Business Minor

The business minor in the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business is one of the largest undergraduate minors at Cornell, popular with students across campus.

Format: In person
Location: Ithaca, NY
Degree Awarded: Minor

Overview

The flexibility built into the program makes it a great option for students seeking to incorporate foundational business skills into their Cornell education.

Who’s eligible for the business minor?

All Cornell undergraduates except students enrolled in Dyson, Nolan, and ORIE, and any majors that include overlap of two or more core courses.

How many credits are required?

12 core credits across areas such as management, marketing, accounting, and finance. In addition, 3 credits in microeconomics and 3-4 credits in statistics. Visit the Cornell University Registrar for full course information

Foundation courses

This minor requires at least 3 credits in microeconomics and 3 credits in statistics. We recommend taking these courses before taking the minor’s core courses and require them to be completed by your sixth semester. A letter grade of C or better is required.

Microeconomics (3 credits)

One of the following courses is required:

Course code	Course title
ECON 1110	Introductory Microeconomics – SP 26 \| FA 26
ECON 3030	Intermediate Microeconomic Theory – SP 26 \| FA 26
PUBPOL 2000	Intermediate Microeconomics – SP 26 \| FA 26 n/a

Statistics (3 credits)

One of the following courses is required:

Course code	Course title
AEM 2100	Introductory Statistics – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26
BTRY 3010	Biological Statistics*
BTRY 3080	Probability Models and Inference*
CEE 3040	Uncertainty Analysis in Engineering – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26
CRP 1200	Introduction to Statistics for Urban Studies – SP 26 \| FA 26 n/a
ECON 3110	Probability Models and Inference for the Social Sciences – SP 26 \| FA 26
ECON 3120	Applied Econometrics – SP 26 \| FA 26
ECON 3130	Probability and Statistics – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26
ENGRD 2700	Eng Probability and Statistics: Modeling and Data Science – SP 26 \| FA 26
ILRST 2100	Introductory Statistics and Data Science – SP 26 \| FA 26
ILRST 3080	Probability Models and Inference – SP 26 \| FA 26
ILRST 3110	Probability Models and Inference for the Social Sciences – SP 26 \| FA 26
MATH 1710	Statistical Theory and Application in the Real World*
MATH 4710	Basic Probability – SP 26 \| FA 26
MATH 4720	Statistics – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26
PUBPOL 2100	Introduction to Statistics – SP 26 \| FA 26 n/a
PUBPOL 2101	Statistics for Public Policy – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26
PSYCH 2500	Statistics and Research Design – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26
SOC 3010	Evaluating Statistical Evidence – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26
STSCI 2100	Introductory Statistics and Data Science – SP 26 \| FA 26
STSCI 2150	Introductory Statistics for Biology – SP 26 \| FA 26
STSCI 2200	Statistics I – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26
STSCI 3080	Probability Models and Inference – SP 26 \| FA 26
STSCI 3110	Applied Probability and Statistics – SP 26 \| FA 26

*This class is no longer offered but it is accepted if already taken.

Core requirements

The remaining 12 credits must be fulfilled by taking courses in each of the four categories below. Please note that 9 credits must be SC Johnson College of Business courses, which include any course code of AEM, HADM, NBA or NCC. AEM and HADM courses listed in the same category are equivalent in terms of content and grading. A letter grade of a C or better is required.

Introduction to management (3 credits)

One of the following courses is required:

Note: some courses are offered in only fall or only spring semesters. As you are planning your minor, look ahead to see when the courses are offered to ensure that it will fit with the plan you’ve chosen.

Course code	Course title
AEM 1200	Introduction to Business Management – SP 26 \| FA 26 n/a
HADM 1810	Introduction to Management – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26 n/a
ILRID 1700	Introduction to Organizations and Management (non-ILR students only) – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26
NCC 5540	Managing and Leading in Organizations – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26

Introduction to marketing (3 credits)

One of the following courses is required:

Course code	Course title
AEM 2400	Marketing – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26
HADM 2410	Marketing Principles – SP 26 \| FA 26
NCC 4530/5530	Marketing Management – SP 26 \| FA 26 n/a

Financial accounting (3 credits)

One of the following courses is required:

Course code	Course title
AEM 2210	Financial Accounting – SP 26 \| FA 26
HADM 2230	Financial Accounting Principles – SP 26 \| FA 26
NCC 5500	Financial Accounting – SP 26 \| FA 26

Finance (3 credits)

One of the following courses is required:

Note: only students who have declared the minor via the minors dashboard will receive enrollment preference during add/drop.

Course code	Course title
AEM 2241	Finance – SP 26 \| FA 26
AEM 5241	Finance – SP 26 \| FA 26 n/a
HADM 2250	Finance – SP 26 \| FA 26
NCC 5560	Managerial Finance – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26

Academic policies

A minimum of 12 unique credits (outside of major’s core discipline) must be taken to complete any/all minors. Some majors may be required to take an additional course to satisfy this requirement. All courses must be taken in person (unless through Cornell’s SCE), and for a letter grade (grade of C or better is required).

More about our business minors

Learn more about our programs, policies and professional resources.

Minoring in business

Discover available minors, our dedicated faculty and student support.

Policies and FAQs

Review the details about declaring a minor, including credit requirements.

Resources for minors

Explore networking and career development offerings available to minor students.

Current business minor students

You can manage your minor and track your progress using the Business Minors Dashboard.

I’m interested. What’s next?

After reviewing the requirements above and our Policies and FAQs page, you can begin the process using the Business Minors Dashboard.

business minors dashboard