<p>Does Cornell, specifically the CAS, have a core? and if so what does it consist of?</p>
<p>i'd really like to know this as well.</p>
<p>In addition to requirements for your major I think it's basically the freshman writing seminar and a physical education course for 2 semestors. Am i right?</p>
<p>so as a government major I wouldnt ever have to take a math class right?</p>
<p>I'm going to take back my original response. I've looked everywhere for an answer on the site but I can't find one... I can't imagine that they would just ignore certain subjects but I really can't find an answer. Sorry about leading you off track!</p>
<p>Yes there are some requirement classes that all CAS students need to take. I don't know all of them off the top of my head. But they are 2 semesters of Freshmen writing and 2 semesters of gym (those requirements are for EVERYONE at Cornell not just CAS). Then there is 1 math class, 2 years of a language (or 1 year at the intermediate level if you can place out if the intro level), then theres other stuff like a western civilization course and a science course and a few more. You should be able to find it somewhere online.</p>
<p>Courses</a> of Study 2007-2008: College of Arts and Sciences</p>
<p>The above has the info you're looking for. It's rather complicated. You will need 2 sem of physical education, to either a) pass a foreign language class at a 200-level or b) take 11 credits in any one foreign language, 2 semesters of freshman writing seminars (you can place out of one with a 5 on a English AP test, but only one), one course that focuses on an area other than the Western world, one course that focuses on a time period before the 20th century, 4 courses in a science field, one course from 4 out of the following five humanities subjects with no more than 3 in the same department: 1) cultural analysis 2) historical analysis 3) knowledge, cognition, and moral reasoning 4) literature and the arts and 5) social and behavorial analysis.</p>
<p>That's it!</p>
<p>norcalguy are those requirements universal for Cornell? Do you know about the ILR requirements?</p>
<p>The writing seminar and PE requirements are universal (different colleges also have different requirements for placing out of writing seminars). The rest is CAS specific. I'm sure some of the other posters on this board can tell you about ILR requirements.</p>
<p>helenrez, the requirements for ILR are slightly different, though norcalguy is right about PE and the first-year writing seminars (FWS); the main difference is that ILR will let you place out of one FWS with a 6 on IB English HL (aka lifesaver) and CAS won't. ILR also has an Advanced Writing Requirement to be taken for one semester in sophomore year. </p>
<p>You fill the rest of your schedule with electives and distribution requirements similar to CAS but not as strict since you have so many ILR requirements. The ILR categories are Cultural Perspectives, Western Intellectual Tradition, and Science & Technology. You are given a huge list of available courses and can choose from any of them. Unfortunately, you can can only use AP credit to place out of one. You can also take them whenever you want, though we're generally advised to get them out of the way during freshman year.</p>
<p>thanks intl_echo! I'm confused about what you said about only using AP credit to place out of one. Is that to say that if I were to get 5's both on AP Calc and AP physics, I could only use one of those tests to place out of a class?</p>
<p>He meant you can only use your AP English score to place out of ONE semester of freshman writing rather than BOTH semesters.</p>
<p>Sorry, helenrez, I can clarify: the limits on how many courses you can place out of apply only toward the distribution requirements. Unfortunately, my credit worksheet is back in my room in Ithaca and probably freezing to death, so I might not be exactly right about what scores qualify, but let's say hypothetically that you decide to use your 4 or 5 on AP Physics instead of taking a Science & Technology course at Cornell. Since you have chosen to skip the Science & Technology requirement, you may not use AP or IB scores to satisfy the other distribution requirements, even if you had the necessary scores on AP Comparative Government (to place out of Cultural Perspectives) or on AP US or World History (for Western Intellectual Tradition). These scores are not lost, however, and count toward graduation instead. In my case, for example, I had 4s on AP Environmental Science and U.S. History, but I chose to count the credit toward Science and Technology and take a Western Intellectual Tradition since my skills are (clearly) not in the sciences. My 4 on US History is counting toward graduation along with my other AP and IB Credits. </p>
<p>It's a similar deal about the math scores. I used my AP AB Calc score to place into an advanced Calc class (not required or useful for my career plans, a reality I unfortunately discovered after getting schooled by the first midterm), which I dropped in early October :) A 3, 4, or 5 (I know, right?!) will take care of ILR's math requirement, though you still have to take ILR Social Statistics in freshman or sophomore year. Even if you take AP Stat, you have to take at least some statistics in ILR before you graduate. </p>
<p>quick1865 is right about the FWS.</p>
<p>so there is only 1 math requirement?</p>
<p>Yes, ILR has basically one math requirement. You do have to pass an ILR Math Assessment, taken during Orientation Week of your frosh year OR score a 3, 4, or 5 on AB or BC Calc before you can take Labor Econ or Social Statistics, other ILR requirements. Otherwise, ILR Social Statistics is the only math requirement. This may help: ILR</a> Office of Student Services - Math Requirement</p>
<p>I understand, great! Now what do you mean about credit counting for graduation? what happens with that extra credit from doing well on an AP exam?</p>
<p>The extra credit from doing well on an AP exam goes to the 120 credits you need to graduate from Cornell. Since 40 of those have to be in ILR, your hard work from high school is getting you closer to finishing the remaining 80.</p>
<p>everything makes sense now, thanks intl_echo!</p>
<p>Not a problem, happy to help!</p>
<p>@ norcalguy's original post: It actually isn't 4 science classes. It's 4 science AND math classes. You have two options: 2 sciences and 2 maths, or 3 sciences and 1 math.</p>