Extraordinary Opportunities: In the Classroom

Classes at Cornell are limited to 25 students (average size is 16), led by faculty dedicated to teaching (never by teaching assistants), and steeped in the liberal arts. Add in One Course At A Time scheduling, and you get engaged, highly interactive, and close-knit learning communities that are free to invent the best ways to learn.

Below are a few of the ways students benefit from Cornell's approach to learning:

Faculty mentors Anonymity is not an option at Cornell. Just like students, Cornell professors have just one course to focus on each block. They're engaged with their students all day, serving as mentors, guides, and collaborators. Frequently these relationships deepen during summer research partnerships or independent projects. And when it comes time to apply for a job or graduate school, faculty often write recommendation letters that make all the difference.
Distinguished visitors When visitors such as noted economist Kevin Murphy come to Cornell, it's not unusual for students to spend extended time with them in the classroom during their visit. The block plan also works well for bringing outside experts to campus to teach specialized courses for a block.
Shared learning adventures Most Cornell classes meet for four hours a day, but you won't find professors standing in front of the blackboard in marathon lectures. Instead, you'll discover days filled with in-depth discussions, group projects, and independent research. You might watch a full-length film in the morning and discuss it the same afternoon, or learn a new math concept and then have time to work on your homework problems in class with your teacher's assistance.
Day trips Why study song birds or sedimentary rocks indoors when there are woodlands and excellent geologic sites nearby? Day trips are a natural option on the block plan. Art classes frequently travel to galleries and museums in Minneapolis or Chicago. Environmental studies students tour wind farms or power plants in the region. And many courses avail themselves of local museums, lectures, and performances.
Complex productions and projects At Cornell, English students don't just read Shakespeare, they also mount full-scale productions for the campus. History students don't just read history, they contribute to it by creating documentaries and turning local museum resources into interactive Web sites. Politics students run complex election simulations, women's studies students engage in activism, and advanced physics students create lasers and hologram generators. Yes, all in three and a half weeks.
Freedom to create At most schools, art is practiced in a narrow window between set up and clean up. Cornell art courses are more like intensive art seminars, with students able to create, rest, and reengage with the creative process at any time of day. The same holds true for theatre courses where students might learn stage design in the morning and build a set in the afternoon. And since all Cornell classes end at 3 p.m., student can easily participate in music ensembles after class and be done by dinner time.
Flexible, in-depth labs Science laboratories are assigned to a particular course each block. Since there are no issues with sharing space or equipment, classes can move freely between lecture and lab as needed. Students are also able to mount more complex experiments and to investigate more deeply because experiments can be given their full attention over multiple days.
Student teaching & practicum Education students get a taste of classroom teaching long before their senior year through opportunities to observe and complete practicum. What's more, the block plan allows them to regroup with classmates and professors to share experiences and learn from each other. Similar benefits are available to students interested in social service who gain experience at local agencies.
Pre-professional activities Students interested in health professions, business, and law find many opportunities for learning when the class day ends. The Berry Center organizes reading groups, then introduces students to the authors for further discussion. Cornell's Mock Trial team has competed in the national tournament. Pre-meds often meet with health professionals or medical students through the Dimensions program.