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FAQ
Q: I'm changing my address or adding a second one. Who should I notify?
A: Please contact the HSC staff regarding any changes to
your address. You can also call the Lab's Membership Department at 607-254-2414.
Be sure to tell them that you are a Home Study Course
Student!
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Q: Can I still sign up for your Bird Photography Course?
A: Our Bird Photography Course was
discontinued in the 1980s. But there are many other excellent resources
on bird photography still in print.
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Q: My child would like to take your course. Do you have a minimum student age?
A: The course has no minimum age
requirement. But its vocabulary and detail are on par with an
introductory college level course. The course is probably too
challenging for most children under the age of 15. You could always
give it a try to see if your child can handle the course. If they seem
overwhelmed, you may simply save the materials for use at a later date.
The class has no start or completion dates, as it is completely
self-paced. Some students have taken several years to complete the
course.
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Q: How long does it take the average student to take the course?
A: A reasonable time frame for
completion of all chapters is 4 to 6 months (or approximately one
chapter every 2-3 weeks). However, the time required to complete the
course is entirely up to each individual student. Since the course is
completely self-paced, it depends on how much time each individual
student has to devote to completing the materials.
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CORNELL UNIVERSITY GENERAL INFORMATION
Q: Can you provide me with some information about studying at Cornell University?
A: Here are a couple of starting places:
Undergraduate Studies:
Undergraduate Admissions Office
Cornell University
410 Thurston Avenue
Ithaca, NY 14850-2488
USATelephone: 607-255-5241
Fax: 607-255-0659
E-mail: admissions-mailbox@cornell.edu
web site: http://www.admissions.cornell.edu/index.cfm
Graduate Studies:Graduate Admissions Office
Cornell University
Caldwell Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853-2602
USATelephone: 607-255-4884
Fax: 607-255-1816
E-mail: gradadmissions-mailbox@cornell.edu
web site: http://www.gradschool.cornell.edu
COMPACT DISCS (CDs)
Q: I'd like to exchange my Compact Disc (CD) or buy a new one. Is this possible?
A: If you'd like to exchange your CD, then send it back to us with an explanatory note (be sure to include you contact info). Keep in mind that we cannot exchange it if the packaging has been opened.
If you'd like a new CD, the fee is $10.00. Please make your check
payable to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and mail it to the HSC address.
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Q: How do I get in touch with the Home Study Course Staff?
A: You may use one of the following methods to contact the staff of the Home Study Course:
Cornell Lab of Ornithology—HSC
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850-1999
USATelephone: 607-254-2452
E-Mail: hstudy@cornell.edu
web site: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/homestudy
Q: Is it possible to receive a reduced rate if I share the course with someone?
A: Yes, but only if you purchase your materials from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and providing all students live in the same household and don't mind sharing a course textbook. It's called our "shared course plan." Instead of paying for multiple textbooks, you would pay for one textbook, and each additional student would pay a fee of $150 to participate. For this price, each student would receive their own set of exams (or need to register with eCornell to take the online exams).
The $150 fee also includes instructor support for the additional student, so that they may also have their exams graded and any questions answered by our staff. Each student may complete the exams at their own pace and each would receive separate certificates of completion at the end of the course.
Another option is to purchase ONE course, and have all students work on it, however by choosing this option, ONE student only would be able to receive and complete exams (or access to the online exams through eCornell) for the group, and only ONE certificate would be issued upon completion (though we may be able to print the names of all students on the certificate upon request).
Either situation would also work for those who have already purchased the textbook and would like to order the course. Please contact the HSC staff regarding placing your order in this case.
Q: I'd like to take the course for credit. Is that possible?
A: Cornell University does not offer college credit for this course.
Many students have arranged to receive credits through other institutions. The Lab is happy to recommend that three college-level credits be awarded following the completion of the final exam, and we will write a letter of support on behalf of course graduates.
Although graduates have had little trouble with colleges or universities agreeing to grant credits, we always suggest checking with a local advisor prior to signing up for the course. This is particularly important if you need the credits, as each institution has its own policies regarding what is accepted toward a degree program.
Also, please note that this type of course is usually taken at an undergraduate level in college, though a few people have taken it (and have arranged to receive credit for it) at higher-levels of education. Many students have arranged to take the course as independent study, by speaking with their local advisor prior to enrolling. This route may be the best way to obtain credit for your efforts.
Q: If I take the class for no credit, do I get I get a price break?
A: Cornell University does not offer college credit for this course, therefore, price does not differ for credit or non-credit students. In the future, there MAY be a price increase for those students wishing to take it for credit as an official Cornell University course through eCornell.
Some people do request to take the course for credit (either as an Independent Study opportunity or as a general biology course through a local college or university), in which case we would offer to write a letter on their behalf after they have successfully completed all the exams. Many colleges, universities, and workplaces have agreed to accept this letter in the past and allow credit to be awarded for completion of the course, however we always suggest checking with a local advisor before signing up for the course, especially if it is a course that you need for credit, because credit granting policies vary greatly among institutions.
If you would like a list of the places that former HSC students have
requested we send "for credit" letters to (and therefore may have
accepted our course for credit), please contact
the HSC staff.
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Q: What other courses does Cornell offer online?
A: For a listing of distance learning possibilities at Cornell, please contact someone from Cornell Distance Learning:
http://www.sce.cornell.edu/dl/index.php
or send an e-mail to: cusp@cornell.edu or distance-ed@cornell.edu
Or, you may contact eCornell:
or send an e-mail to:
EXAM OPTIONS - Paper vs. Online Format
Q: What is the difference between online exams and paper exams? If I have already chosen a preferred delivery format for exams, but then want to switch formats after I've received the materials, is there a penalty or an extra fee?
A: When you sign up for the course, you are asked if you prefer taking exams online through eCornell, or if you prefer to complete your exams via a paper exam exchange. There is a $30 fee for taking the exams through eCornell that will be charged at the time of registration, by eCornell.
If you choose the online exams option, we do not send any paper exams to you, however they ARE still available (in pdf file format) on the (password protected) eCornell web site. Students may download these files for viewing and/or printing. Only students taking online exams are given a password for the online exam web site pages.
If you choose the paper exams option, we will send you a packet of exams, along with your course textbook. You will not be given a password or access to the online exam web site pages.
We do NOT recommend switching formats once you have started taking the exams, however if you have a special reason why you would need to do this, then we ask that you please contact the HSC staff to explain. We will make decisions on a case-by-case basis. If you a student of the BINDERS edition of the course, it MAY be possible to switch to the online exams format, but only if you have not already begun taking the paper exams.The grading system for the online version of the exams is different,and so we cannot allow exam format switching to occur once the grading process has begun.
For more information and a side-by-side comparison of paper
vs.online exams, please click HERE.
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Q: What happened to the First Edition of the Bird Biology course? Can I still get a copy?
A: We are sorry to say that the
First Edition of our Bird Biology Course, written back in the 1970s,
has been discontinued. It is therefore unavailable for purchase. Please
note that if you have a copy of the First Edition, you may still
complete the exams to receive a certificate of completion. Or, if you
choose, you may upgrade to the Second Edition at a reduced price.
Please contact the HSC staff for more
information.
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FIRST vs. SECOND EDITIONS, vs. TEXTBOOK FORMAT
Q: What is the difference between the material from the First Edition and the material from the Second Edition? How is the Textbook Format different from the first printing of the Second Edition?
A: The Second Edition of the course is a complete rewrite of the First Edition materials (basically, a new, rewritten textbook). We decided that it was time for a revision since some of the materials were getting a bit outdated.
Each chapter was written by an author whom was considered to be an authority on that topic. We tried to make sure that the new material was more "user-friendly" and easier to understand than the First Edition. The Second Edition text is also double the First Edition's length—over 1,000 pages! There are many new photographs and beautiful new illustrations by renowned bird artist N. John Schmitt.
In addition, the Second Edition of the course includes an audio CD of birdsong (produced by our Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds), which accompanies Chapter 7 (Vocal Behavior).
The textbook contains the SAME material as the binders, and so the only difference in the newer materials is that they are now delivered in a new format. This change was implemented due to several current/former students requesting that the materials be presented in the form of an actual course textbook.
With the release of the textbook format, we also decided to begin
offering the course exams online through eCornell.
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Q: What are the benefits of Lab Membership?
A: There are many benefits! Beginning at the $40 Supporting Level, Lab members receive:
- Living Bird, our
award-winning quarterly magazine, packed with stunning color
photographs of birds, articles by top experts in birding and
ornithology, reviews of the latest books, binoculars, and equipment,and
advice on how to improve your birding skills.
-
Birdscope, the Lab newsletter, full of up-to-date information about
Lab activities and volunteer research programs.
PLUS discounts on:
- Spring Field Ornithology course (held in
Ithaca, NY in the Spring)
- Citizen Science
projects
- The Home Study Course in Bird Biology
- Orders from the Lab's Visual Services Department
catalog
- Purchases made at Wild Birds Unlimited at Sapsucker Woods (you can also order by phone toll-free at: 877-266-4928 - just mention that you are a Lab Member!)
-
By becoming a Lab member, you would join thousands of other birders who support Lab of Ornithology efforts in research, education, and conservation. And, since the Lab is a non-profit, self-supporting unit of Cornell University, your membership gift is tax deductible!
For more information about the Lab's membership department, or for information on advanced levels of membership, please visit the membership department web site:
Q: I have questions for the Lab that are non-course-related. Who should I contact?
A: To contact the Lab with general questions regarding the Lab of Ornithology and its staff, you may use one of the following methods:
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850-1999
USATelephone: 607-254-2473
(within the US, you may call toll-free at: 800-843-2473)
E-Mail: cornellbirds@cornell.edu
web site: http://www.birds.cornell.edu
You may also want to try to research the answer to your questions via one of the web sites listed below:
ALL ABOUT BIRDS: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/
BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA (acccess requires a fee): http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/BNA
Also,
GOOGLE: http://www.google.com (type in keywords)
Q: Will the course ever be available online as an Internet-based course?
A: At the present time the text of our course is only available in printed form. The exams have been available online since October 2004.
We currently are preparing a shorter, online course "Investigating Bird Behavior: Courtship and Rivalry in Birds," that we hope to premiere in the fall of 2009. As more offerings go online, we will announce the latest news on the main web site page for the course:
Q: Do you know of any other correspondence courses that I can take?
A: The Lab only offers the Home Study Course in Bird Biology at this time. Perhaps in the future we will develop new courses, but for the time being our only correspondence course is the Bird Biology course. If you are local to the Central NY area, you might be interested in participating in our LOCAL spring birding course held here in Ithaca. It is called Spring Field Ornithology and the instructor is Dr. Stephen W. Kress (Vice President for Bird Conservation with the National Audubon Society and author of Chapter 2 of the Home Study Course). The Lab also offers an annual Sound Recording Workshop through our Macaulay Library—but again, the workshop is not a correspondence course,and you must travel to a specified location to participate.
If you are looking for other correspondence courses, we are aware of only the following course:
Wildlife Habitat Naturalist Internet Home Study Certification Course:http://www.windstar.org/training_info.php
Or, via email:
There may be others, and the best way to find them is to type a few
keywords (such as "bird home study course" "bird education" or
"ornithology course") into a search engine such as http://www.google.com.
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Q: Can I pay for the course via partial payments, or through an installment plan?
A: Unfortunately, we are unable to
offer a partial payment plan at this time. As a non-profit
organization, our staff is too small to be able to offer/manage such a
plan. We DO, however, have a scholarship program. For more details,
please click HERE.
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Q1: I would like to purchase the course for use as a reference textbook. Is there a special price?
A1: The textbook for the course may be purchased without instructor support for $99.50 (membership status does not apply - the price is the same for both Lab members and non-members). For this price, you would receive the course textbook, but no exams. Also, you would not be able to send questions to the course staff to answer, as no instructor support would be provided.
If you decide to sign up for the course at a later date, you would be able to do so either by mailing in the enrollment card from inside the textbook, or by calling the Lab of Ornithology and letting us know that you are interested in purchasing the course materials only (that you purchased the textbook previously). At that time you would be charged a course fee only (we would not charge you for the textbook, or include one in your course shipment, since you already own a copy).
Q2: I purchased the textbook already, and just want to purchase the course. Is there a special price?
A2: The course may be purchased
independently of the textbook for either $200.00 (non-members) or
$170.50 (Lab members). For this
price, you would receive exams and instructor support, however no
textbook would be provided.
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Q: I need to get a refund or I need to return the course. How do I go about this?
A: Please contact the HSC staff. It is not always possible
for us to give a refund or accept a return, especially if the materials
have been opened. We will make such decisions on a case-by-case
basis.
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Q: My textbook (or course materials) arrived in a damaged condition. What should I do?
A: Yes. If any course materials
arrived in a damaged condition, then there is no fee for replacement.
If damage occurred after this point in time, we do charge a replacement
fee. Please contact the HSC staff for more
information, as the amount of the fee is determined on a case-by-case
basis, depending on what component was damaged. If the textbook was
damaged, you will need to return it to us before we can send you a
replacement. For Compact Disc (CD) replacements, refer to the CD section. There is no charge to replace a
lost/damaged certificate of completion, but you must be able to show
proof that you have successfully completed the course before we can
issue a duplicate.
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Q: I would like to reprint or reproduce part of the course. Is this possible, and if so, what do I need to do to obtain permission?
A: Please note that our course and
all the materials within the course are copyrighted. If you are
interested in reproducing all or part of the course, you must first contact the HSC staff. Permissions are granted
on a case-by-case basis. Please note that some of the material
presented in the course is not available for reprint in any
form.
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Q: Is there a scholarship fund available? If so, am I eligible, and how would I apply (or donate funds)?
A: In January 2004, Dr. Jason A. Mobley first put out a call for donations in order to initiate a scholarship fund at the Lab to be used for assistance to dedicated workers in developing countries outside of the United States with critical conservation needs who have no means to pay for enrollment. These funds are now available, and we are currently accepting applications from interested parties in remote parts of the world. For more information about the program and application instructions, please visit the following web site page:
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/homestudy/HSCScholarshipInfo.html
Or, contact the HSC staff for
more information.
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TEXT FOR TEACHING PURPOSES/REFERENCE
Q: I would like to purchase the course for use in teaching purposes only, or to use for reference purposes only. Is there a special price break since I won't ever be submitting any exams or need instructor support?
A: Yes, there is. The price to
purchase the course textbook for teaching purposes only is $99.50. For
this price, you will not receive exams (paper version or online access)
or instructor support (question answering, etc.).
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Q: How soon before you release the Third Edition?
A: We are currently in the
planning stages for an updated textbook and course. Release dates have
not yet been set, but a target date sometime around late 2010 is
anticipated.
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Q: Is there any type of course tuition assistance or financial aid available from Cornell or the Lab of Ornithology that I could apply for?
A: Unfortunately, we are unable to
offer financial aid to students who are enrolled in our home study
course at this time. We do, however have a scholarship fund available
to dedicated workers in developing countries outside of the United
States with critical conservation needs who have no means to pay for
enrollment. For more information, please visit the FAQ section above
entitled SCHOLARSHIP FUND.
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Q: I heard that you can get a virus from visiting a web site. Is this true? Could that happen when I visit the Lab's web site?
A: First of all, please know that we do check our web site servers frequently for virus activity. But, if you want information on a particular virus or want to check out a potential hoax, here at Cornell we are given the following web site URL to check all "VIRUS ALERT" messages before passing them on. This is always a good idea, since at least 90% of them turn out to be a hoax.
We are happy to share the following information. Please feel free to share these sites with others:
OR
Q: I tried to access your web site, but something was not working properly. Is there a problem with the Lab's site? Is it down for maintenance?
A: We appreciate people letting us know when our web site is generating errors and we do pass along any notices of potential web site problems to our webmaster.
But, before you contact us, here are a few trouble shooting suggestions to try from your end. These suggestions come straight from the Lab's webmaster:
First, be sure that you are using the correct URL for the web site,which is:
Second, our web site works best if you are using the latest version of your favorite Internet browser. If you do not have the most current version, you can probably download an update for free from your browser's home page.
Third, if you've visited our page previously, try refreshing/reloading the page in question, as there may have been an update to it since you last visited. By refreshing/reloading the page,you will get the most recent version, and not a previous version that your browser had previously stored in memory for quicker access/loading on future visits.
If you're still having problems, then it's either an error on our web site or an error generated by your provider or server. It could also be that we are in the process of updating a page at the same time that you are trying to access it. Another suggestion would be to try to load the page again at a later time/date and see if you are still getting the same error message. If so, please feel free to notify us.
Q: I am going on vacation and want to do some birding. Can you help me find some local "hotspots?"
A: Contact the American Birding Association, which has many birding publications focusing on different areas of the country.
ABA
P.O. Box 6599
Colorado Springs, CO 80934
USATelephone: 719-578-1614
Fax: 719-578-1480
E-mail: member@aba.org
ABA GENERAL web site: http://www.americanbirding.org
ABA BIRDING RESOURCES web site: http://www.americanbirding.org/resources