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Summer College > China-Cornell College Preparatory Program > Academic life > Academic overview

Academic overview

All CCCPP students have the opportunity to earn university credit, learn from world-renowned faculty members, interact with other Cornell students, and gain access to Cornell’s outstanding resources, including more than 20 libraries and cutting-edge computing services and laboratories.

Through their classes, CCCPP students will gain academic knowledge, improve their English, and become familiar with the different teaching and learning styles at an Ivy League university. Students are expected to attend all classes and actively participate in classroom discussions.

Program and course options

The six-week Summer College English Immersion Program (SC-EIP)

Dates: June 22-August 6, 2013
Credits: 6-8 credits
Eligibility: This program does not require a TOEFL, IELTS, or SAT score.

All SC-EIP students take a popular three-credit Cornell University writing course, Academic Writing (WRIT 1011). This course is taught in small sections and includes frequent one-on-one instruction in the planning, composition, and revision of papers based on assigned readings and discussions. The course, which is the primary focus of the students’ academic study at Cornell, helps participants improve both their written and spoken English.

SC-EIP students also take a second class for college credit chosen from a list of courses approved by the Summer College director. The courses students are permitted to take will be based on their English-language proficiency and cannot conflict with the writing course meeting times.

Finally, students who are able to keep up with their coursework and maintain high grades in their first two courses may also be eligible to visit a third course, which means they would attend the class but not earn credit for it.

A six-week Summer College program described on the main SC website

Dates: June 22-August 6, 2013
Credits: 6-8 credits
Eligibility: Admission to these programs requires a minimum TOEFL score of 100 or higher on the Internet-based test or a minimum IELTS score of 7 or higher as well as a demonstrated ability to speak English. For students who have not taken the TOEFL or IELTS, we recommend an SAT reading score of 630 or higher. (Students who have not taken these tests should apply to the Summer College English Immersion Program, which does not require TOEFL, IELTS, or SAT scores.)

In addition, be sure to check individual programs for eligibility requirements. Some of the programs below are open to first- (sophomore) and second-year (junior/senior) high school students, while others are open only to second-year (junior/senior) students.

Students in these programs generally take two classes and earn 6 to 8 credits. Programs options are:

  • Biological Research and the Health Professions
  • College Success
  • Cornell Engineering Experience
  • Focus on the Humanities
  • Focus on the Sciences
  • Focus on Writing
  • Introduction to Architecture
  • MyCUSC: Create Your Own Summer College Program
  • Research Apprenticeship in Biological Sciences (RABS)

For more information, visit the SC six-week programs page.

A three-week session 1 Summer College program described on the main SC website

Dates: June 22-July 13, 2013
Credits: 3 credits
Eligibility: Admission to these programs requires a minimum TOEFL score of 100 or higher on the Internet-based test or a minimum IELTS score of 7 or higher as well as a demonstrated ability to speak English. For students who have not taken the TOEFL or IELTS, we recommend an SAT reading score of 630 or higher. (Students who have not taken these tests should apply to the Summer College English Immersion Program, which does not require TOEFL, IELTS, or SAT scores.)

In addition, be sure to check individual programs for dates and eligibility requirements. Some of the programs below are open to first- (sophomore) and second-year (junior/senior) high school students, while others are open only to second-year (junior/senior) students.

Students in these programs focus on one three-credit class for three weeks. Three-week 1 program options are:

  • Body, Mind, and Health
  • Design Immersion
  • Freedom and Justice
  • Hotel Operations Management
  • Nature and Culture

For more information, visit the SC three-week 1 pages.

A three-week session 2 Summer College program described on the main SC website

Dates: July 14-August 3, 2013
Credits: 3 credits
Eligibility: Admission to these programs requires a minimum TOEFL score of 100 or higher on the Internet-based test or a minimum IELTS score of 7 or higher as well as a demonstrated ability to speak English. For students who have not taken the TOEFL or IELTS, we recommend an SAT reading score of 630 or higher. (Students who have not taken these tests should apply to the Summer College English Immersion Program, which does not require TOEFL, IELTS, or SAT scores.)

In addition, be sure to check individual programs for dates and eligibility requirements. Some of the programs below are open to first- (sophomore) and second-year (junior/senior) high school students, while others are open only to second-year (junior/senior) students.

Students in these programs focus on one three-credit class for three weeks. Three-week 2 program options are:

  • Animal Science: Captive Raptor Management
  • Animal Science: Sustainable Animal Husbandry
  • The Business World
  • Democracy and Its Discontents
  • The Fashion Studio: Fiber Science and Apparel Design
  • Genius and Madness in Literature
  • The Individual in the Social World
  • Veterinary Medicine: Conservation Medicine

For more information, visit the SC three-week 2 pages.

Two consecutive three-week Summer College programs described on the main SC website

Dates: June 22-August 3, 2013
Credits: 6 credits
Eligibility: Admission to these programs requires a minimum TOEFL score of 100 or higher on the Internet-based test or a minimum IELTS score of 7 or higher as well as a demonstrated ability to speak English. For students who have not taken the TOEFL or IELTS, we recommend an SAT reading score of 630 or higher. (Students who have not taken these tests should apply to the Summer College English Immersion Program, which does not require TOEFL, IELTS, or SAT scores.)

In addition, be sure to check individual programs for dates and eligibility requirements. Some of the programs are open to first- (sophomore) and second-year (junior/senior) high school students, while others are open only to second-year (junior/senior) students.

Students in these programs focus on one three-credit class for three weeks (from session 1) and then switch to a second three-credit class for the final three weeks (from session 2).

See the session 1 and 2 entries above for the list of program options. For more information, visit the SC three-week 1 and three-week 2 webpages.