Special Academic Opportunities

At Cornell, extraordinary opportunities are around every corner. From studying the geology of coral reefs off the coast of Australia to singing at Rome’s Basilica di San Marco, these one-of-a-kind experiences are standards on our One Course At A Time calendar.

These opportunities go well beyond the curriculum, too, embracing special internship opportunities, summer research, independent study, and a lot more. Here’s a sampling of the academic opportunities you’ll find here:

Dimensions: The Center for the Science and Culture of Healthcare

The Center prepares students for the health professions using an integrated approach. It supports interdisciplinary coursework, coordinates internship and job shadowing opportunities, workshops, seminars, and student/faculty research, and helps students prepare for the MCAT. The program emphasizes the cultural contexts of health care, scientific problem-solving, communication, individual initiative, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Berry Center for Economics, Business, and Public Policy

The Berry Center provides academic programs in applied economics and public policy. It supports interdisciplinary courses, internships, workshops, GMAT preparation, the executive-in-residence program, short-term residencies from business leaders and policy experts, research opportunities, and off-campus study.

Cornell Fellows Program

Students chosen to participate in this highly selective program complete a substantive fellowship designed by a host site and a Cornell faculty member. Cornell Fellows receive a stipend to help cover expenses during their fellowships at prestigious organizations throughout the world.

Pre-law Program

Students interested in law receive advising support designed to maximize their chances for success in law school and beyond. They also enjoy engagement opportunities such as Mock Trial, internships, and opportunities to interact with legal professionals.

The Student Symposium

Each year, students present scholarly and creative work in a wide variety of disciplines at this event. Recent presentation titles include: “Mathematical Modeling of HIV,” “King Lear in the Era of Reagan,” and “Historic Preservation as a Means of Economic Development.”

Summer Research

In the summer, many Cornell professors engage students as full partners in research as they work to improve solar cells, understand the mechanisms of various diseases, or examine the climate record hidden in stalagmites. Students gain invaluable research skills while working in small teams, frequently leading to subsequent research opportunities at other institutions as undergraduates or as grad students.

Off-campus Study

Cornell's One Course At A Time schedule opens many opportunities for experiential learning off campus. Each year numerous Cornell courses spend a month or more in locations ranging from the Boundary Waters to London to Morocco. Many courses also spend a few days in places like Chicago to study at the Newberry Library or visit the financial markets, and students can also pursue indepedent studies or semester-long programs abroad.

Project on Civic Engagement

Through this program, and across the curriculum, a Cornell education instills the motivation for a lifetime of responsible public citizenship. Among the Project’s components are a lecture series, internships at nonprofit and community organizations, community-based research, service opportunities, and coursework in a number of departments.

Presidential Fellows Program

Cornell's One Course At A Time schedule enables professors to bring a range of visiting speakers and other distinguished vistors to class. The Presidential Fellows Program goes one step further, bringing distinguished scholars, researchers, writers, artists, musicians, actors, and others to campus to teach their own courses for an entire block.