Program Description
Our interdisciplinary unit studies human development across the lifespan and integrates lab-based and real-world research to enhance development and well-being in diverse environments and populations. Human development majors explore the psychological, social, cultural, and biological development of people from conception to old age, focusing on the processes and mechanisms of growth and change over the life course. An important emphasis is the role that social institutions such as schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods play in human development, as well as the influence that developing people have on their environments. The human development major provides an excellent foundation for many professional careers, such as law, medicine (pediatrics, geriatrics, neurology, and psychiatry), clinical psychology and other mental health professions, education, social work, other health-related professions, business, nonprofit management, and advocacy. Many human development graduates attend graduate school in the fields of human development, psychology, and sociology.
The faculty in the Department of Psychology come from multiple disciplines, including developmental psychology, neuroscience, clinical psychology, education, political science, and sociology. The research of the department's faculty is extensive and world renowned and addresses issues such as the neurobiological basis of personality, the role of childhood attachments in the development of adult romantic relationships, the acquisition of language in infants, the effects of environmental stressors on children's cognitive development, interventions to prevent and mitigate the impacts of child maltreatment, risk-taking during adolescence, risk and resilience factors across the life course, the epidemiology of elder mistreatment, memory and the legal system, health care decision making among older people, and strategies to prevent social isolation and promote social integration among older people.
Human Development is one of the most diverse majors in the College of Human Ecology. The major is flexible enough to give students ample opportunity to meet the requirements for admission to professional degree programs, including medical, dental, law, public health, social work, and business schools. Requirements specified by the College of Human Ecology make up part of each student's curriculum, and include classes in the social and natural sciences, statistics, humanities, and writing. To fulfill department and college requirements, Human Development (HD) majors must take at least one biology course.
Academic Standards
- A maximum of 15 credits of AP credit and in absentia credit can count towards the 120 total credits.
- A maximum of 15 credits of Study Abroad/Exchange, Cornell-In-Washington or Capital Semester can count towards total electives.
Special Opportunities
Beyond the required formal coursework, students in human development have many other opportunities that involve ongoing individual work with Cornell faculty or other professionals. Academic credit can be earned through all of them, up to the limit specified by the college (with some restrictions noted below).
Faculty research
Many human development students work for several semesters as research assistants on faculty projects. On these projects, students get further training in research techniques such as laboratory experiments, surveys, and scientific behavioral observation. Participation in faculty research provides the type of experience that many graduate and professional schools expect from their top applicants. Recent projects involving students have included
- language acquisition among infants in bilingual households or settings,
- experimental studies of risky decision making among teens, and
- the impact of poverty on stress responses in children and teens.
Participation in faculty research for credit counts as elective credit toward graduation in the College of Human Ecology (up to the limit specified by the college). By the time they graduate, approximately 80% of human development undergraduates have had lab or community outreach research experience.
Field Placements
Human development majors can arrange internships with Urban Semester in New York City, Cornell in Washington, and Cornell Abroad programs. Students may also arrange internships during the fall and spring semesters in the Ithaca area. All such field placements are required to be under the supervision of a human development faculty member. In recent years, human development students have participated in projects with the Tompkins County Office on Aging, the Tompkins County Human Service Coalition, Kendal of Ithaca, local schools, the Tompkins County Youth Bureau, and the Law Guardian's Office of Tompkins County. Field Placement credits count as elective credits toward graduation (up to the limit specified by the college).
Undergraduate Teaching Assistantships
Advanced students can serve as undergraduate teaching assistants. The teaching assistantship requires work with the professor teaching the course as well as contact with students. Undergraduate teaching assistantships are for credit only. Teaching assistantship credits count as elective credits toward graduation (up to the limit specified by the college).
Honors Program
The honors program is intended for exceptional students majoring in Human Development who wish to pursue an intensive year-long program of research. It is designed to give talented Human Development undergraduate majors an opportunity to formulate and carry out independent research under the supervision of a member of the Department of Psychology faculty. This year-long program provides an excellent preparation for later graduate work in psychology, sociology, neuroscience, medicine, law, and related fields. See the honors program webpage for more information.
Program Information
- Instruction Mode: In Person
- Location: Ithaca, NY
- Minimum Credits for Degree: 120
Program Requirements
In addition to college requirements, students in the Human Development Major must complete specific requirements listed here.
The requirements listed below pertain to all students matriculating in August 2025 and January 2026.
Introductory Courses
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
HD 1130 | Introduction to Human Development | 3 |
Developmental Psychology
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
| |
HD 2090 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
HD 2150 | Introduction to Human Development: Infancy and Childhood | 3 |
HD 2170 | Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood | 3 |
HD 2180 | Human Development: Adulthood and Aging | 3 |
HD 2510 | Social Gerontology: Aging and the Life Course | 3 |
Depth Coursework (6-8 Credits)
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
| |
1 | |
Breadth Requirement (2-4 Credits)
- Students must take one course from one of the five areas2
Translational Research
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
PSYCH 2090 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
HD 2150 | Introduction to Human Development: Infancy and Childhood | 3 |
HD 2170 | Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood | 3 |
PSYCH 2230 | Intro to Behavioral Neuroscience | 3 |
PSYCH 2820 | Community Outreach | 2 |
HD 3190 | Memory and the Law | 3 |
PSYCH 3250 | Adult Psychopathology | 3 |
HD 3290 | Self-regulation Across the Life Span | 3 |
HD 3300 | Developmental Psychopathology | 3 |
PSYCH 3320 | Biopsychology of Learning and Memory | 3 |
HD 3450 | | 3 |
HD 3460 | | 3 |
HD 3530 | Risk and Opportunity Factors in Childhood and Adolescence | 3 |
HD 4250 | Translational Research on Decision Making | 4 |
HD 4260 | Translational Research on Memory and Neuroscience | 3 |
PSYCH 4320 | | 3 |
HD 4400 | | |
HD 4490 | Children's Learning in Social Context | 3 |
PSYCH 4500 | Psychology at the Sciencenter! | 4 |
HD 4540 | Creativity and Its Development | 3 |
HD 4550 | The Psychology of Wisdom | 3 |
Social and Environmental Influences
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
PSYCH 1500 | Introduction to Environmental Psychology | 3 |
PSYCH 2090 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
HD 2150 | Introduction to Human Development: Infancy and Childhood | 3 |
PSYCH 2150 | Psychology of Language | 3 |
PSYCH 2170 | | |
HD 2180 | Human Development: Adulthood and Aging | 3 |
PSYCH 2750 | Introduction to Personality | 3 |
PSYCH 2820 | Community Outreach | 2 |
HD 3190 | Memory and the Law | 3 |
PSYCH 3250 | Adult Psychopathology | 3 |
HD 3300 | Developmental Psychopathology | 3 |
HD 3310 | Psychology of Gender | 3 |
PSYCH 3450 | On Being Social | 3 |
HD 3460 | | 3 |
HD 3530 | Risk and Opportunity Factors in Childhood and Adolescence | 3 |
HD 4210 | Native American Psychology | 3 |
HD 4250 | Translational Research on Decision Making | 4 |
HD 4260 | Translational Research on Memory and Neuroscience | 3 |
PSYCH 4320 | | 3 |
HD 4340 | Current Topics in Cognitive Development | 3 |
HD 4440 | The Nature of Human Intelligence | 3 |
HD 4490 | Children's Learning in Social Context | 3 |
HD 4500 | | |
PSYCH 4500 | Psychology at the Sciencenter! | 4 |
HD 4770 | Psychopathology in Great Works of Literature | 3 |
PSYCH 4770 | Advanced Developmental Seminar | 3 |
PSYCH 4940 | Moral Psychology in Action | 3 |
Cross-Cultural Perspectives
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
PSYCH 2090 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
HD 2150 | Introduction to Human Development: Infancy and Childhood | 3 |
PSYCH 2150 | Psychology of Language | 3 |
PSYCH 2170 | | |
HD 2180 | Human Development: Adulthood and Aging | 3 |
PSYCH 2750 | Introduction to Personality | 3 |
PSYCH 2820 | Community Outreach | 2 |
HD 3190 | Memory and the Law | 3 |
HD 3300 | Developmental Psychopathology | 3 |
HD 3310 | Psychology of Gender | 3 |
HD 3450 | | 3 |
HD 3460 | | 3 |
PSYCH 4150 | Culture, Cognition, Humanities | 3 |
HD 4210 | Native American Psychology | 3 |
HD 4260 | Translational Research on Memory and Neuroscience | 3 |
PSYCH 4270 | Evolution of Language | 3 |
PSYCH 4320 | | 3 |
HD 4340 | Current Topics in Cognitive Development | 3 |
HD 4440 | The Nature of Human Intelligence | 3 |
HD 4490 | Children's Learning in Social Context | 3 |
HD 4540 | Creativity and Its Development | 3 |
HD 4550 | The Psychology of Wisdom | 3 |
PSYCH 4770 | Advanced Developmental Seminar | 3 |
The Person in Context
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
PSYCH 2090 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
HD 2150 | Introduction to Human Development: Infancy and Childhood | 3 |
HD 2170 | Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood | 3 |
HD 2180 | Human Development: Adulthood and Aging | 3 |
PSYCH 2820 | Community Outreach | 2 |
HD 3190 | Memory and the Law | 3 |
PSYCH 3250 | Adult Psychopathology | 3 |
HD 3290 | Self-regulation Across the Life Span | 3 |
HD 3300 | Developmental Psychopathology | 3 |
HD 3310 | Psychology of Gender | 3 |
HD 3450 | | 3 |
HD 3460 | | 3 |
HD 3530 | Risk and Opportunity Factors in Childhood and Adolescence | 3 |
HD 4210 | Native American Psychology | 3 |
HD 4250 | Translational Research on Decision Making | 4 |
HD 4260 | Translational Research on Memory and Neuroscience | 3 |
PSYCH 4320 | | 3 |
HD 4340 | Current Topics in Cognitive Development | 3 |
HD 4440 | The Nature of Human Intelligence | 3 |
HD 4490 | Children's Learning in Social Context | 3 |
PSYCH 4500 | Psychology at the Sciencenter! | 4 |
HD 4540 | Creativity and Its Development | 3 |
HD 4550 | The Psychology of Wisdom | 3 |
HD 4770 | Psychopathology in Great Works of Literature | 3 |
PSYCH 4770 | Advanced Developmental Seminar | 3 |
Engaged Learning
Additional Coursework (14-19 Credits)
In addition to completing the above required course work, students must complete the remaining credits, totaling up to 35 HD credits.
- Students should have 40 credits upon fulfilling the following: Introductory Courses, Development Psychology, Depth Coursework, Breadth Requirement, Additional Coursework, Research Methods/Scientific Literacy, and Quantitative Analysis.
- Up to 12 credits from HD 4000 Directed Readings, HD 4010 Empirical Research, HD 4020 Supervised Fieldwork and HD 4990 Senior Honors Thesis can count toward this requirement.
- HD coursework used to fulfill the Research Methods/Scientific Literacy requirement cannot be used here.
Research Methods/Scientific Literacy
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
| |
BIOG 1500 | Investigative Biology Laboratory | 2 |
COMM 2820 | Research Methods in Communication Studies | 4 |
GOVT 3999 | How Do You Know That? | 4 |
HD 2830 | Research Methods in Human Development | 3 |
HD 2930 | Introduction to Data Science for Social Scientists | 3 |
HD 4765 | How to Think Like a Scientist | 3 |
INFO 2950 | Introduction to Data Science | 4 |
PSYCH 3240 | Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory | 3 |
PSYCH 3020 | Methods in Neuroscience | 3 |
STS 2011 | What Is Science? An Introduction to the Social Studies of Science and Technology | 3 |
Social Science
Any 2 courses with the Course Distribution SSC-AS, ETM-AS, SBA or KCM.
Note: Courses cross-listed with Human Development cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.
Humanities
Choose any course with the Course Distribution Historical Analysis (HA or HST-AS), Literature and the Arts (LA or ALC-AS), or Cultural Analysis (CA).
Quantitative Analysis
Must be taken at Cornell, AP Statistics is not accepted
Choose one of the following:
Natural Science I
AP Biology score of 5 fulfills the Natural Science 1 requirement. If AP is not used then the course must be taken at Cornell. No lab is required.
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
| |
BIOG 1140 | Foundations of Biology | 4 |
BIOMG 1350 | Introductory Biology: Cell and Developmental Biology | 3 |
BIOG 1440 | Introductory Biology: Comparative Physiology | 3 |
| |
Natural Science II (3-4 Credits)
Must be taken at Cornell, AP credit is not accepted
Any 3-4 credit course with a Course Distribution PBS, BIO-AS, PHS-AS, BIOLS-AG, or BIONLS-AG
(HD courses with Course Distribution PBS-HE courses cannot be used)
Additional Distribution Coursework (12 Credits)
Any course with the Course Distribution PBS, ALC-AS, ETM-AS, HST-AS, SCDAS, SSC-AS, SDS-AS, SMR-AS, BIOLS-AG, BIONLS-AG, SBA, KCM, MQR, LA, CA, or HA. Language courses may count here.
Electives (Variable)
Any courses that are not taken to fulfill the above requirements count as Electives.
University Graduation Requirements
Requirements for All Students
In order to receive a Cornell degree, a student must satisfy academic and non-academic requirements.
Academic Requirements
A student’s college determines degree requirements such as residency, number of credits, distribution of credits, and grade averages. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the specific major, degree, distribution, college, and graduation requirements for completing their chosen program of study. See the individual requirements listed by each college or school or contact the college registrar’s office for more information.
Non-academic Requirements
Conduct Matters. Students must satisfy any outstanding sanctions, penalties or remedies imposed or agreed to under the Student Code of Conduct (Code) or Policy 6.4. Where a formal complaint under the Code or Policy 6.4 is pending, the University will withhold awarding a degree otherwise earned until the adjudication process set forth in those procedures is complete, including the satisfaction of any sanctions, penalties or remedies imposed.
Financial Obligations. Outstanding financial obligations will not impact the awarding of a degree otherwise earned or a student’s ability to access their official transcript. However, the University may withhold issuing a diploma until any outstanding financial obligations owing to the University are satisfied.
Additional Requirements for Undergraduate Students
The University has two requirements for graduation that must be fulfilled by all undergraduate students: the swim requirement, and completion of two physical education courses. For additional information about fulfilling University Graduation Requirements, see the Physical Education website.
Physical Education
All incoming undergraduate students are required to take two credits (two courses) of Physical Education prior to graduation. It is recommended they complete the two courses during their first year at Cornell. Credit in Physical Education may be earned by participating in courses offered by the Department of Athletics and Physical Education and Cornell Outdoor Education, by being a registered participant on a varsity athletic team, or performing in the marching band.
Students with medical concerns should contact the Office of Student Disability Services.
Swim Requirement
The Faculty Advisory Committee on Athletics and Physical Education has established a basic swimming and water safety competency requirement for all undergraduate students. Normally, the requirement is taken during the Fall Orientation process at Helen Newman Hall or Teagle Hall pools. The requirement consists of the following: jump or step feet-first into the deep end of the pool, float or tread for one minute, turn around in a full circle, swim 25 yards using any stroke(s) of choice without touching the bottom or holding on to the sides (there is no time limit) and exit from the water. Students who do not complete the swim requirement during their first year, during a PE swim class or during orientation subsequent years, will have to pay a $100 fee. Any student who cannot meet this requirement must register for PE 1100 Beginning Swimming as their physical education course before electives can be chosen.
If a student does not pass the swim requirement in their first Beginning Swimming PE class, then the student must take a second Beginning Swimming PE class (PE 1100 or PE 1101). Successful completion of two Beginning Swimming classes (based on attendance requirements) with the instructor's recommendation will fulfill the University's swim requirement.
Students unable to meet the swim requirement because of medical reasons should contact the Office of Student Disability Services. When a waiver is granted by the Faculty Committee on Physical Education, an alternate requirement is imposed. The alternate requirement substitute is set by the Director of Physical Education.
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 |
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:
- 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).
- Courses used to count toward Electives that are taken for an S–U grade may also count toward the 45 credit requirement.
- 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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:
- 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.
- 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
- 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).
- 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).
- 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- Credit from the International Baccalaureates (IB) is evaluated individually.
- 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.