Engineering Communications Requirement

The Engineering Communications Requirement gives students focused instruction on developing strategies to "learn how to learn" communication skills. Because communication is always evolving, there's no single answer or final solution. Instead, these skills are developed, refined and applied throughout a lifetime.
Engineering Communications Program
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Cornell Engineering offers many paths that will allow undergraduates to fulfill the Engineering Communications Requirement, each focusing on written, oral, multimodal, and team communication efforts in context.

All undergraduates must fulfill the Engineering Communications Requirement using one of the options listed below in Category A or B.

For all students, especially those who are trying to graduate early, planning ahead is essential. It is critical for students to strategize with their major advisors for at least two contingency plans. Please understand that while 3-credit ENGRC courses (3350, 3500, 3700) also fulfill a Liberal Studies requirement, those seats are limited, and the courses will not be over-enrolled.  The Engineering Communications Program no longer uses waitlists of any kind; students should enroll on their own during pre-enroll and drop/add. 

Courses from other universities or previous work cannot be used to fulfill this requirement (see Category 6 in the Engineering Undergraduate Handbook).

Cornell Engineering expands communication skills beyond writing.

Cornell Engineering emphasizes that effective communication in engineering involves much more than writing. It includes presenting, persuading, collaborating in teams, and designing complex messages through various methods. Engineers must also create visual materials, such as graphs, charts, data visualizations, sketches, and photos, to support and enhance their technical work.

General Policies for all ENGRC Courses

These policies have been reviewed by the Cornell Engineering College Curriculum Governing Board’s Subcommittee for Engineering Communications.

  • ENGRC Courses: Fulfilling Requirements

    All ENGRC courses, if passed, fulfill the Engineering Communications Requirement for undergraduate graduation.

  • ENGRC Grading

    Cornell’s ENGRC courses are graded A-F; there is not A+ option because ENGRC courses do not offer extra credit.

  • Code of Academic Integrity

    At Cornell University, all students are expected to follow the Code of Academic Integrity. As always, submitting work not done by yourself is an academic integrity violation. This includes submitting work created by ChatGPT, or copied from another AI service, bot, or website, as your own work.

    Submitting work generated by ChatGPT or any other similar program will trigger an Academic Integrity filing. The only exception to this is if your instructor assigns a ChatGPT assignment wherein students will explore the affordances, constraints, and issues of using artificial intelligence to communicate engineering, technical, scientific, business, or academic work.

Choose from two paths to fulfill your Engineering Communications requirement

Category A: Via the Engineering Communications Program Courses and Opportunities

Courses in Category A will fulfill the Engineering Communications Requirement for all majors.

  1. Take and pass an offered Engineering Communications course

    • ENGRC 3020 – Project Team Communications: Practicum in Technical Writing. 1cr. Not offered AY 2023-2024 or AY 2024-2025. As a 1cr offering, this course does not fulfill a Liberal Studies requirement, even via petition.
    • ENGRC 3023: see item #3 below.
    • ENGRC 3025 – Creating and Communicating Your Digital Professionalism. 1cr. Offered fall, spring. As a 1cr offering, this course does not fulfill a Liberal Studies requirement, even via petition.
    • ENGRC 3026 – Engineering Presentations and Expert Presence. 1cr. Offered fall semesters. As a 1cr offering, this course does not fulfill a Liberal Studies requirement, even via petition.
    • ENGRC 3027 – Cross-cultural Communication and Ethics in Engineering Workplaces. 1cr. Offered fall semesters. As a 1cr offering, this course does not fulfill a Liberal Studies requirement, even via petition.
    • ENGRC 3340 – Independent Study in Engineering Communications. 1 credit. By faculty invitation only. As a 1-credit offering, this course does not fulfill a Liberal Studies requirement, even via petition. Not available for higher credit load. See more information in the FAQ below. Available Fall and Spring semesters only.
    • ENGRC 3341: see item #5 below.
    • ENGRC 3350 – Organizational Communication for Engineering Managers. 3cr. Offered fall and spring depending on staffing. As a 3cr course, this class fulfills ECR and can fulfill a Liberal Studies requirement.
    • ENGRC 3500 – Engineering Communications. 3cr. 3cr. Offered fall and spring depending on staffing. As a 3cr course, this class fulfills ECR and can fulfill a Liberal Studies requirement. There may be summer online asynchronous ENGRC 3500 courses offered through SCE.
    • ENGRC 3700 – Communications Consulting for Engineers 3cr. Offered in a 2-semester sequence fall–> spring. As a 3cr course sequence, this class fulfills ECR and can fulfill a Liberal Studies requirement.

  2. No longer offered:

    ENGRC 3024

  3. Enroll in and pass ENGRC 3023

    Enroll in and pass ENGRC 3023, a 1-credit attachment to a 3-credit engineering course that is not one of the officially designated W-I or C-I courses

    Cornell Engineering instructors may occasionally wish to extend communication competencies with added work inside their course for a given semester so that it will fulfill the Engineering Communications Requirement

    With the approval of the CCGB’s Subcommittee on Engineering Communications, instructors may have students co-register in ENGRC 3023, which may be taken more than once with different courses by permission of the engineering instructors.

    As a 1-credit offering, this course does not fulfill a Liberal Studies requirement, even via petition.

    Please note that ENGRC 3023 can only be attached to 3-credit courses; all requests for ENGRC 3023s for 2-credit, 1-credit, or 0.5-credit courses will be denied, even in combination. This policy is to assure that there is enough course time and instructor contact not only for the work to be done with the “parent” engineering course, but also the extra 1-credit-worth of work for the Engineering Communications Requirement.

    To begin the application process, send an email to engrcomm_info@cornell.edu, requesting the full ENGRC 3023 information packet to begin. Please insert “3023 request” in the subject line.

    For questions or an appointment to discuss options, please send an email immediately requesting an appointment to engrcomm_info@cornell.edu.

    See Note 1 at the bottom of Category A for more information.

    The highest grade possible for ENGRC 3023 is an “A,” regardless of the grade in the associated course.

    • All 3023 paperwork must be submitted by the last Wednesday of January for consideration for Spring semester consideration.
    • All 3023 paperwork must be submitted by the last Wednesday of August for consideration for Fall semester consideration.
    • Students who are approved will enroll in a 1cr graded course using a PIN provided by the Engineering Communications Program Director.

  4. Complete and pass a 1-credit partner course

    Here are the current options, which require enrollment in both the departmental course (usually 3 credits) and the ENGRC course (1 credit).

    These courses do not count toward the Liberal Studies requirement, even with a petition. For more details, see Note 2.

    The highest grade possible in the ENGRC course is an “A,” regardless of the grade in the associated course. Because it’s a 1-credit course, it cannot be used to fulfill a Liberal Studies requirement, even by petition.

    • ENGRC 3152 (partnered with CIS/INFO 3152)
    • ENGRC 3610 (partnered with CEE 3610)
    • ENGRC 4152 (partnered with CIS/INFO 4152)
      Note: Students cannot take CIS/INFO 5152 and ENGRC 4152 at the same time. Early admission to a Master’s program requires students to fulfill the Engineering Communications Requirement as undergraduates in both the CIS/INFO course and the ENGRC course. Petitions to change this will not be granted.
    • ENGRC 4590 (partnered with BEE 4590)
      Note: This course is a 3-credit pre-req for BEE 4590, offered spring semesters. For BEE majors only intending to take BEE 4590 in the following fall.

  5. Apply for ENGRC 3341: Guided Fieldwork in Engineering Communications

    Formerly known as the ECR Petition.

    Sometimes, a student may be involved in a significant amount of engineering or technical communication elsewhere in Cornell Engineering. In these cases, it may be possible to petition the CCGB’s Subcommittee on Engineering Communications for permission to use this work for future projects (not past ones) to meet the Engineering Communications Requirement.

    Students and their mentoring Engineering faculty should plan ahead for this option. To request the information packet and form, email engrcomm_info@cornell.edu with “3341 request” in the subject line. For questions or to schedule an appointment, email the same address.

    Please note that this option does not fulfill the Liberal Studies requirement, even with a petition. For more information, see Note 2. The highest grade possible for ENGRC 3341 is an “A.” Because it is a 1-credit course, it cannot be used to meet a Liberal Studies requirement, even by petition.

    • All 3341 paperwork must be submitted by the last Wednesday of January for consideration for Spring semester consideration.
    • All 3341 paperwork must be submitted by the last Wednesday of August for consideration for Fall semester consideration.
    • Students who are approved will enroll in a 1cr graded course using a PIN provided by the Engineering Communications Program Director.

     

Category B: Via Other Paths

  1. Take an officially designated Writing-Intensive (W-I) or Communication-Intensive (C-I) engineering course

    Note: This list is not complete, as engineering departments may offer Writing-Intensive (W-I) or Communication-Intensive (C-I) courses on an ad-hoc basis, and these offerings can change each semester. Students should check with their advisors each semester to confirm if a course will meet the Engineering Communications Requirement, as curriculum approvals are managed by each major through CCGB approval.

    W-I and C-I courses are part of a major’s regular offerings and are designed for that major’s students. These courses do not count toward the Liberal Studies requirement, even with a petition. For more information, see the Engineering Undergraduate Handbook.

    These courses typically fulfill the Engineering Communications Requirement only for their own majors. Students, advisors, and departments need to verify how these courses fit into each student’s major requirements for graduation. The Engineering Communications Program does not oversee or assess these courses.

    For questions or to schedule an appointment, email engrcomm_info@cornell.edu within the first two weeks of the semester or earlier.

    • BEE 4530 – Computer-Aided Engineering: Applications to Biological Processes
    • BEE 4730 – Watershed Engineering
    • BEE 4590 – Physical Design in Biological and Environmental Engineering
    • BME 4190 – Laboratory Techniques for Molecular, Cellular, and Systems Engineering
    • BME 4390 – Circuits, Signals, and Sensors: Instrumentation Laboratory
    • BME 4490 – Biomechanics Laboratory
    • CHEME 4320 – Chemical Engineering Laboratory
    • ECE 4920 – ECE Technical Writing (pre-reqs of both ECE 4760 or ECE 5760) Note: This course fulfills the Engineering Communications Requirement for both ECE students and CS students.
    • MSE 4030 – Senior Materials Laboratory I (fulfills the ECR for MSE majors only at this time)
    • MSE 4050 – Senior Experimental Thesis I and MSE 4060 – Senior Experimental Thesis II (both; (fulfills the ECR for MSE majors only at this time)
    • MAE 4272 – Fluids/Heat Transfer Laboratory
    • ORIE 4100 – Manufacturing Systems Design: A Consulting Boot Camp Note 1: ORIE 5100 does not fulfill the Engineering Communications Requirement. Note 2: This course fulfills the Engineering Communications Requirement for both ORIE students and CS students.

     

  2. Enroll in and complete COMM 3030 or COMM 3020, taught by the Department of Communication (in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences)

    The Engineering Communications Program does not control, monitor, or assess for these courses.  This option does not also fulfill the Liberal Studies requirement, even via petition.  See also the Engineering Undergraduate Handbook.

  3. Enroll in and complete HADM 3670, taught through the Nolan School

    The Engineering Communications Program does not control, monitor, or assess for these courses.  This option does not also fulfill the Liberal Studies requirement, even via petition.  See also the Engineering Undergraduate Handbook.

FAQs About Fulfilling the Engineering Communications Requirement

Note: Undergraduates are entirely responsible for enrolling in a course that will allow them to graduate on time and fulfill the Engineering Communications Requirement. Planning ahead is imperative. Visit your advisors!

  • Can the Engineering Communication Requirement be satisfied by transfer credit?

    Perhaps. See our full information at The Engineering Communications Requirement and Transfer Credit Considerations.

  • Can I, as a student, gather up prior communication work from my other classes and submit it towards fulfilling the Engineering Communications Requirement?

    No. Prior work is not permissible for fulfilling the Engineering Communications Requirement (ECR). The ECR is for students to gain competencies, not showcase prior accomplishments.

  • Can my writing work as a TA count for fulfilling the Engineering Communications Requirement? I did a lot of writing for my professor!

    No. Work done as a Teaching Assistant (paid, for credit, or volunteer) does not fulfill the Engineering Communications Requirement.

    The Engineering Communications Requirements is for students to gain competencies, not showcase prior accomplishments. This is true for any student support position in a specific course or lab.

  • I’m on an engineering project team. Can I count my communication work for project teams?

    At this time, any work completed for Project Teams does not fulfill the Engineering Communications Requirement.

  • Considering my major, what is the minimum grade that I need to fulfill the Engineering Communications Requirement?

    The minimum grade required to meet the Engineering Communications Requirement depends on your major and how you plan to apply the course toward your degree.

    For guidance, consult the Engineering Advising Office, your major department, and the Engineering Undergraduate Handbook.

  • What are the rules about using generative AI, such as Claude or ChatGPT, for completing work for an Engineering Communications course?

    Each Engineering Communications instructor will provide students with guidelines on AI use in the ENGRC class and for specific assignments.

    Using AI outside of those guidelines and assignments may result in an Academic Integrity filing. If you are unsure, check with your professor.

  • Can I get on a waitlist for a specific class?

    Beginning Fall 2025, the Engineering Communications Program is no longer hosting waitlists.

    There are a few courses that require an application, such as ENGRC 3025.

    Undergraduates are entirely responsible for enrolling in a course that will allow them to graduate on time and fulfill the Engineering Communications Requirement; to do this, use the Cornell Registration system.

  • Do all ENGRC courses have team projects?

    Yes, for the most part. We understand that team projects can be stressful, but the faculty in the Engineering Communications Program work hard to support those teams in very concrete ways.

    Part of the work that we do in ENGRC courses is to address team dynamics, using a variety of methods and check-ins during the semester.

    Please note that some independent study situations, such as ENGRC 3341 or ENGRC 3023, will not deploy teams for the communication projects.

  • Can you (the instructor or program) provide to me (the student) a PIN so that I have a reserved spot in a class? I have a special situation.

    No. Students sometimes argue that their case deserves special consideration because they need to graduate on time, graduate early, study abroad, fulfill both the Engineering Communications Requirement and the Liberal Studies requirement, do a co-op/internship, enter a Cornell Masters of Engineering program early, complete a minor, complete a second major, their computer/wifi didn’t work, the registration system malfunctioned while they were registering, or because they could not register on time, or any other of a host of reasons.

    We understand that most students have compelling reasons to add a particular course; however, there is no metric or process that can fairly rank one student need above another. Thus, we do not provide special considerations that will advantage one student situation over another. We now offer more seats than in the entire history of Cornell University, so we request that students actively plan ahead.

More questions?  Feel free to reach us at engrcomm_info@cornell.edu.