- Students must enroll in a minimum of one 3-credit course in Human Ecology with course codes: DEA, FSAD, HD, NS, or PUBPOL each semester for their first four semesters - excluding winter and summer sessions. First Year Writing Seminars (FWS) with these course codes do not count towards this requirement.
- First Year Writing Seminars do not count towards this requirement.
- “HE” prefix courses below the 1500 level do not count towards this requirement.
- Statistics and Research Methods courses (PUBPOL 2100, PUBPOL 3120, DEA 3550, HD 2830) do not count towards this requirement.
- Special Studies courses (4000 Independent Study, 4010 Research, 4020 Supervised Fieldwork, and 4030 Teaching Apprenticeship) do not count towards this requirement.
- HE 1800 Blazing Your Trail in Human Ecology (1 credit, S/U) - must be completed in first fall semester, required for all incoming new students to Cornell, optional for internal transfer students
- HE 1850 Introduction to Human Ecology (1 credit, Graded) - must be completed in first spring semester, required for all new Cornell Human Ecology students, including both internal and external transfer students
- HE 2000 Human Ecology: Pathways to Racial and Social Justice (3 credits, Graded) - must be completed in second fall semester, required for all new Cornell Human Ecology students, including both internal and external transfer students (internal transfer students entering in Fall 2024 may submit a course substitution petition to satisfy this requirement with a DEI course previously completed in another Cornell college).
Students who matriculated to Human Ecology prior to August 2024:
- Students must complete a minimum of 43 Human Ecology credits from College Distribution, Major Requirements and electives.
- Students must enroll in a minimum of one 3-credit course in Human Ecology with course codes: DEA, FSAD, HD, NS, or PUBPOL (formerly PAM) - excluding First Year Writing Seminars - each semester for their first four semesters, excluding winter and summer sessions.
- First Year Writing Seminars do not count towards this requirement.
- “HE” prefix courses below the 1500 level do not count towards this requirement.
- Statistics and Research Methods courses (PUBPOL 2100, PUBPOL 3120, DEA 3550, HD 2830) do not count towards this requirement.
- A maximum of 3 credits of department Special Studies (4000 Independent Study, 4010 Research, 4020 Supervised Fieldwork) may be applied towards this requirement. 4030 Teaching Apprenticeship courses do not count towards this requirement.
- Students must earn a minimum of 120 total academic credits to graduate. Physical education nor “10XX” courses do not count towards the 120 minimum credits for graduation
- Of the 120 credits, at least 60 credits must be earned at Cornell University.
- A maximum of 12 credits of Special Studies courses (ex. 4000 Independent Study, 4010 Research, 4020 Supervised Fieldwork, and 4030 Teaching Apprenticeship) may be applied towards the total 120 credits requirement.
Excellence in academic achievement is recognized by placing on the Dean's List the names of students who have completed satisfactorily:
- At least 12 credits of letter grades.
- A semester GPA of 3.7 or above.
- No F or U grades.
Dean's List will be determined at the end of each semester. Dean's List will be officially noted on each students transcript each term it is received.
- Students must fulfill the requirements specified for a major that are in effect at the time of their matriculation. They also have the choice of fulfilling the requirements specified for subsequent years. However, they cannot mix and match requirements from different years
- Curriculum requirements for each graduating class are available online.
Human Ecology will accept all minors that are approved by the University. Minors are controlled, tracked, and audited by the department or unit in which they are offered. Information regarding completion of requirements must be reported by the unit sponsoring the minor to the Human Ecology's Registrar's Office for it to be noted on the transcript.
- S/U grading option may not be used for College Distribution courses or required major courses unless it is the only grade option offered for those courses.
- S/Us MAY be used for the 9 credits of Human Ecology coursework outside of one's major and for electives.
- Students may apply no more than 12 credits of S/U towards graduation requirements. If a required course is only offered S/U, it will not count towards this limit. Students may take more S/Us if they choose, but the additional credit will not be applied towards graduation.
- The deadline for changing grade options is 57 calendar days after the start of classes, the same as the “Drop” deadline.
- Students must carry 12 credits each semester (excluding physical education) to be matriculated as full-time students. Carrying fewer than 12 credits will have financial aid implications and will make students subject to academic action as defined by the Committee on Academic Status (CAS).
- Exception: Mature students (24 years or older at date of matriculation) can enroll for as few as 6 credits without petitioning for permission
There is no limit to the number of credits that may be taken in the endowed colleges (Arts, AR, EN, HO) or in the statutory colleges (HE, ILR, and CALS). Depending on their needs and desires, students may choose to take additional courses and graduate with more than 120 credits.
Leaves of Absence
A student may request a leave of absence at any time after they have commenced attendance at the university as part of a Cornell degree program. A leave may be extended for a second semester by making a written request to the Office of Human Ecology Registrar (1204 MVR Hall, hereg@cornell.edu). Note: In absentia study status and leave of absence status are not the same; however, students may petition to earn credits with either status. Students on leave must notify the college registrar (1204 MVR Hall, hereg@cornell.edu), of their intention to return to campus by returning the Return from Leave of Absence form by November 30 for a spring return and July 31 for a fall return. Those whose leave period has expired will be withdrawn from the college after the third week of the semester they were due back.
Students considering a leave of absence should discuss their plans with a counselor in the Office of Student and Career Development. The student must initiate the leave request using the Cornell Leave of Absence and Withdrawal Request to officially request a leave. Leaves initiated after instruction begins will be charged a percentage of the semester tuition. The University Registrar will determine the effective date of the leave.
The academic records of all students who are granted a leave of absence are subject to review, and the Committee on Academic Status may request grades and other information from faculty members to determine whether the student should return under warning or severe warning or in good academic standing.
Under certain documented medical circumstances a student may be granted a health leave of absence. Health leaves are initiated by the student with Cornell Health. If they recommend a health leave for the student, the college registrar may grant the leave. A health leave is for an indeterminate period of time not to exceed five years. Students who are granted a health leave of absence have the option to maintain contact with a counselor in the Office of Student and Career Development (1210 MVR Hall (607) 255-2532). The counselor will advise the student on procedures to obtain a recommendation from Cornell Health to the college registrar for the student’s return. Students should plan sufficiently in advance to assure time for Cornell Health and the college registrar to consider their request. The request should be initiated by November 30 for a spring return and by July 31 for a fall return.
Withdrawal
A withdrawal is a termination of student status at the university. Students may withdraw voluntarily at any time by submitting a withdrawal request. A student considering such an action is urged to first discuss plans with a counselor in the Office of Admission, Student, and Career Development (1210 MVR Hall, (607) 255-2532). The University Registrar will determine the effective date of the withdrawal.
In some instances, a student may be given a withdrawal by the college registrar. Students who leave the college without an approved leave of absence, or do not return after the leave has expired, will be given a withdrawal after the seventh week of the semester in which they fail to register.
A student who has withdrawn from the college or who has been given a withdrawal by the college registrar and who wishes to return at a later date must reapply through the Office of Admission for consideration along with all other applicants for admission. If the student was in academic difficulty at the time of the withdrawal, the request for readmission will be referred to the Committee on Academic Status (CAS) for consideration, and that committee may stipulate criteria under which the student may be readmitted to the college.
