. Assoc. Prof., Human Centered Design

Z

Zadeh, Rana, Ph.D., Texas A&M U. Asst. Prof., Human Centered Design

Lecturers

Ahmadi, Nooshin, M.Arch. Degree, Texas A&M U. Lec., Human Centered Design

Blumenkamp, Catherine, M.P.S., Cornell U. Lec., Human Centered Design

Conroy, Melissa, M.A., U. of Georgia and Philadelphia U. Sr. Lec., Human Centered Design

Gilmore, Rhonda, M.A., Cornell U. Sr. Lec., Human Centered Design

Kim, Eddy Man, M.Des., Harvard U. Lec., Human Centered Design

Korfine, Lauren, Ph.D., Harvard U. Sr. Lec., Psychology

Kozen, Fran, M.S., Cornell U. Sr. Lec., Human Centered Design

Phoenix, Kim, M.A., Cornell U. Sr. Lec., Human Centered Design