 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
||
|
|
|||
 |
 |
||
Next: Bachelor of Philosophy Up: Degree Programs Previous: Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Special Studies (B.S.S. Degree Program)
The Bachelor of Special Studies degree offers Cornell students the opportunity to design their own liberal arts degree program in order to meet their particular educational goals. This opportunity permits students to combine courses in individualized fashion and in general to broaden or deepen their studies beyond the traditional framework of the Bachelor of Arts. Accordingly, the B.S.S. has no general education requirements and no restrictions as to either the number of courses that may be taken in any one department or the level of such courses. Moreover, students who elect this degree are not required to complete an academic major. Candidates for the B.S.S. degree are required, however, to submit a Prospectus; to complete a minimum of 32 course credits; and to achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.0.
The Bachelor of Special Studies degree is defined by the Prospectus, incorporating a narrative description of the program and a chronology of courses that will be taken by the student to fulfill the goals outlined in the narrative description. There is no restriction in the number of individual projects or internships that may be included in the chronology of courses, provided that the student has met the prerequisite(s) and has departmental approval. To allow for maximum flexibility and breadth, Special Studies courses (numbered 690) may also be taken.
The prospectus is to be written by the student and signed by the advisor, and filed with the Registrar, who verifies that it is complete and that it meets current academic regulations as set forth by the faculty. The signed prospectus is considered an agreement between the student and the College. Significant deviations from the program outlined in the Prospectus must be justified in a letter to the Registrar written by the student and co-signed by the advisor. Significant deviations would include:
- a shift in emphasis or direction of the program of study
- a change of academic major
- a decrease in the ratio of upper-level to lower-level courses
- the substitution of independent studies or internships for scheduled courses
- the elimination of a field of study
Course changes that involve substitution of courses accomplishing the same goals as courses originally projected require only a drop/add form.
Although a student pursuing a B.S.S. degree is not required to declare a major, she/he may complete one or more departmental, interdepartmental, or interdisciplinary majors. For more information regarding majors, see ``Declaration of Degree Candidacy and Majors."
Instructions and General Information for Students Contemplating The Bachelor of Special Studies
- Obtain a copy of the guidelines for the Narrative and the Chronology from the Registrar's Office.
- By February 1 of your sophomore year, you should declare your intent to pursue the B.S.S. degree and obtain the consent of an academic advisor willing to assist you in developing a B.S.S. program.
- In conjunction with your advisor, begin planning your B.S.S. program prior to registering for your junior year.
- On or before May 1 of your sophomore year, file the Prospectus with the Registrar.
- Transfer students who choose to pursue the B.S.S. should note the following:
- students admitted with junior standing who wish to pursue the B.S.S. degree must file the Prospectus within 5 months after beginning their first term at Cornell;
- students admitted with senior standing must file within 3 months after beginning their first term at Cornell. Students admitted with senior standing who wish to be graduated at the end of the year must complete a minimum of eight course credits at Cornell, of which at least six must be numbered in the 300s or 400s, excluding ESL 306 (Advanced English as a Second Language).
- A student who decides to pursue the B.S.S. after the deadlines noted above may petition the Academic Standing Subcommittee. The petition must: (a) present cogent reasons for not having filed the declaration on time; and (b) offer a coherent program of studies that cannot be completed with the student's current degree option.
Petitions received by the Subcommittee after February 1 of the student's junior year will be considered only if the petition involves the declaration of another major or the completion of a specific program necessary for certification, employment, or admission to graduate school. As proof of necessity, the subcommittee may require appropriate statements from the prospective certifying official, employer, or graduate school admissions officer. Students who petition after November 1 of their senior year must demonstrate that they: (a) have been working faithfully toward the completion of either the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Music degree; (b) were registered in the preceding spring or in September for the courses required to complete this degree; and (c) can cite cogent reasons for not wishing to complete the current degree program.
- The Academic Programs Subcommittee reviews each B.S.S. Prospectus submitted during the previous academic year. In the fall of the student's senior year, the Registrar will review each candidate's B.S.S. program to determine whether the student has registered for the same or similar courses as are listed on the Chronology of Courses included in the student's Prospectus. (This review occurs during the senior conference, described in the Catalogue section on Degree Programs.)
Next: Bachelor of Philosophy Up: Degree Programs Previous: Bachelor of Music
|
||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
