Courses of Study 2023-2024 
    
    Nov 07, 2024  
Courses of Study 2023-2024 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Academic Calendar


The Cornell academic year follows a semester system, consisting of a fall and a spring semester, both of which include a final exam week. Each semester must be a minimum of 14 weeks of instruction, yet must combine in fall and spring to a minimum of 30 weeks of instruction. Instructional periods/terms include fall, winter intersession, spring, and summer. In all academic terms, variable-length, short-session courses are available, and meet the same total contact (class) hours as in a standard semester. See the definition of credit/contact hours on this page for additional information.

The university bylaws define the academic year as the approximately nine-month period beginning two working days before registration in the fall term and ending on the last day of final examinations in the spring term.

The summer period is defined as the period between the last day of one academic year and the first day of the following academic year. Summer courses carry full credit because classes meet the name number of contact hours as in the standard fall or spring semester.

View this year’s academic calendar.

2023-2024 Academic Calendar

Fall 2023

DATE

EVENT

August 21

Instruction Begins

September 4

Labor Day - No Classes

October 7

Fall Break Begins

October 9

Indigenous Peoples’ Day

October 11

Instruction Resumes

November 22

Thanksgiving Break Begins

November 27

Instruction Resumes

December 4

Last Day of Instruction

December 5 - 7

Study Period

December 8 - 16

Scheduled Exams

December 17

December Recognition Ceremony

December 31

December Degree Date

Winter 2023-2024

DATE

EVENT

January 2

       Winter Session Instruction Begins

January 15

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day /

Holiday / No Classes

January 19

Winter Session Instruction Ends

Spring 2024

DATE

EVENT

January 22

   Instruction Begins

February 24

   February Break begins

February 28

Instruction Resumes

March 30

Spring Break Begins

April 8

Instruction Resumes

May 7

Last Day of Classes

May 11 - 18

Scheduled Exams

May 18 - 23

Senior Days

May 24 - 26

University Commencement Weekend

May 27

Memorial Day

Some programs, including Johnson MBA ProgramsLaw School, and College of Veterinary Medicine have different academic calendars. Please review the respective sites for specifics. These calendars subject to change.