Courses of Study 2015-2016 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
Courses of Study 2015-2016 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Cornell Abroad



300 Caldwell Hall
(607) 255–6224 (tel)
(607) 255-8700 (fax)
cuabroad@cornell.edu
www.cuabroad.cornell.edu

President Skorton’s White Paper, “Bringing Cornell to the World and the World to Cornell” lays out a plan for internationalization of the university, and sets a target of having 50% of Cornell students receive a meaningful international experience during their undergraduate career.  He wrote, “we must offer (our students) language study, an understanding of history and cultures beyond their own, and meaningful international experiences.  We must equip them to live and work in a world whose chief problems transcend national boundaries.”  Study abroad is an integral part of a Cornell education.  To help students develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for informed citizenship in today’s world, Cornell Abroad offers a wide range of international study opportunities that reflect the fundamental educational goals and objectives of the university. Study abroad is a continuous experience with study on campus, enabling students to make regular progress toward the degree.

Qualified students study abroad through programs administered by Cornell and other institutions, and by enrolling directly in foreign universities. Among the many study abroad programs available, students select programs with thoughtful planning and apply with the approval of their colleges and faculty advisors. To earn credit for overseas study during the fall and/or spring semester(s), students must apply through Cornell Abroad, whose staff members advise students on options and assist with all aspects of the process.

Locations Abroad


Cornell students majoring in a broad array of fields in all seven undergraduate colleges study in more than 40 countries for a semester or more each year. See the Cornell Abroad website for a complete list of approved programs.  Some short-term options are also listed.

Cornell Abroad Managed Programs

Cornell in Barcelona, Cornell in Berlin, Cornell in Bologna, Cornell in East Asia: Comparative 3-Campus, Cornell in Havana: CASA Consortium, Cornell in Havana: Cuba Research, Cornell in Paris: EDUCO, Cornell in Kyoto, Cornell in Nepal: CNSP, Cornell in India: Nilgiris Field Learning Center, Cornell in Seville.

Cornell Approved Programs

Africa

Botswana, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda

Asia

China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam.

Europe

Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

*Students studying in the UK enjoy a variety of services, and cultural activities, provided by the Cornell-Brown-Penn UK Centre in London.

Latin America, Central America, and the Caribbean

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru

Middle East and North Africa

[Egypt: on hold due to security situation], Israel, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia.

Oceania

Australia, New Zealand, Samoa.

 

Comparative Programs involving travel to more than one country are also available, pending college approval.

Programs managed by other Cornell Units

College-based exchange programs:  Cornell - AAP in Rome, CAPS (major) at Peking University

Who Studies Abroad


Students from all seven undergraduate colleges and from all major fields study abroad; they are expected to have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above. Over 500 undergraduates studied abroad last year. Because some colleges require that students complete at least 60 hours of undergraduate credit on the Ithaca campus, students who transfer to Cornell as juniors may be unable to count study abroad credit toward their Cornell degree.

When Students Study Abroad and for How Long


Students may study abroad during their sophomore, junior, or senior year. Junior year is the traditional choice, but second-semester sophomore year or first-semester senior year abroad is increasingly popular. To maximize options, early planning is advised. Although semester-long programs are usually available, academic-year programs are highly recommended.  A few programs require enrollment for the academic year.  Summer programs are available through the School for Continuing Education and from other institutions, but financial aid is not typically available for summer study.

Application Process


Step 1: Get Ready

Consider academic requirements, college policies and personal goals. Gather information from the First Step Meeting website (www.cuabroad.cornell.edu ) or individual advisors, information sessions and meeting with faculty. 

Step 2: Apply

Start the approval process via www.cuabroad.cornell.edu and apply to an approved program. Complete the pre-departure requirements.

Step 3: Go Abroad

Information about study abroad programs—Cornell programs, as well as those administered by other institutions—is available at Cornell Abroad, 300 Caldwell Hall, where students are encouraged to consult the library of study abroad materials, talk with staff members, read student evaluations and attend information meetings. The Cornell Abroad website is an excellent resource for links to universities and programs worldwide, as well as for applications and comprehensive information on all aspects of study abroad.  

Each college has a designated advisor who approves student plans to study abroad.  All students who wish to receive academic credit for study abroad must apply through Cornell Abroad and their undergraduate college.

Application deadlines vary by program.  Colleges need approval forms two weeks prior to the program deadline.  The deadline to study at Oxford or Cambridge is early: for the academic year in 2016–2017 it is November 1, 2015.  Many universities and programs admit on a rolling basis. Students planning to study abroad in the spring semester should initiate the application process during the preceding spring. Early application may improve students’ chances of admission. In all cases, it is a good idea to check with Cornell Abroad.

Registration, Credit Transfer, and Grades


Students who apply through Cornell Abroad to programs approved by their colleges, as outlined above, remain registered at Cornell during study abroad. They are eligible for financial aid and receive full academic credit for pre-approved courses of study completed with satisfactory grades. Students enroll for a normal full load of courses abroad, according to the standards of the institution or program overseas, and usually receive 30 credits per year, or 12 to 20 credits per semester. The colleges review course work taken abroad and make the final decisions concerning credit transfer and distribution. When study abroad credit has been transferred, the Cornell transcript will indicate the names of the courses taken, the grades received, and the total credits earned for each semester. Foreign grades are not translated into the Cornell/American grading system, nor are they averaged into the Cornell grade point average.

Foreign Language Requirements


Students should consult with their college study abroad advisors about relevant language preparation, and students in the College of Arts and Sciences should note that they are required to have studied the host country language, if taught at Cornell, before study abroad. Study abroad programs in non–English-speaking countries that offer direct enrollment in universities generally require the equivalent of at least two years of college-level language study. Students should make firm plans for any requisite language courses early in their freshman year. English-language study abroad programs are increasingly available in non-English–speaking countries—for example, Belgium, Denmark, Egypt, France, Hong Kong, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, People’s Republic of China, Spain and Sweden. Cornell requires students who participate in programs in a non–English-speaking country with English-language course work to take at least one language course as part of their program of study and strongly encourages them to take more.

Housing Arrangements


Study abroad programs generally provide housing in the homes of local residents, in halls of residence for university students, or in rental apartments. Cornell Abroad will advise students of the arrangements that are available and most appropriate to their individual needs. As you plan for a semester of study abroad, be sure to consider your housing situation in Ithaca for the semester during which you will not be abroad.

Costs


Students studying abroad in Cornell-managed programs pay a fixed Cornell Abroad Tuition per semester, which covers tuition, housing during term (with some exceptions), orientation, program-sponsored trips and events, and administrative and financial aid costs, including emergency medical evacuation and repatriation coverage. It may include other items (e.g., meals, commuter passes) depending on the program. Students pay other costs (e.g., airfare and personal expenses) directly. Different fee levels for Cornell programs reflect the relative costs of operation.

Pending approval by the Board of Trustees, in 2015–2016 the Cornell Abroad Tuition for students participating in Cornell in Berlin, Cornell in Cuba - both programs, Cornell in East Asia, Cornell in Nepal: CNSP, Cornell in Paris: EDUCO, Cornell in Seville, and Cornell in India: Nilgiris is $25,290.

For Cornell in Kyoto: KCJS Consortium, the tuition and fees are $29,110 per semester. For the Cornell in Bologna: BCSP Consortium, the tuition and fees are $16,315 per semester for academic-year students and $19,430 for semester students. For Cornell in Barcelona: CASB Consortium, the tuition is $25,290 for fall and $27,220 for spring.

Students studying in all other programs in 2015–2016 pay the tuition and other costs charged by their programs and a Cornell International Program Tuition (CIPT) of $2,500 per semester. The CIPT covers the direct and indirect costs of study abroad to the university, and provides for a contribution to the university’s general fund to offset part of the cost of financial aid for study abroad students.  Students studying in the United Kingdom and Israel on direct enrollment programs at British and Israeli universities pay a Cornell International Program Tuition of $3,000. This higher amount covers the cost of on-site support services provided by Cornell Abroad.

Financial Aid


Students who are accepted for study abroad during the academic year or semester, having applied through Cornell Abroad, are eligible for two semesters of financial aid, consistent with general university aid policy; this applies to all programs, whether run directly by Cornell or not. Students who have transferred into Cornell with 60 or more credit hours are not likely to receive aid for study abroad assuming they would thereby need more than eight semesters to earn the undergraduate degree. Some programs abroad offer need-based and merit-based scholarships; there are also external sources of aid for which Cornell Abroad students are eligible.

Security Abroad and Related Issues


The decision to study in a particular region of the world must be made by each student and his or her family in light of their own interpretation of current events. The University’s Coordinator for Travel Safety, a member of the Cornell Abroad team, receives information regarding safety and security conditions worldwide through the U.S. Department of State Office of Citizens Emergency Services and other agencies. As long as the State Department does not restrict travel by U.S. citizens, Cornell Abroad does not normally recommend limitations on student plans for study abroad. Study in any country under a U.S. Department of State Travel Warning or in a higher risk country as determined by Cornell’s Emergency Travel Assistance provider, must be approved in advance by the university’s International Travel Advisory and Response Team. Nothing is as important as student security and well-being.

Responsibility for a decision to withdraw from a program or return home early rests with the student and his or her family. There can be no guarantee of credit for students who withdraw from programs sponsored by colleges and universities other than Cornell; they are advised to inquire about the policies of those institutions regarding the completion of academic work and the potential financial implications of premature departure. In the event of a disrupted semester, refunds of tuition and fees, and the number of credits to be awarded, will be reviewed by Cornell and affiliated institutions on a case-by-case basis. Most institutions sponsoring study abroad programs strive to facilitate student completion of academic programs even under unusual circumstances and have tuition refund policies based on prorated formulas.

Sources of Information and Advice Concerning Study Abroad


Cornell Abroad (300 Caldwell Hall): Marina Markot, Ph.D., Director; Kristen Grace, Ph.D., Associate Director; Alexis Santi, Coordinator of Travel Safety; Kathy Lynch, Financial Services Manager; Libby Okihiro and Ann Hoover, Regional Program advisors; Corinna Lewis, Outreach Coordinator; Gretchen Mosereiff, Data Steward and Operations Coordinator; Trisica Munroe, Office Manager. 

The Cornell Abroad library contains an extensive collection of university catalogs and study abroad program brochures, files of course syllabi and evaluations, books, CDs, and information on travel, summer study abroad, and work abroad. Comprehensive information is provided on the Cornell Abroad website, which incorporates links to universities, programs, and resources worldwide as well as a database of cost estimates. In the early weeks of fall semester, students and faculty and staff members discuss programs in a series of information meetings announced on posters and the Cornell Abroad website.  Individual appointments with a program advisor can be made on the website appointment system found under “About Us.”

College Study Abroad Advisors


Agriculture and Life Sciences: CALS Student Services, 140 Roberts Hall; Architecture, Art, and Planning: Kim Jaenson, 235 Sibley Dome; Arts and Sciences: Dean Pat Wasyliw and Clare McMillan, 55 Goldwin Smith Hall; Engineering: Engineering Advising, 167 Olin Hall; Hotel Administration: Shawn Meyer, 180 Statler Hall; Human Ecology: Paul Fisher, 172 Martha Van Rensselaer Hall; Industrial and Labor Relations: Kevin Harris, 101 Ives Hall.