ACADEMIC PROGRAM REGISTRATION
Policy Title:
Dual Degree Policy
Responsible Office:
Institutional Research & Planning
The Graduate School
Contacts:
Kristin Walker
Manager of Academic Support,
Institutional Research & Planning
Kat Empson
Assistant to the Dean,
The Graduate School
Release / Revision Date:
March 5, 2012
These guidelines apply to Cornell University:
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Undergraduate Colleges (submit to Kristin Walker)
Graduate Fields (submit to Kat Empson)
Professional Schools (submit to Kristin Walker)
Table of Contents:
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Summary
Approval and Registration Process
Proposal Format
Contacts
Authority
Dual Degree Programs at Cornell University:
Although the term “dual degree program” is sometimes used to refer to any linked program of study
that results in earning two degrees, for the purposes of this policy we use the term “dual degree
program” more narrowly. Herein, a dual degree program is a program in which a student earns two
degrees (e.g. a BA and a BFA; a BS and a MEng; or a Ph.D. and a J.D.) through pursuing a coherent
program of study that crosses fields or disciplines.
In this narrow sense of the term, embarking on a dual degree program is not the same as working—
simultaneously or in sequence—on two degree programs with separate and distinct programs of study.1
A dual degree program is also not the same as a double major. A student may pursue multiple majors
within a single degree (e.g. English and Psychology within the Bachelors of Arts).
It is important to highlight the difference between pursing two distinct degrees and embarking on a dual
degree program because true dual degree programs, like all degree-granting programs of study, need to
be reviewed and approved internally at Cornell and externally by the New York State Education
Department (NYSED).
Sometimes, a program may promote opportunities to pursue a second degree as a “dual degree” option
or program. These opportunities may or may not be “dual degree” as defined here.
1
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When Earning Two Degrees is not a “Dual Degree Program”:
A student may pursue two degrees simultaneously without necessarily embarking on the kind of “dual
degree program” that must be registered with NYSED. This practice of awarding two distinct degrees
outside of a sanctioned dual degree program should be reserved as a means of recognizing that a
candidate has competencies in two essentially different areas with different academic objectives.2 This
section outlines the policies that pertain when a student is pursuing two distinct degrees outside of a
registered dual degree program (described further on page 2).3
Earning Two Separate Degrees at the Baccalaureate Level:
Two distinct degrees at the baccalaureate level (such as a BA from Arts & Sciences and a BS from CALS)
may be undertaken concurrently or consecutively, but should be awarded only when a “significant
amount” of additional coursework in a different field is completed in a time span greater than required
for one degree. In earning two separate degrees, at least 30 credits of specialized, program-specific
coursework should be unique to each degree. (In disciplines leading to professional licensure such as
engineering or architecture, the standards for program-specific coursework may be even higher.)
Significant overlap in the general, liberal arts curriculum is permissible when a student pursues two
distinct bachelor’s degrees. That is, electives and college distribution requirements relevant to the first
degree may also be counted as electives or college distribution requirements in the second degree.
However, any overlap in the specialized requirements for each degree should be quite minimal.
Generally speaking, a maximum of 12 credit hours of specialized requirements (e.g. coursework in the
major) may overlap across programs when a student is pursuing two degrees. However, when one of
the two degrees involves a program in a licensed profession (such as engineering, architecture, or
veterinary medicine), no credits in the professional curriculum may be “double-counted” towards a
different degree.
Earning Two Separate Degrees at Different Levels (e.g. Bachelor’s and Master’s):
Students may concurrently pursue degrees at different levels within the same area of study (such as a
bachelor’s and a master’s). Some overlap in curricula is permissible while pursuing two separate
degrees, as long as the degrees are not in an area of study associated with a licensed profession (such as
engineering, architecture, or veterinary medicine).
The determination of ‘essentially different’ is in the judgment of the Cornell faculty and governance
procedures. The NYSED policy guidelines are not specific. Rather, they represent a broad policy
framework for diverse campuses and a variety of degrees and degree levels.
3 People sometimes refer to any program of study in which a person earns two distinct degrees as a “dual
degree program. In this document, it is important to distinguish between those instances of awarding two
degrees that require registration with the state (here referred to a dual degree program) and those that do
not (here referred to as two separate or distinct degrees).
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In non-professional fields, it is possible to receive both undergraduate and graduate credit for the same
work if it is a graduate-level course that either covers the content of undergraduate courses or assumes
the more rudimentary knowledge taught on the undergraduate level. However, in order to earn two
distinct degrees, the graduate portion of the curriculum must be at least 30 credits beyond what is
required for the bachelor’s degree (and not counted towards the requirements of the baccalaureate).
In disciplines leading to professional licensure, curricular programs that are designed to result in two
degrees in less time than it would take to complete them in sequence need to be registered as dualdegree programs with NYSED.
Earning Two Separate Degrees at the Graduate Level:
A professional degree associated with a licensed profession (such as in engineering, architecture, or
veterinary) may be pursued in tandem with another graduate-level degree only within the context of an
official dual-degree program registered with NYSED.
For non-professional graduate-level degrees, a limited number of credit hours earned towards one postbaccalaureate degree may be used as elective credit hours in a concurrently pursued post-baccalaureate
degree program. Further, in the case where coursework is highly duplicative (such as an introductory
statistics course required by both programs), it may legitimately be counted as fulfilling the
requirements of more than one degree. That said, not more than 12 credit hours can be counted as
contributing towards each of two separate degrees at the post-baccalaureate level (unless the student is
enrolled in a dual degree program; see below).
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Dual Degree Programs and NYSED
One of the understandably frequent questions about dual degree programs is this: if the curricula being
combined are already approved programs for the institution, why is separate approval (by the
University) and registration (through NYSED) required?
In a dual degree program, the course of study is frequently different from the course of study of each of
the separate curricula involved: there is usually some “collapsing” of curricular requirements (that is,
beyond the degree described in the previous section); there is most frequently some time-shortening;
the admission criteria for the combined degree program might differ from the stand-alone programs;
and, there are often defined performance thresholds that must be met for continued matriculation in
the course of study.
In accordance with regulatory standards set forth in the Rules of the Board of Regents and the
Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, Cornell must register curricula with NYSED. In addition,
Cornell programs that intersect with a statutory college must be reviewed by SUNY. Cornell may not
award degrees associated with programs that have not been approved by NYSED.
Please note that all degree programs, including dual degree programs, must also be reviewed and
approved internally and by the Cornell Board of Trustees.
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CONTACTS:
To register undergraduate or professional dual degree programs, please contact Kristin Walker,
Manager of Academic Support, Institutional Research and Planning.
To register graduate or doctoral dual degree programs, please contact Kat Empson, Assistant to the
Dean, Graduate School.
RESOURCES:
http://www.suny.edu/provost/MTP/mtp86-2.pdf
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AUTHORITY:
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NYSCHE, Title 8, Chapter II: Regulations of the Commissioner
SUNY, Office of Academic Affairs
NYSED, Office of College and University Evaluation
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