Cornell Approves First Bitcoin Degree – Pioneering Independent Bitcoin Research

In a landmark achievement for Bitcoin education, Cornell University’s College of Arts and Sciences has officially approved its first Bitcoin major, former CogSci student Ella Hough, through the University Scholars Program. The major works through an interdisciplinary framework that covers topics including cognitive science, psychology, and economics.

Ella Hough, a former cognitive science student at Cornell University, announced the achievement on her personal I did. It was finally approved early this month.

Bitcoin enthusiasts can now embark on independent study programs through the university’s College Scholars Program, which typically involve interdisciplinary integration and intensive study of resources related to their major. Ella plans to present and defend her honors thesis on her major (Bitcoin) by 2025, in hopes of awarding the first official Bitcoin degree in history.

What is the program like?

Although the major is officially Bitcoin, it is important to note that the College of Arts and Sciences does not currently offer Bitcoin as a program. However, she only gained acceptance to major in Bitcoin through a somewhat unique college scholarship program.

The University Scholars Program is designed (specially) for students, like Ella, who are interested in a field outside of their typical disciplinary scope. In this program, students design a curriculum and integrate it with the school’s existing academics.

For example, a Bitcoin major will see Ella take courses in cognitive science, psychology, philosophy, information science, economics, history, government, and more. Additionally, Ella will work with her (prospective) advisor to supervise her own independent research and supervise her thesis throughout her major.

Students in the College Scholar Program can double major, but Ella Hough doesn’t seem interested in going down that route. Over the next two years, the Bitcoin enthusiast will devote most of his time to Bitcoin research, producing projects and papers to earn a Bitcoin degree.

Introducing her journey to earning her first Bitcoin degree

Ella Hough detailed her journey to becoming the first independent Bitcoin scholar through her official X handle, and it wasn’t easy. According to her account, she submitted her first proposal for a Bitcoin major on October 31, 2022, but she did not receive the necessary consents to begin her studies until January 2024.

“Over the past 15 months, I have written proposals (and more proposals), emails, letters to the president and board, in-person meetings, and Zoom meetings,” she said. Learning Opportunities.

Ella’s journey initially received some backlash, including from the cryptocurrency community. The most recurring concern is about the laser-focused nature of her major. Many observers believe that studying more broadly, as they do with cryptocurrencies in general, is more rewarding than focusing on Bitcoin.

Cornell Approved First Official Bitcoin Club

In addition to the revolutionary approval of her Bitcoin degree, Cornell University also approved a separate application by a Bitcoin enthusiast to create a Bitcoin club called the Cornell Bitcoin Club within the university. Membership in this club is currently open to anyone on the school campus.

With a mission to encourage Bitcoin exploration and adoption among students on Cornell University’s campus, Ella Hough described the club’s founding as “a humanitarian imperative that will impact generations, present and future.”

Cornell University Is Bullish About Bitcoin

Cornell University’s Bitcoin advocacy movement didn’t start with the approval of the first Bitcoin-focused degree. Late last year, the university launched research showing that Bitcoin mining could accelerate the transition to renewable energy. This research effort has gained popularity among Bitcoin enthusiasts.

In the study, Cornell researchers suggested that introducing economic incentives for miners to use clean energy would accelerate the shift from Bitcoin mining to using renewable energy.

Approval of Ella Hough’s degree came a few weeks after her study. The two incidents may be unrelated, but they hint at a welcome pro-Bitcoin trend among school executives, which could have far-reaching implications for how academia views cryptocurrencies as a whole.