Chemistry (BA)
College of Arts and Sciences
Program Description
The Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology offers a comprehensive range of courses in physical, organic, inorganic, analytical chemistry, and chemical biology, enabling students to explore the world of chemistry and its related fields, while preparing them for a wide range of careers and professions. Courses numbered below 5000 are primarily designated for undergraduates, while those above 5000 are mainly intended for graduate students. Advanced chemistry majors are encouraged to explore graduate courses in an area of interest. In addition to teaching, our faculty lead active research programs that include many undergraduate researchers. The link between teaching and research is a vital one in a continually evolving scientific subject; it ensures that students will be provided with the most advanced information and perspectives and affords opportunities for students to participate in research. There are several options for earning the Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry, with the two most popular pathways shown below. Students who earn a sufficiently high score on the AP (Advanced Placement & Advanced Standing) chemistry exam may take CHEM 2150 and begin on the accelerated honors track. For additional information about the department and course offerings, see the department website.
Standard Track
- first year: general chemistry, mathematics
- second year: organic chemistry lecture(s) and laboratory, physics
- third year: physical chemistry lecture(s) and laboratory, one other advanced laboratory
- fourth year: inorganic chemistry, elective(s)
Accelerated Track
- first year: honors general chemistry, honors organic chemistry I, mathematics
- second year: honors organic chemistry II and laboratories, honors math elective, inorganic chemistry, physics
- third year: honors physical chemistry lectures and laboratory, analytical chemistry laboratory
- fourth year: advanced courses, elective(s)
Academic Standards
Admission to the Major
Admission to the chemistry major requires the satisfactory completion of a number of introductory courses which, when taken together, demonstrate proficiency in the different subfields of chemistry and an interest in completing the major. Students usually apply to the major in their sophomore year, at which time they should have completed the following courses.
- Introductory Chemistry: CHEM 2070 + CHEM 2071 & CHEM 2080 + CHEM 2081 or CHEM 2150
- Organic Chemistry CHEM 3570 or CHEM 3590
- Mathematics: MATH 1110
- Physics: PHYS 2207 or PHYS 1112
It is expected that students will have earned a C or better in these courses. Students with a grade of C– or lower in one of these required courses may be considered for admission to the major after the successful completion of additional coursework requested by the department. Students who are in their second term of sophomore year or later and have completed all but one of the major requirements may also be admitted, as long as they have a plan for completing the remaining requirements on schedule. To apply to the major, please visit the website at: chemistry.cornell.edu/undergraduate.
Honors Program
Students who complete the Chemistry honors curriculum with a chemistry GPA* of 3.3 or higher at the time of degree conferral, and who complete the CHEM 4980 Honors Seminar, will be eligible for honors recognition
Students in their junior or senior year who are on track to meet the requirements for Honors in Chemistry may be nominated to participate in the Honors Seminar by a research or faculty advisor or the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS). Students should consult with their advisor or the DUS early in the fall semester of junior or senior year, before spring enrollment begins. Admission to the Honors Seminar is at the sole discretion of the capstone instructor and/or the DUS. Students participating in the Honors Seminar attend lectures on a variety of topics not covered in conventional courses and present their findings in a written thesis or proposal, which is delivered as an oral presentation at the end of the semester. Successful completion of all honors criteria leads to the designation “Honors in Chemistry.”
- *
The chemistry GPA is different from the cumulative GPA. The chemistry GPA will factor in all chemistry (CHEM) courses at the 2000 level or above that are taken for a letter grade at Cornell University. The Chemistry GPA will not include Math or Physics requirements, non-chemistry electives, AP/IB credit scores, or transfer credit from other institutions.
Program Information
- Program Mode of Delivery: In Person
- Program Location: Ithaca, NY
- Minimum Credits for Degree: 120
Program Requirements
This is an in-person, four-year program of study offered at the Ithaca campus. Students must complete a total of 60 credits in chemistry and related subjects.1 These 60 credits must include the set of core courses listed below, together with a total of 8 credits of laboratory beyond what is required for general chemistry. Credit awarded by Cornell for scores on the CEEB Advanced Placement tests in chemistry, calculus, and physics may be substituted for the appropriate core courses. Outside of the core courses, the remainder of the 60 credits must be chosen from an approved list of electives available through the department website. To receive credit toward the major, students must earn a passing grade or better within a course.
Many combinations of courses may be used to build the 60-credit chemistry major. For example, students wishing to focus on chemical biology may choose electives from the chemical biology courses offered in our department and from courses in other departments listed under Biology and Biochemistry. Students choosing to emphasize materials chemistry may choose electives from graduate level chemistry courses listed under Inorganic Chemistry, and Organic and Polymer Chemistry, as well as from courses listed under Materials Science and Engineering. Those with an interest in science policy might choose courses listed under Science and Society, and those focusing at the interface between chemistry and physics can choose from graduate level courses in physical chemistry or from courses listed under Mathematics, Computer Science, and Physics. The wide selection of approved electives allows students to broaden their exposure to the curriculum while deepening their knowledge in different areas, helping them tailor their learning to align with future goals.
Note: In addition to the major requirements outlined below, all students must meet the college graduation requirements.
- 1
Students graduating in the class of 2027 will need a total of 57 approved credits in chemistry and related subjects.
Required Core Courses
General Chemistry
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Sequence 1 | ||
| CHEM 2070 & CHEM 2071 | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 2080 & CHEM 2081 | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Laboratory | 4 |
| Sequence 2 | ||
| CHEM 2150 | Honors General and Inorganic Chemistry | 4 |
Organic Chemistry
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | ||
| CHEM 3570 & CHEM 3580 | Organic Chemistry for the Life Sciences and Organic Chemistry for the Life Sciences | 6 |
| CHEM 3590 & CHEM 3600 | Honors Organic Chemistry I and Honors Organic Chemistry II | 6 |
CHEM 3570 & CHEM 3580 or CHEM 3590 & CHEM 3600 is required for Honors in Chemistry.
Physical Chemistry
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | ||
| CHEM 3870 & CHEM 3880 | Physical Chemistry I and Physical Chemistry II 1 | 6 |
| CHEM 3890 & CHEM 3900 | Honors Physical Chemistry I and Honors Physical Chemistry II | 8 |
- 1
Students graduating in the class of 2027 may continue to take CHEM 3870 Physical Chemistry I as a one-semester course that satisfies the physical chemistry requirement.
Students planning for graduate study in chemistry or a career as a chemist are encouraged to take CHEM 3890 & CHEM 3900, which are required to receive Honors in Chemistry. Students are required to take a prerequisite semester of multivariable calculus before enrolling in CHEM 3890.
Inorganic Chemistry
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 4100 | Inorganic Chemistry | 3 |
Core Laboratories
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 2510 | Introduction to Experimental Organic Chemistry | 2 |
| CHEM 2900 | Introductory Physical Chemistry Laboratory | 2 or 5 |
| or CHEM 3030 | Honors Experimental Chemistry III | |
CHEM 3010 and CHEM 3020 and CHEM 3030 are required for Honors in Chemistry.
Mathematics
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 1110 & MATH 1120 | Calculus I and Calculus II | 8 |
| 4 AP Credits and MATH 1910 | 8 | |
AP credit may be substituted for one or more of these courses.
Physics
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | ||
| PHYS 2207 & PHYS 2208 | Fundamentals of Physics I and Fundamentals of Physics II | 8 |
| PHYS 1112 & PHYS 1110 & PHYS 2213 | Physics I: Mechanics and Heat and Introduction to Experimental Physics and Physics II: Electromagnetism | 8 |
| PHYS 1116 & PHYS 2217 | Physics I: Mechanics and Special Relativity and Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism | 8 |
The non-calculus-based introductory physics courses PHYS 1101 & PHYS 1102 are not acceptable. AP credit may be substituted for one or both required Physics courses.
Required Advanced Laboratory Courses
A total of 8 credits of laboratory, including core laboratories, is required to complete the major. This requirement may be met by taking CHEM 3010 and/or CHEM 3020 or by taking one or more approved laboratory elective courses outside of chemistry.
Credit earned from independent research does not satisfy the program's laboratory requirement. Honors in Chemistry requires successful completion of CHEM 3010, CHEM 3020, and CHEM 3030.
Elective Courses
Electives From Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Any course offered by the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at the 4000 level or higher may be taken as an elective. An approved list of electives can be downloaded from the program website.
After completing the core curriculum, students are encouraged to take graduate courses at the 6000 or 7000 level in areas of interest. No more than four credits of independent research (CHEM 4210, CHEM 4330, CHEM 4430, CHEM 4610 or CHEM 4770) may be counted as elective credit. Students planning to pursue graduate study in chemistry or careers in chemistry are encouraged to complete CHEM 3010, CHEM 3020 and CHEM 3030.
Electives From Other Departments
See the Chemistry Department website for the list of electives from other departments. Some courses may not be offered every year. Be aware that some courses may have additional prerequisites that do not count toward Chemistry electives credits.
Independent Research
Chemistry majors are encouraged to participate in independent research through CHEM 4210, CHEM 4330, CHEM 4430, CHEM 4610, or CHEM 4770. These courses provide academic credit for research carried out in the laboratory of a departmental faculty member or in the laboratory of a faculty member in another department who is a member of the graduate field of chemistry. Students may apply up to four credits of research toward the elective requirements for completing the major. Students may conduct research outside of the department, as well.
Laboratory Course Regulations
Students are mandated to wear safety goggles, lab aprons, and closed-foot shoes (no sandals, slippers) in all chemistry laboratories. Students will be issued safety goggles and a lab apron their first day of lab. Students are reminded to bring their goggles and lab aprons with them to every subsequent laboratory session. Eating and drinking are forbidden in the lab. All food and drinks, including water bottles, should be left at the coat rack at the entrance to the lab and must be taken out into the hallway to be consumed. Those who fail to cooperate with the safety program will be asked to leave the laboratory.
Students in first semester general chemistry lab courses (CHEM 1561, CHEM 2071, CHEM 2091, and CHEM 2150) are charged a mandatory laboratory fee and will be provided with safety goggles and lab aprons at their first laboratory session. Students should consider retaining their safety goggles and lab apron for future chemistry laboratories to avoid having to purchase them again.
Students in CHEM 2081 who did not take a first semester general chemistry course at Cornell (i.e., advanced or transfer credit was used) are charged a mandatory laboratory fee and will be provided with safety goggles and lab aprons at their first laboratory session.
Students in organic labs (CHEM 2510 and CHEM 3010) and advanced labs (CHEM 2900, CHEM 3020 and CHEM 3030) are required to provide their own safety goggles and lab aprons. No laboratory fees are charged for these courses. However, students in CHEM 2510 and CHEM 3010 are required to pay for glassware and any other items broken during the semester as well as for any items broken or missing from their laboratory desks at the end of the semester. Students who fail to inventory their desks at the appointed time in the presence of their instructor are charged an abandoned desk fee in addition to charges to replace any broken or missing items.
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 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 in 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 Arts and Sciences Graduation Requirements
Undergraduate Degrees
Graduation Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree
Credit Requirement
120 academic credits are required, 100 of which must be taken in the College of Arts & Sciences. 100 credits in Arts & Sciences is a minimum number, as is the 120 credit total. A minimum of 80 credits must be in courses for which a letter grade was received. AP, IB, CASE and A-Level credits count toward the 120 total credits but not toward the 100 A&S credits. Transfer credits for non-transfer students cannot count towards the 100 A&S credits. (See list of courses that do not count as academic credit.)
Residency Requirement
Eight full-time semesters in residence (in person) are expected to complete degree requirements with a minimum of six full-time semesters being required. External transfer students must complete a minimum of four full-time residence semesters.
First-year Writing Seminar (FWS) Requirement
Two courses are required. A 5 on either the AP English Composition or Literature exam, or a 7 on the IB HL English Literature or Language exam will count towards one of these seminars. First-year students should take an FWS during their first semester at Cornell and are required to complete two by the end of their sophomore year.
Foreign Language Requirement
A student must either pass an intermediate Cornell language course at the 2000-level or above (Option 1) or complete at least 11 credits in a single foreign language at Cornell (Option 2). AP and IB credits cannot complete this requirement, but usually indicate that a student can place into a higher level course. Note: Native speakers of a foreign language may be exempted from this requirement. For a list of language offerings and placement, see Language Study at Cornell.
Distribution Requirement
Must take a minimum of 8 courses of at least 3 credits to fulfill 10 distribution categories. How an individual course is categorized is indicated with the appropriate abbreviation in its course description. It is important to recognize that only courses with the proper designation in the catalog can be used toward fulfilling the distribution requirements in Arts and Sciences. Unless otherwise specified, variable credit courses, including independent study courses, may not be used for distribution credit.
Arts & Sciences Distribution Requirement Categories:
- Arts, Literature, and Culture (ALC-AS)
- Biological Sciences (BIO-AS)
- Ethics and the Mind (ETM-AS)
- Global Citizenship (GLC-AS)
- Historical Analysis (HST-AS)
- Physical Sciences (PHS-AS)
- Social Difference (SCD-AS)
- Social Sciences (SSC-AS)
- Statistics and Data Science (SDS-AS)
- Symbolic and Mathematical Reasoning (SMR-AS)
To review distribution requirement definitions and course lists, please visit the College of Arts and Sciences Distribution Requirement List section of this catalog.
Major Requirement
Students must complete the requirements for at least one major in A&S. See individual major listings for major requirements.
Policies on Applying Cornell and Non-Cornell Courses and Credits to Distribution Requirements
Restrictions on Applying AP/Test Credit and Courses from Other Institutions to the Distribution Requirements
- Students may not apply AP/test credit or transfer credit from another institution to the distribution requirements.
- Students who transfer to the college from another institution are under the above rules for advanced placement credit, but are eligible to have credit for post–high school course work taken during regular full-time semesters (not summer terms) at their previous institution count toward all distribution requirements. Transfer students receive a detailed credit evaluation when they are accepted for admission.
Restrictions on Applying Cornell Courses to the Distribution Requirements
- First-year writing seminars and ENGL 2860 Creative, Lyric, and Expository Writing or ENGL 2880 Expository Writing taken to satisfy a first-year writing seminar requirement may not count toward any other college or major requirement.
- Only courses with the proper designation in the Courses of Study can be used toward fulfilling the distribution requirements in Arts and Sciences.
- Students may not petition to change the category of any given course, nor may any faculty member change the category of a course for an individual student. Faculty members wishing to change the category for a course in which they are the primary instructor must petition the Educational Policy Committee for a change in category. If granted, the new category must be applied to the course as a whole and not for an individual student.
Courses That May Fulfill More Than One Requirement
- A course may fulfill more than one college requirement in any of the following situations:
- A course may be used to fulfill distribution and a major requirement (except if prohibited by one of the restrictions noted on applying AP/test credit, transfer credit, and Cornell courses to distribution requirements).
- A course may satisfy a maximum of two distribution categories. Students can only double-count distribution requirements on a maximum of two courses.
- A one-semester course in foreign literature (not language) or culture that is acceptable for certifying Option 1 in that language may also be applied to the relevant distribution requirement.
- Courses may count toward any other requirement except first-year writing seminars.
Credit Requirement
Credits and Courses
Students must earn a minimum of 120 academic credits (which may include AP/test credits). Of the 120, a minimum of 100 must be from courses taken in the College of Arts and Sciences at Cornell.
Courses that do not count toward the 120 credits required for the degree
The College of Arts and Sciences does not grant credit toward the degree for every course offered by the university. Courses in service as a teaching assistant, physical education, remedial or developmental training, precalculus mathematics, supplemental science and mathematics, offered by the Learning Strategies Center, and English as a second language are among those for which degree credit is not awarded. Students can view the list of courses that do not count for academic credit here.
Other cases in which a course may not receive credit include the following:
- A course identified as a prerequisite for a subsequent course may not be taken for credit once a student completes that subsequent course.
- A repeated course. (For more information, see "Repeating courses," below.)
- A "forbidden overlap," that is, a course with material that significantly overlaps with material in a course a student has already taken. Students should consult the list of Forbidden Overlaps for more information.
Courses that count toward the 100 required Arts and Sciences credits
May include liberal arts courses approved for study abroad during a semester or academic year of full-time study (not summer abroad study), courses taken in certain off-campus Cornell residential programs, and a maximum of three courses that majors may accept from other colleges at Cornell as fulfilling major requirements. A&S courses taken in Cornell's summer session may count towards the 100 A&S credits.
Courses that do not count toward the 100 required Arts and Sciences credits
Include credits earned in other colleges at Cornell (except in the cases specifically noted in this section), transfer credits earned in any subject at institutions other than Cornell, and advanced placement/test credits. AP/test credits count as part of the 120 credits required for the degree but not as part of the 100 Arts and Sciences credits and may not be applied to distribution requirements. AP credits are posted on the transcript. If, subsequently, a student takes the course out of which they had placed, the AP credit will be removed because of the overlap in content. Students may use up to 12 credits of college approved ROTC courses as electives counting towards the 120 degree credits.
Repeating Courses
Students occasionally need to repeat courses. Some courses, such as independent study, some music and performance courses, and specific topical seminars, in which content is significantly different, do grant credit when the course is taken more than once. For all repeated courses, both grades appear on the transcript and are included in both the term and cumulative GPA. For repeated courses that do not grant credit more than once, only one instance counts toward degree credits and requirements.
Residency Requirement
The College of Arts & Sciences is a residential community and students typically spend eight semesters of full-time study in residence to earn the B.A. degree.
The completion of a fall or spring term as a full-time registered student at Cornell counts as a semester in residence. Summer and winter terms at Cornell, study in Cornell's School of Continuing Education and at other institutions do not count as semesters of residence.
The residency requirement has two components: a minimum number of semesters in residence and a requirement to spend the last full-time semester of study in residence.
Students matriculating into the College of Arts & Sciences as first-year students must have a minimum of six semesters in residence before graduating. First-year matriculants into A&S can count up to two semesters in an approved off-campus program as semesters in residence. Approved off-campus programs include A&S approved study abroad programs, Cornell in Washington, Cornell in Rome, Cornell in Los Angeles, and the Cornell-China & Asia-Pacific Studies (CAPS) Program.
Students who transfer into the College of Arts & Sciences after matriculating in their first-year in another Cornell college (internal transfers) must have a minimum of six semesters in residence, and a minimum of two semesters in the College of Arts and Sciences before graduating. Internal transfers can count up to two semesters in an approved off-campus program as semesters in residence.
Students who transfer into Cornell from another institution (external transfers) must have a minimum of four semesters in residence, and a minimum of two semesters in the College of Arts & Sciences, before graduating. External transfers can count up to one semester in an approved off-campus program as a semester in residence.
In addition to the minimum number of semesters in residence, all students must complete their final full-time semester of study (i.e., the last semester in which at least 9 academic credits are needed to meet graduation requirements) in residence. Students who have fewer than 9 credits to complete degree requirements, and have met the minimum number of semesters residency requirement, may elect to complete their degree requirements during Cornell summer and winter terms registered as an A&S student or at another institution with approved transfer credit. Students cannot meet final degree requirements registered as an extramural student at Cornell.
Exceptions to the residence requirement are not petitionable.
Foreign Language Requirement
The faculty considers competence in a foreign language essential for an educated person. Studying a language other than one's own helps students understand the dynamics of language, our fundamental intellectual tool, and enables students to understand another culture. The sooner a student acquires this competence, the sooner it will be useful. Hence, work toward the foreign language requirement should be undertaken in the first two years. Students postponing the language requirement for junior and senior years risk not graduating on time. Courses in foreign languages and/or literature are taught in the College of Arts and Sciences by the following departments: Africana Studies and Research Center, Asian Studies, Classics, Comparative Literature, German Studies, Linguistics, Near Eastern Studies, and Romance Studies. For a list of languages and placement see Language Study at Cornell.
The language requirement may be satisfied in one of the following ways:
Option 1 (FLOPI-AS)
Passing (a) a non-introductory foreign language course of 3 or more credits at Cornell at the 2000-level or above or (b) any other non-introductory course at the 2000-level or above conducted in a foreign language at Cornell. These courses are labeled in the roster with the distribution code FLOPI-AS (Foreign Language Option 1).
OR
Option 2
Passing at least 11 credits of study in a single foreign language (taken in the appropriate sequence) at Cornell.
Any exceptions to these rules will be noted elsewhere in individual department descriptions.
Students whose speaking, reading, and writing competence in a language other than English is at the same level we would expect our entering first-year students to have in English (as shown by completing high school in that language or by special examination during their first year here at Cornell) are exempt from the college's language requirement.
Major Requirement
Most departments and programs specify certain prerequisites for admission to the major; they are found on the pages for each department and program available at Degree Programs.
Students may apply for acceptance into the major as soon as they have completed the prerequisites and are confident of their choice. This may be as early as the second semester of their first year, and must be no later than the end of the second semester of sophomore year. A student without a major at the beginning of the junior year is not making satisfactory progress toward the degree and risks not being allowed to continue in the college. Undeclared first-term juniors must file a Late Declaration of Major form with Student Services and may be placed on a leave of absence during their junior year if they have not yet declared a major.
Double Majors
Completion of one major is required for graduation. Some students choose to complete more than one major. No special permission or procedure is required; students simply become accepted into multiple majors and are assigned to an advisor in each department. All completed majors are posted on the official transcript. Students are not allowed to continue their studies past their eighth semester to complete additional majors.
Early and Delayed Graduation
Graduating Early
A student may elect to graduate early if they are able to complete all graduation requirements in fewer than eight semesters.
Students must still satisfy the college's residency requirement as part of the graduation requirements. This residency requirement requires that students who are first-year matriculants into Cornell spend a minimum of six semesters in residence, external transfers must spend a minimum of four. To request an early graduation, students must notify the A&S Registrar's Office in KG 17 Klarman Hall or at as-studentservices@cornell.edu.
The earliest a student can request to graduate early and officially change their graduation date is immediately following the pre-enrollment period for their anticipated final semester. The student should have pre-enrolled in the classes required to meet the graduation requirements by the requested graduation date. The student must then complete Part I in DUST and have Part II completed by their major advisor.
Graduating Late: Ninth Term Enrollment
The Bachelor of Arts degree is expected to be completed in eight terms. If degree requirements cannot be completed in eight terms, students may seek permission to continue their studies. Requests will only be granted for students who have found themselves in emergent circumstances beyond their control which have prevented them from completing the degree in eight terms. Requests cannot be made until a student's final expected graduation term and will not be reviewed and approved until after the university drop deadline for that semester. Study beyond the eighth term is not automatically granted for the purposes of changing a major. Such requests must be discussed with a college academic advisor and require registrar approval. Requests to add an additional major or minor will not be approved for study beyond the eighth term.
If approved, students in the ninth and tenth term will be on a conditional status and will have restrictions placed on their enrollment to ensure successful completion of their degree. To request a ninth term, students must have their faculty advisor update Part II for any remaining major requirements. They will also need to submit a study plan to their college advisor listing the specific courses that will meet degree requirements for one major.
Student may elect to prorate credits if enrolling in 9 or fewer credits or take a full-time load if they desire. However, enrollment will be limited to 18 credits for the term so students can focus on their remaining required courses. In the rare case where a student may need to enroll in a tenth term to complete their degree, they will be required to prorate tuition and their enrollment will be limited to only the courses/credits needed for successful completion of one major. Additional enrollments will not be allowed.
Graduation Procedures
Application to Graduate
In the first semester of their senior year, students are prompted by Arts & Sciences Student Services to complete an online application to graduate. The application is intended to help seniors identify problems early enough in the final year to make any necessary changes in course selection to satisfy those requirements. Nonetheless, ensuring graduation requirements are fully met is the student's responsibility and any problems that are discovered, even late in the final semester, must be resolved by the student before the degree can be granted. Students are responsible for checking their DUST reports and transcripts each term and alerting Student Services of any problems with their academic record. To check on their progress in the major, students should consult with their major advisors.
Degree Dates
Cornell has three official degree conferral dates in the year: December, May, and August. Students who plan to graduate in August may attend commencement ceremonies in the preceding or subsequent May. Students graduating in December are invited to a special recognition ceremony in December and may also attend Commencement the following May. All academic work must be complete by the official conferral date in order to receive a degree on that date. Incomplete academic work will result in a later conferral date.