Frequently Asked Questions

As long as you earn at least 100 A&S credits, you can earn as many credits outside the college as you wish.

No, A&S students who study abroad come from all majors. 

Undergraduate research is one of the pillars of a Cornell education, and A&S students who want to be involved in it are encouraged to pursue any of the many opportunities available—for example, working in a lab, becoming a professor's research assistant, or writing a senior thesis.

The Cornell Music Department likes to think of itself as the friendliest music department in the country to non-majors. Interested students, regardless of major, may enroll in courses and receive individual instruction from faculty. All choral and instrumental ensembles are open audition.

No, you must choose a major in the College of Arts and Sciences. Majors in other colleges are not open to our students.

Even though you must find a major in our college, you will still have freedom to do coursework in the other colleges. Some out-of-college minors, in fact, can be completed by Arts and Sciences students. You should consult with the appropriate department to determine whether a given out-of-college minor is open to you. And if you wish, you can even cluster a number of related courses together to create an “informal minor.”

Students have until the end of sophomore year to declare a major. Many students add an additional major or majors during the junior and senior years.

More: Declaring a Major

Majoring is an opportunity to study what you love most and do well - regardless of what you or others think might be "most practical." Whatever your major, through it you will hone your mind and imagination. You'll learn to think and write critically, skeptically, and imaginatively; you'll learn to recognize and address important questions; you'll learn to create and weigh evidence and make decisions about likely truth in the face of incomplete data; you'll confront basic questions about human life and mind; you'll develop your intellectual and aesthetic sensibilities. These skills will stand you in good stead in any career. You'll acquire them more thoroughly and usefully through studying a subject you care about.

Keep in mind that the major is only one component of a liberal arts education. You will have ample opportunity to take courses in a broad range of disciplines throughout the university.

A minor is a secondary area of interest that often complements a major. Although not a degree requirement of the college, a minor allows students to group some related electives together in a meaningful way.  Most of the minors offered in the college are interdisciplinary, such as Law and Society or International Relations. Some are offered within existing departments, such as Music or Spanish. Some out-of-college minors are available to Arts and Sciences students. Completed minors will appear on your transcript.
How Do I Find Out About the Requirements for a Major?

The best way to find out about a particular major is to consult the Courses of Study or visit the departmental website. You can also set up an appointment with the director of undergraduate studies in a particular department for more information about the major.

You must complete one major in order to graduate, but yes, you may choose to pursue a second or even a third major. To add another major, you simply follow the department’s procedures. You will then receive a faculty advisor in that second major to guide you further in selecting your courses. Considerations about double-majoring

Whether or not to double major is an individual decision. Completing two majors within eight semesters will mean losing some of the flexibility built into the Arts & Sciences degree to allow you to explore a variety of interests. If you enjoy both subjects equally, and prefer taking courses in those subjects over those in other departments or colleges, then the choice is right for you. The requirements for some majors facilitate the addition of a second, related major. Study abroad in a foreign language may make completion of a second major in that language relatively easy.

Each A&S student works with a faculty advisor and an advising dean, each of whom provides academic guidance; a student's peer advisor helps him or her become oriented to Cornell. In addition, the A&S Office of Career Services advises students on career exploration, finding internships, and applying for jobs.

For the most part, you will be able to adjust your schedule yourself, using On-Line Drop/Add. For permission courses you will need to use a drop/add form. If you must use a drop/add form (generally only for permission courses), you can find the form at Academic Advising, 55 Goldwin Smith or print this form.

Make sure that you fill in your name, seven digit ID number, and class numbers correctly.

For Arts & Sciences Courses, a department stamp is required for each add and each drop. Non-Arts College Courses need initials from the person designated by the offering department. VERY IMPORTANT: Check the Roster and list the class numbers very carefully for each course component that you are adding, dropping, or changing. For cross-listed courses, make sure you use the correct class number. When dropping a course you must also drop all subcourses associated with that course.