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One Course At A Time at Cornell

What Is One Course At A Time?

One Course At A Time is a fully immersive academic experience. It is a block plan calendar that allows you to learn the same way you’ll live and work after college. When you don’t have three or four different subjects pulling your attention in different directions, you get an in-depth knowledge of the material—and you can become truly focused. This is how learning comes to life.

Who learns best with One Course At A Time?

One Course At A Time gives you the time and space to completely dedicate yourself to the one subject you’re studying that block. You’ll learn to manage tight deadlines and live up to high expectations. You’ll gain experiences you can’t get on a traditional semester plan— like taking on internships that feel like full-time jobs, doing real research, and building strong relationships with your professors and classmates.

Flexible and immersive

“The block plan lets professors fit the class schedule to the needs of the class, rather than fit the needs of the class to the schedule.” - David Yamanishi, Politics Professor

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What you'll learn

Your education should prepare you for the problem-solving challenges faced in the workplace and demonstrate the timeline you have to get that work done. The block plan builds problem-solvers.

✔ Critical Thinking—you’ll meet challenges head-on and solve problems thoroughly and creatively.

✔ Teamwork and Collaboration—every class is a team, and you’ll take turns leading projects and discussions.

✔ Communication Skills—debate, papers, and reflection help you articulate your ideas.

✔ Global Fluency—take courses on and off campus that investigate worldwide cultures.

✔ Time Management—you’ll be a pro after four years.

Cornell College students meets with a faculty advisor

AN EXPERIENCE TAILORED FOR YOU

You’ll be able to make your experience your own at Cornell: Take classes that interest you. Study abroad for a block. Do an internship in your field. You have the freedom to explore and customize your undergraduate education. And you won’t have to figure it out on your own- you’ll have a faculty advisor invested in your success to help you map out your plan.

YOUR CORNELL EXPERIENCE

Cornell faculty works with a Cornell College student on an academic project.

GRADUATE ON TIME, THAT’S IN FOUR YEARS

Cornellians consistently complete their degrees in four years or less—and you will, too. Our block plan schedule means you’ll have the confidence that you will finish your degree on time while getting involved in resume-building experiences along the way. In fact, two of them are built into your Ingenuity curriculum requirements and Cornell can help fund them too.

YOUR ACADEMIC TIMELINE

A financial aid counselor at Cornell College sits in her office waiting to help a student.

WHAT DOES IT COST?

Discover your financial assistance options at Cornell College. You may qualify for a variety of financial options. In fact, 99% of students receive some form of financial assistance. You’ll also be able to talk to an admission counselor about options for your family.

YOUR FINANCIAL AID OPTIONS

Cornell College students study abroad with their professor and classmates.

VIEW THE BLOCK PLAN AND SEMESTER COMPARISON

See how One Course At A Time’s block plan compares to a typical semester schedule. You’ll learn how credit hours are calculated and how long each block is.