Student Services

 
 

The information on this page should help you to begin thinking about your Spring '09 schedule. You will create your course schedule during orientation. 


Course Load
Fifteen credits per semester is considered average, and a minimum of 12 academic credits is required for full-time status. Most students carry between 12 and 16 credits (four or five courses) each semester. Depending upon the intensity of your course load, you may wish to stay with 12-13 credits during your first semester in the College. A good strategy used by many students is to begin the semester with a load that includes about 15 or so credits, then perhaps dropping one of those during the first few weeks if that seems appropriate and if you will still be enrolled in at least 12 credits of academic work.

Mature students in the College of Human Ecology (those who are 24 or older at the time of matriculation) are allowed to enroll in as few as six credits per term. They may also have their tuition pro-rated accordingly by contacting the College of Human Ecology Registrar before the semester begins. All other students must petition the registrar for permission to carry fewer than 12 credits.


Requirements and Scheduling
  • You will need 120 academic credits in order to graduate; a minimum of 60 credits must be earned at Cornell.
  • Use your transfer credit evaluation to determine which requirements have been met so far with credits taken elsewhere.
  • Use Cornell Courses of Study to examine course descriptions and prerequisite requirements and to see when the courses you need will be offered.
  • The Course and Time Roster includes specifics about courses offered during the Spring 2009 Semester; you should use the Roster to create your schedule.

Finalizing Your Schedule
It's helpful to remember that most people, including returning Cornell students, will make some changes to their schedules just as the semester begins. When you attend orientation you will have opportunities to talk with faculty and with other students in your major; some of your ideas about your first semester will change accordingly.


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