If you look in the course catalogs, you will see short term courses thst would be impossible to offer during a regular term because they involve travel (Russian architecture, reef biology research) or collaboration that would be a scheduling nightmare (a theatre production, jazz improve groups, business simulation). There are also courses that students may want to concentrate on rather than devote less time to weekly. Also good for internships and job searches.
I didn’t go to a school that had this and was envious of students who did. Kids I know st schools that have them love them and usually take more than are required. The J ones also can give students abroad a little more flexibility in when they return from a fall program or leave for a spring one. The may one can be helpful for spring athletes – it doesn’t pit exams against championships.
One thing to keep in mind on those neat sounding classes involving travel is that they often require additinal fees which aren’t tiny.
^^Absolutely. A couple thousand $! But it’s still an opportunity that wouldn’t work if you had 3 other classes.
Some of the off campus classes don’t involve extra fees. - they use that college’s facilities elsewhere. Often a research facility with more humble accommodations.
Sounds like you can’t lose.
Amherst has a J-term but it’s completely optional. There are fun no-credit classes and activities, some seniors work on their theses, some do an abroad thing. Dorms and dining hall are open throughout so students can be there or not, as they wish.
BYU has the option of doing “spring term” and “summer term.” They are half as long as fall and winter and move twice as fast. Course offerings are much narrower.
Eckerd College runs on a 4-1-4 schedule. My 2 children went to China, Honduras, Galapagos/Ecuador, France, NYC with the UN, and Sea/Research. They also run Spring Break Service Trips, local, US and International.
At Amherst, Interterm (January term) was absolutely one of my favorite college memories. Three solid weeks of mostly fun classes some taught by professors and college staff but most by fellow students including bartending at Smith College, film appreciation, ice skating, jitterbug, star gazing etc… Mix in several free college paid outings (skiing, bowling, roller skating nights at the mall) and a lot of socializing/partying espe with most of the other Five College schools also having their version of J term. Zero academic pressure of any kind (except for those seniors writing theses). And 3 square meals a day. Most of my friends who didn’t have January internships gladly came back for Interterm. We were definitely spoiled during “Camp Amherst”. Good to see that Interterm still lives on.
Middlebury (VT), Luther (IA), and St. Olaf (MN) have great J-terms both on campus and abroad. Vanderbilt (TN) has a Maymester.
Oberlin has a January term but it is more about self-designed programs than formal offerings, as best I recall.
Calvin College has a January term, which they refer to as Interim. There are some travel abroad possibilities. You’re required to take an Interim 3 out of 4 years, but there isn’t an additional tuition charge, except for travel costs.
Concordia College (Moorhead) has what they refer to as May Seminars, and those are almost all international experiences, and thus an additional charge, but you aren’t required to take one during your four years. It’s also the time when the premier ensembles do an extended international tour (last year it was the Concert Choir in Germany for the Reformation 500 celebrations).
Two sibs graduated from Luther College in Iowa, and really enjoyed their J terms. These included academic classes, travel, art electives, and independent studies. From the website, it looks like these terms are required and are covered in the year’s tuition/fees/housing costs except for transportation costs for travel programs.
In Maryland, at least one of the community colleges (Montgomery College) and Towson University both have optional January terms. One January, Happykid barely left the sofa while completing an online class for TU.
I havent’t found a definitive list of places with J terms, but a quick search for college January term gets links to lots of different college and university websites. A scroll through those will help you learn more.
Have fun with this search!
University of Delaware has a January term.