Coursework Requirements
PhD
The graduate school does not impose coursework requirements for a PhD (see: https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academic-progress/requirements/enrolling-in-courses/). All coursework requirements are defined by individual graduate fields.
All three MAE-associated fields require PhD students to register for the department colloquium (MAE 7999) at least twice (see, e.g., ME field rules here). In addition, all MS and PhD students in all three fields who matriculate in the Fall semester are required to register for the first semester seminar (MAE 6949). Students matriculating in the Spring have the option of enrolling in MAE 6949 the following Fall, but this is optional.
Your Special Committee will presumably impose a number of course requirements chosen to equip you to effectively complete your research. Minor committee members may also, if they choose or if required by the subject they represent, specify course requirements to satisfy their expectations for study in those minor areas of study.
It is expected that in your first semester, prior to matching with your primary advisor, you will take courses that will help you prepare for your Q exam. The various Q exam guidelines list relevant courses, and you may solicit additional suggestions from your DGS and field faculty.
Robotics
The robotics program has its own specific course requirements. Any student whose special committee chair represents the robotics subject/concentration must select courses to fulfill the robotics curriculum requirements. Information about robotics course requirements are maintained by the robotics program, here: https://robotics.cornell.edu/graduate/
MS
The ME field imposes course requirements for the MS degree. The specific requirements can be found in the field rules, here. Course selections in your first semester should be informed by your interests and you may solicit additional suggestions from your DGS and field faculty. Course selections for subsequent semesters should be made in consultation with your advisor and special committee.
Enrollment
You must be enrolled each semester until you finish your degree or withdraw from the program. More information on enrollment is available from the graduate school here: https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academic-progress/requirements/enrollment-in-your-program/
You must also enroll for the summer term if, during the summer, you will receive financial aid, fellowships, loans, assistantships, travel grants, or tuition awards (even if not on campus), or if you use any campus facilities over the summer. To enroll for summer terms, enroll in the Graduate School’s Graduate Summer Research course, GRAD 9016 (class numbers 1047, 1048, 1049, 1050), through Student Center. Enroll in only one of the class numbers; if it is full, go to the next number. You will not be automatically enrolled by the Graduate School. Enrollment typically opens in mid-April, and the deadline to enroll for the summer term has historically been around May 20.
Many MAE students do summer internships. If you are on a summer internship (and not planning on coming on campus), you should not enroll for the summer term. You should discuss all internships with your advisor before committing to them.
Grades
The graduate school requires that a minimum GPA of 2.25 be maintained to be considered in good academic standing. In general, the expectation is that students should receive a grade of B- or better in any course relevant to their degree program that is taken for credit. Each student’s advisor will determine how (or whether) grades factor into the evaluation of a student’s academic standing. Prior to matching with an advisor, this determination will be made by the DGS. Taking courses with the satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U) option is allowed where permitted by the course instructor. Auditing classes at the undergraduate level is allowed when permitted by the course instructor. Auditing graduate-level courses relevant to a student’s degree program is strongly discouraged, but allowed with the permission of the course instructor and student’s advisor (or DGS, prior to matching).
If a student receives below a 2.25 GPA in any term and does not have a special committee chair set, they will automatically be considered to not be in good academic standing. Students without special committee chairs are expected to be enrolled in at least one course relevant to their degree program for credit (grade option) while they engage in the matching process.
Any incomplete (INC) grades should be resolved before the start of the next academic year semester, whenever possible (e.g., incomplete grades for Fall courses should be resolved before the start of the Spring semester, and incomplete grades for Spring courses should be resolve by the end of the summer). In cases where this is not possible, the incomplete grade must be resolved by the end of the next academic year term when the student is enrolled. The graduate school does not allow for grade changes after one calendar year.
Required Training
There is no field-specific required training for graduate students in any of our three fields, but individual labs/research groups are likely to have specific required training. Additionally, per the Code of Legislation, the Graduate Faculty requires all research degree students, both master’s and doctoral, to complete responsible conduct of research (RCR) training. This includes training on authorship, peer review, and avoidance and consequences of research misconduct. This training is through the Cornell Office of Research Integrity and Assurance (ORIA) and must be completed before the end of the second semester (Code E.2.a.).