Cornell University Registrar

Graduate Field

Fiber Science and Apparel Design

Program Description

The Master of Professional Studies (Human Ecology) is a Graduate School Program intended for professionals who need further academic training but whose career goals are not oriented to research and teaching at an advanced level. Often, this degree is appropriate for persons who want a one year Master's degree. Typically, these individuals are successful professionally but feel they need further concentrated study to increase their usefulness on the job. Their study program in the MPS (Human Ecology) program would include course work primarily focused on a subject or problem area related to their professional career. The applicant's professional accomplishments and motivation should provide evidence that he or she will benefit from and successfully complete graduate work for the MPS (Human Ecology).

To be eligible for the MPS (Human Ecology) program, the applicant must have a bachelor's degree and fluent command of the English language and have demonstrated competency in a professional field related to human ecology. To meet admission standards of the Cornell Graduate School, the applicant must show evidence of intellectual and personal development as measured by his or her undergraduate record, the Graduate Record Examination or other appropriate tests, and recommendations, as well as evidence of professional accomplishments. Professional performance and potential are weighed heavily in evaluating the applicant for admission.

Concentrations

• Apparel design
• Fiber science

Program Information

• Instruction Mode: In Person
• Location: Ithaca, NY
• Minimum Credits for Degree: 30

Program Requirements

The student must complete 30 course hours related to his or her professional interests as agreed upon in consultation with the Special Committee.

• Twenty of these course hours must be within the College of Human Ecology.
• At least 24 of the 30 credits must be in courses numbered 4000 or higher.
• Up to 6 of the 30 hours of required credit may be earned in connection with the problem-solving project (see item 3).
• No more than 6 of the 30 course hours may be in courses that are graded SIU (satisfactory/unsatisfactory).
• No more than 6 of the 30 course hours may be earned outside the program (in non-affiliated graduate fields at Cornell University or at other universities).

Acceptance of these courses is at the discretion of the Director of Graduate Studies for the respective field of the College of Human Ecology upon the recommendation of the Director of Graduate Studies for the respective graduate field affiliated with the College of Human Ecology. These transfer credits must be appropriate to the subject of the chosen field of study and must have been completed no more than five years prior to admission to the program.

The student must successfully complete a problem-solving project approved in advance by the Special Committee and pertinent to the subject matter of the field of concentration.

The project may be one of the following:

• The execution of a professional action program designed under the guidance of the Special Committee,
• the development of a professional plan of attack on a pertinent problem,
• the development of professional materials suited to the student's interests,
• the development and execution of research appropriate to the profession.

The written project report must be approved by the Special Committee. A bound report on the problem-solving project that has been signed by the Special Committee chair must be submitted to the Director of Graduate Studies for the respective field for the College of Human Ecology. The bound copy will be placed in Mann Library at Cornell University.

The student must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.5.

All requirements for the degree must be completed within four years of admissions.

• Petition for exceptions to the requirements stated herein will be received for approval by the appropriate graduate field through the Director of Graduate Studies of that field which will be forwarded to the Director of Graduate Studies for the respective field of the College of Human Ecology for final review and approval. This petition should be transmitted to the Director of Graduate Studies with a recommendation from the chair of the student's Special Committee
• The program is under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School. The student must be registered in the Graduate School and administration of the degree must meet the requirements established by the Graduate School.

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.