Special Academic Options

Brooks School Honors Program

Health Care Policy and Public Policy majors have the opportunity to participate in the Brooks School Honors Program, which recognizes students who have shown excellence in their academic endeavors and a strong ability to conduct independent research. In addition to meeting the requirements for their major, students in the honors program will engage in an honors seminar and develop an empirically based honors thesis. They will collaborate with a research mentor to prepare for their thesis. Upon successful completion of the honors program, students will be awarded a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree with honors.

For more information, please visit the Brooks School website or contact BrooksUGProgram@cornell.edu.

Program Eligibility:

Students must maintain a 3.3 GPA to be admitted into and complete the honors program. Students whose GPA drops below 3.3 will be dropped from the Honors Program.
To start the program, students may not have any outstanding incomplete (INC) grades on their record.
PUBPOL 3120 - Research Design, Practice, and Policy must be completed before starting the program.

Program Requirements:

Complete a minimum of 6 credits of PUBPOL 4990 - Honors Program , under the supervision of a Brooks School faculty mentor, with a grade of B or higher.
Complete PUBPOL 4980 - Honors Seminar .
Complete a basic and advanced statistical software training series as approved by the faculty mentor.
Attend four professional research seminars during senior year.
Present a poster of research during the final semester in the honors program.
Defend thesis to a committee of faculty.

Off-Campus Programs

Capital Semester

The Capital Semester program offers students the opportunity to immerse themselves in New York State government affairs through a paid internship experience while earning academic credit. Key features of the program include:

Students enroll in a full semester of 12 Cornell credits through PUBPOL 4970 - New York State Government Affairs .
The program includes a paid internship with a New York State legislator, either in the Assembly or Senate, located in Albany.
Interns engage in various activities such as attending hearings and legislative sessions, meeting with lobbyists and constituents, writing reports for legislation and potential publication, and assisting in the daily work of their assigned legislator.
Opportunities are available for undergraduate and graduate students, regardless of major, and are especially beneficial for those interested in policy-related careers or further academic studies in law, graduate school, or business school.

For more information, including application details and benefits, please visit the Brooks School website or contact campus liaison, Zoë Nelson, at zmn2@cornell.edu.

Cornell in Washington

The Cornell in Washington program allows students to earn academic credit while immersed in the dynamic environment of Washington, D.C., our nation’s capital. Key features of the program include:

Enroll in small classes led by Cornell faculty experts, earn college credits, and gain practical experience by applying what you learn in the classroom to your internship.
Network with professionals in fields in which you’re interested, develop job skills, enhance your resume, and gain future career opportunities.
Engage in an enriching experience that combines academic rigor with real-world exposure to the political, professional, and cultural landscape of Washington, D.C.

For more information, please contact Assistant Director of Recruitment, Lyndsey Bullock at ldb27@cornell.edu or visit the Cornell in Washington program office at 2314 Martha Van Rensselaer (MVR) Hall.

Cornell Summer Program in Turin - Public Policy

The Summer Program in Turin offers an enriching experience for students to delve into the cultural and academic landscape of Turin, Italy, over three weeks. Students in the program enroll in the 3-credit course PUBPOL 3620 - Population Controversies in Europe , taught in English by Cornell faculty, with guest lectures by English-speaking Italian faculty.

The program includes extracurricular activities and excursions in Turin and the Piedmont region. Nestled between the Alps and the Mediterranean in the magnificent Piedmont region of northern Italy, Turin provides an inspiring background to explore the causes and consequences of population change, the debates unfolding in Europe around these issues, and the policies intended to address them.

For more information, please visit the Office of Global Learning website.

Special Degree Options

Five-Year BS/MHA

The five-year accelerated program is designed for a select number of Cornell Undergraduate students offering an expedited pathway to earn a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree and a Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree.

Eligible majors: Public Policy , Health Care Policy , Policy Analysis and Management , Human Development , Biology & Society , and Human Biology, Health, and Society .
Application Timing: Qualified students can apply to the Sloan Program during their junior year of undergraduate studies. This early application allows them to begin preparing for the accelerated pathway.
Limited Slots: The program accepts a maximum of five Cornell undergraduate students each year across the eligible majors. This selective process ensures a focused and personalized educational experience for participants.
Curriculum Integration: In their senior year, students accepted into the accelerated program will undertake first-year Sloan courses, which are counted toward both their undergraduate requirements and graduate degree prerequisites. This integrated curriculum streamlines the academic progression.
Transition to Graduate Study: After completing their undergraduate requirements and the first-year Sloan courses, students transition seamlessly into the graduate phase of the program. They officially matriculate into the MHA program and continue their studies at an advanced level.
Internship Experience: As part of the program, students participate in a health care administrative internship during the summer after earning their BS degree. This hands-on experience provides valuable insights into real-world health care management and operations.
Application Process: Interested students must apply to the Sloan Program during their junior year, which requires academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose. Admission decisions are based on academic qualifications, professional motivation, and potential for success in health administration.

For more information, please visit the Brooks School website.

Six-Year BS/JD

This pathway allows Cornell undergraduate students to spend their senior year of undergraduate study at Cornell Law School. Essentially, the first year of law school will satisfy the student’s senior-year course requirements. This accelerated program allows participants to receive both a bachelor’s and a Juris Doctor (JD) degree in six years.

Because students in this program spend their undergraduate senior year at Cornell Law School, they must plan carefully to ensure they meet all distribution and major requirements for the BS degree before transitioning to the JD program. Approval from the college registrar in the Brooks School is required to participate in this accelerated pathway.

Interested students must apply during their junior year of undergraduate study. The application process follows the standard procedures for Cornell Law School admission, however, applicants must meet more stringent requirements compared to those applying after completing four years of undergraduate study.

For more information and inquiries, please contact JD Admissions at jdadmissions@cornell.edu or (607) 255-5141.