General Information & Program Timeline at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine

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General Information & Program Timeline

Graduate School at Cornell is designed to be highly individualized -- based on the professional goals and research interest of the student. Graduate School requirements are kept to a minimum in order to enhance this independent aspect of the program. With the freedom to design and implement a program, however, comes a level of responsibility. Student should track their progress toward their degree and assure that they adhere to those regulations that do exist.

The list below is not comprehensive, but includes those issues most often encountered by Graduate Students at Cornell. Field pages should be consulted for specific Field requirements.

General Considerations/Definitions:

Registration: Graduate students register three times per year: Fall (August), Spring (January) and Summer (June). A student registered with the Graduate School is considered a full-time student, regardless of the number of credit hours they take. A continuing student is automatically registered for the Fall and Spring semesters unless there are holds on their account. Students can check their registration status on-line through Just the Facts approximately one week before the start of classes or summer registration. A student must be registered with the Graduate School within three week of the start of classes or pay a late registration fee.
Typically, summer registration does not involve course enrollment. Students may take summer classes by registering through the Extramural Studies Office. There is, however, tuition which must be paid for summer classes; this should be negotiated with the faculty mentor ahead of time.

Holds: A hold on a student's account prevents them from registering. Holds can result from unpaid bills, unreturned library books, unmet academic requirements or health requirements. These should be taken care of as soon as possible to avoid the inconvenience of a gap in registration and/or late fees associated with late registration.

Course Enrollment: The Graduate School has no course requirements. Fields may have course requirements or suggestions. A student's courses are chosen by the student in conjunction with his/her Special Committee with the priority of giving the student the knowledge and skills necessary for completion of the student's research project. Students can enroll in any course given in Cornell. However, if no other courses are taken, a student must enroll in Doctoral Dissertation Research; since the College of Veterinary Medicine does not have its own course number, the student should use the one provided by the Graduate School.

Pre-enrollment: After receiving the Advisor Key Code (or PIN) from their advisor, a student may pre-enroll for classes on line. Course enrollment is finalized by entering the PIN and cannot be changed after this until the Add/Drop Period.
Add/Drop: The Add/Drop period begins once classes start. A student may add or drop most courses on-line through the CoursEnroll system.

Registration Units: Graduation at Cornell is not based on credit hours but on what is known as "Registration Units" (RUs). Six RUs are required for a PhD. degree. A student is awarded one Registration Unit for each semester of satisfactory performance (including coursework, work in the laboratory and/or teaching experiences). Grades below B- are not considered satisfactory progress for a student enrolled in the Graduate School.
The DGS or temporary advisor (if other than the DGS) will be charged with awarding the student a Registration Unit for work done during the first two semesters; in subsequent years, this will be the responsibility of the student's faculty mentor (Chair of the student's Special Committee). RU credit is generally not given for the summer term, but can be in special circumstances (see Code of Legislation).

General Program Timeline:

Although Field requirements may vary and each student's program is unique, there is a basic timeline that will give you an idea of how you are progressing toward your degree. Please refer to Field web pages for details and requirements.

Comparative Biomedical Sciences | Immunology | Pharmacology | Molecular and Integrative Physiology | Zoology

First Year:

This is when you complete laboratory rotations, take classes under the advisement of the Director of Graduate Studies and/or the faculty person you are rotating with and choose a research project as well as a faculty mentor! You will need to file a Special Committee form to the Graduate School within three weeks after your registration, indicating a temporary committee chair (usually the DGS). Make sure to send a copy to the Office of Graduate Education (Schurman Hall, S3-016, Box 38) and deliver the original to the Graduate School (143 Caldwell Hall).

Second Year:

By the end of the third semester, you should have your Special Committee chosen and the Special Committee Form filed with the Office of Graduate Education and the Graduate School (copy to the OGE; original delivered to Graduate School). You are still taking classes but focusing in on your research project.
You will fulfill your teaching requirement this year or perhaps during your third year.

Third Year:

Although you may be taking some classes during your third year, the course load will be significantly lighter than it was the first two. Your third year is spent mostly on research and studying for your Admission to Candidacy Exam, also known as the A-exam. This is the first of two exams required for graduation and has to be taken after your third semester of registration but before your seventh. Best to get it over with and get on with your research project, (especially since some examiners may ask you questions related to the classes you have taken). You have to file a copy of the Schedule of Exam form in the Office of Graduate Education fourteen days prior to the exam; the original form should be taken to the Graduate School. A copy of the Results of Exam Form should be given to the Office of Graduate Education prior to taking the original to the Graduate School (this must be done within three days of taking the exam).

Useful Links for Exams:

Tips for the A-exam

Tips for the B-exam

Schedule of Exam form

Results of Exam form

Fourth & Fifth Year:

Course work at this point should be fairly minimal. Remember if you are not taking any formal courses, you must register for Dissertation Research (none of the Fields in the college have their own course number for this, so use the Graduate School number). By now you are well along in your reserach project. Some students finish at the end of their fourth year; some require longer to complete their project.

Remember that there have to be two RUs earned between the time you take your A-exam and your B-exam. The B-exam is usually accompanied by a seminar which is open to students and faculty in which you present your research. Once your B-exam is over, all you have left to do is make the suggested revisions to your dissertation, make sure it complies with the Graduate School guidelines, turn it in and collect your diploma!

And Beyond:

Graduates have entered a wide variety of occupations upon earning their degree: postdoc positions at universities and research institutions; teaching positions at the university level; researchers in business and industry -- the possibilities are endless!