Students learn to construct arguments, recognize counterarguments, and evaluate evidence using conceptual frameworks from ecology, urban planning, and social science. This is the kind of analytical rigor expected at selective universities — practiced here, before students arrive.

AI is integrated into the course as a thinking partner, not a shortcut. Students learn to use large language models and deep research tools to explore ideas more rigorously — building the kind of AI fluency that is increasingly expected in higher education and professional life

Each student independently investigates a topic of their choice, reads peer-reviewed publications, and produces a research essay that integrates evidence and presents an original argument. This essay becomes a tangible portfolio piece for college applications.

Daily live classes, group projects, and a final public presentation build the communication skills – and the confidence to use them – that distinguish students who thrive in university environments from those who merely attend.

With students from the United States, China, and other countries, every discussion is enriched by diverse experiences of urban life. Students consistently report that their peers — as much as the curriculum — change how they see the world.

Students receive an official Cornell University transcript showing NTRES 2470 with 3 earned credits. Many US and international universities accept transfer credits from Cornell, including as fulfillment of environmental science or sustainability requirements.