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Note: This page provides a general overview. For complete and accurate information, please refer to the Engineering Undergraduate Handbook and consult the Office of Undergraduate Studies. For current course offerings and information, refer to the Cornell University Registrar: Courses of Study.
Program Overview
An Independent Major comprises a primary area (32-credit minimum) and a secondary area (16-credit minimum), which together form a coherent curriculum. The primary area must be any subject area offered by the engineering schools or departments, except Computer Science. The secondary area should preferably be from outside engineering in a logically connected subject area or theme comprised of courses taught throughout Cornell. All courses must be taken for letter grade (no S/U allowed) and students are only allowed one course below a C- across the two areas.
The curriculum is individualized and is developed in consultation with two faculty advisors. The combination selected must clearly form, in scope and content, an engineering education and should include engineering design and synthesis, as well as engineering sciences. In addition to 48 credits in the combined primary and secondary areas, all requirements of the Engineering Common Curriculum must be met. Students are highly encouraged to propose a course of study that is unique. Applications to combine coursework from an existing engineering major and coursework for an existing minor will not be approved. Applications will also not be approved for a secondary area in pre-health.
Eligibility and Academic Standards
Eligibility
Open to unaffiliated undergraduate students who wish to apply and affiliate with the IM, or students already affiliated with an engineering major who wish to change their major to the IM, or students from another college at Cornell who wish to internally transfer to the IM. Students must be in good standing in their current program to apply. Students are encouraged to apply by the end of their sophomore year. Applications may be accepted through senior year.
Academic Standards
The Independent Major is an opportunity for students whose educational objectives vary and may not be met by pursuing traditional academic options in the College. It allows students to create specially tailored, interdisciplinary courses of study. The student develops the program in consultation with faculty advisors, which is then approved by the Independent Major committee. The committee is also responsible for overseeing the student’s progress.
The Independent Major must include a primary engineering area of ≥32 credits and an educationally related secondary area of ≥16 credits. The primary area may be any subject area offered by the engineering schools or departments; the secondary area is a logically connected subject area comprised of Cornell courses. The program must constitute an engineering education in scope and substance, and all requirements of the Common Curriculum must be met.
Application Process
An Independent Major application is required. Students will be asked to develop a program of study in consultation with their two target faculty advisors and must be approved by the Program Coordinator and the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs.
Students are encouraged to apply by the end of their sophomore year and must meet good academic standing requirements for unaffiliated students. They should seek assistance in developing a coherent program from professors in the proposed primary and secondary subject areas. If approved, the program becomes a curricular contract to which the student must adhere.
- Statement of Purpose
Students must write a statement of purpose outlining the following:- a rationale for why the proposed program of study is unique and different from the other engineering majors in the college;
- 3-5 learning objectives of the proposed program of study and an explanation of why the objectives cannot be satisfied by any of the other majors in the college;
- a description of how the chosen courses in the primary and secondary areas help meet the learning objectives.
- Course Plan
Students must develop a full course plan for every semester of enrollment through graduation that satisfies the common curriculum requirements, the 32-credit primary area, and the 16-credit secondary area. - Faculty Advisor Support
Students must obtain the support and endorsement of two faculty advisors. These faculty must not be visiting faculty.
Please note:
- Due to current enrollment and advising limitations, the Independent Major cannot accept any students with Computer Science as either their primary or secondary areas of study.
- There are deadlines after the fall and spring semesters for applying. Students should check with Engineering Advising to verify dates as they consider the program.
- Because no single standardized curriculum exists, the Independent Major is not accredited by ABET. Students who intend to seek licensing as professional engineers should be aware that this non-accredited degree program will require additional education, work, and experience to be eligible to take the Fundamentals of Engineering examination.
Timeline
Applications and compelling program proposals can take several weeks to months to develop. Students need to plan to spend a significant amount of time writing their statement of purpose and learning objectives, outlining their course plans, and securing two faculty advisors willing to support students in their respective focus areas. Students should not expect to develop an application overnight or within a few days of when they want or need to apply.
Application Deadlines
- For Fall entry – August 15
- For Spring entry – January 15
- For Summer entry – May 15
If approved, the program becomes a curricular contract to which the student must adhere. Changes to a student’s program after they are accepted into the major can be made with the support of the appropriate faculty advisor.
Students who complete the major receive a bachelor of science degree, the same degree received by students who complete established majors within the Cornell Engineering. Like several other majors within the college, the major is not ABET accredited. Students who intend to seek licensing as a professional engineer should be aware that this non-ABET accredited degree program may require additional education, work, and/or experience to qualify for eligibility to take the Fundamentals of Engineering examination.
Examples of Strong Independent Major Proposals
- Renewable Energy Systems Engineering Primary and Energy Economics and Policy Secondary
- Chemical Engineering Primary and Food Science Secondary
- Operations Research Primary and Languages and Cultures Secondary
- Operations Research Primary and Sports Management Secondary
- Environmental Engineering Primary and Sustainability Secondary
- Information Science, Systems, and Technology Primary and Strategy Secondary
- Biomedical Engineering Primary and Governance and Policy Secondary
Common Curriculum (75-credit minimum)
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MATH 1910
Calculus for Engineers
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MATH 1920
Multivariable Calculus for Engineers
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MATH 2930 or MATH 2940
Differential Equations or Linear Algebra
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4th math course (as per primary area requirement)
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CHEM 2090
Engineering General Chemistry
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PHYS 1112 or PHYS 1116
Physics I: Mechanics and Heat or Physics I: Mechanics and Special Relativity
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PHYS 1110
Introduction to Experimental Physics
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PHYS 2213 or PHYS 2217
Physics II: Electromagnetism or Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism
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PHYS 2214 (or permissible substitute as per primary area)
Physics III: Oscillations, Waves, and Quantum Physics
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CS 111X
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ENGRI 1XXX
Introduction to Engineering
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ENGRD 2XXX
Engineering Distribution 1
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ENGRD 2XXX
Engineering Distribution 2
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First-Year Writing Seminar 1
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First-Year Writing Seminar 2
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Liberal Studies Distribution: 6 courses, 18-credit minimum
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Advisor-approved Electives: 2 courses, 6-credit minimum
Required Major Courses
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Primary Area (32 Credits)
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Secondary Area (16 Credits)
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Engineering Communications Requirement
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Physical Education
- 1 semester
- 2 semester
- Swim test