What are the lightest workload courses at Cornell University?

Based on student ratings aggregated from across the web, the lightest workload courses at Cornell University include SOC101, EAS1101 (Climate and Energy: a 21st Century Earth Science Perspective), EAS1540 (Introductory Oceanography). Courses with the lowest reported time investment. See the full ranked list above and open any course for the detailed breakdown.

How are the lightest workload courses at Cornell determined?

Each course is scored on time inv, a 0–100 measure built from student ratings and sentiment aggregated across the web, and ranked accordingly. Courses with the lowest reported time investment. Students can also add their own reviews on each course page.

Is this ranking based on real student feedback?

Yes. The ratings aggregate real student feedback, so each score reflects many data points rather than one opinion. We show how many ratings back each course so you can gauge confidence, and written student reviews add firsthand detail on top.

Easy Classes at Cornell: Lightest Workload Courses

Easy classes at Cornell University ranked by workload. Find courses with the lowest time commitment, perfect for balancing a heavy semester or picking electives.

Course enrollment for Spring 2027 at Cornell opens Wed, Nov 11. Registrar dates

Tap + on a class to add it.

Lightest Workload Courses

Top 25 · courses with the lowest reported time investment

Classes most students can't enroll in are left out. Show all courses

1
SOC101Sociology
35/100 time needed4.8 out of 5 stars4.8· 34 ratings
35/100
2
EAS1101Climate and Energy: a 21st Century Earth Science PerspectiveEarth Science
36/100 time needed4.0 out of 5 stars4.0· 28 ratings
36/100
3
EAS1540Introductory OceanographyEarth Science
38/100 time needed4.7 out of 5 stars4.7· 54 ratings
38/100
4
ECON4510Economics
40/100 time needed4.8 out of 5 stars4.8· 13 ratings
40/100
5
PSYCH2450Pursuing HappinessPsychology
40/100 time needed4.4 out of 5 stars4.4· 10 ratings
40/100
6
ILRHR2600Managing TalentHuman Resources Management
41/100 time needed4.4 out of 5 stars4.4· 47 ratings
41/100
7
ASTRO101Astronomy
41/100 time needed4.6 out of 5 stars4.6· 15 ratings
41/100
8
DSOC101International Studies
42/100 time needed2.8 out of 5 stars2.8· 21 ratings
42/100
9
NTRES2010Environmental ConservationScience
42/100 time needed4.7 out of 5 stars4.7· 16 ratings
42/100
10
ILRHR266Industrial Studies
43/100 time needed5.0 out of 5 stars5.0· 10 ratings
43/100
11
PAM3280Human Ecology
44/100 time needed4.3 out of 5 stars4.3· 24 ratings
44/100
12
ORIE350Engineering
44/100 time needed4.0 out of 5 stars4.0· 21 ratings
44/100
13
PLBIO2400Plant Biology
44/100 time needed4.9 out of 5 stars4.9· 10 ratings
44/100
14
BIOEE 1540Introductory OceanographyEcology and Evolutionary Biology
45/100 time needed4.5 out of 5 stars4.5· 27 ratings
45/100
15
PLPA201Science
45/100 time needed4.6 out of 5 stars4.6· 17 ratings
45/100
16
BIOPL2400Plant Biology
45/100 time needed5.0 out of 5 stars5.0· 11 ratings
45/100
17
PLSCI1101Plant Science and SystemsAgriculture (CALS)
46/100 time needed4.8 out of 5 stars4.8· 20 ratings
46/100
18
WIKI2021Classics
46/100 time needed4.8 out of 5 stars4.8· 18 ratings
46/100
19
CLASS236Classics
46/100 time needed4.6 out of 5 stars4.6· 12 ratings
46/100
20
INFO1260Choices and Consequences in ComputingInformation Science
46/100 time needed4.5 out of 5 stars4.5· 12 ratings
46/100
21
LA155Sociology
46/100 time needed2.2 out of 5 stars2.2· 9 ratings
46/100
22
ILRLR3055Communication
46/100 time needed3.4 out of 5 stars3.4· 9 ratings
46/100
23
PSYCH 1131Introduction to Human DevelopmentPsychology
46/100 time needed4.5 out of 5 stars4.5· 7 ratings
46/100
24
PSYCH 1101Introduction to PsychologyPsychology
47/100 time needed4.5 out of 5 stars4.5· 86 ratings
47/100
25
ENGL1170FWS: Short StoriesEnglish
47/100 time needed4.8 out of 5 stars4.8· 38 ratings
47/100

Give back

Took a class at Cornell? Your review is what the next student reads.

Anonymous, about two minutes, no account.

Find your class

Easy Classes at Cornell: Lightest Workload Courses: FAQ

How this is ranked

Ranked by time investment, lowest first: how much outside work students report.

Scores run 0 to 100 and come from student ratings, aggregated across the web where we have them and from reviews written here otherwise. Courses with too few ratings aren't ranked. Each score is adjusted for how many ratings back it: a class with only a few is pulled toward the school average, so its score here can differ a little from its course page. Each row shows how many ratings back it. Graduate-level classes, peer mentor, practicum, independent study, internship and research sections, labs and one-credit courses are left out.