Students enjoy the benefit of studying outdoors during Summer Session. (Photo by Casey A. Cass/University of Colorado)

Summer Session classes are appealing to many students because of their small size and intensive focus - two factors that create interactive classrooms with a community feel. There are five different sessions offered, including Maymester and terms A, B, C and D, with over 500 classes to choose from. Approximately 7,000 CU- Boulder students take courses during the summer.

Maymester allows students to earn up to three credits during the three-week term. Students take only one course during this time, and each day of the course is approximately equivalent to one week of regular classes. These courses carry an expectation that students will spend three to six hours per day outside of class studying due to the concentrated nature of the material. Maymester is appealing to students who need an extra class and also want to spend the summer working, traveling or participating in an internship.

Summer terms A, B, C and D begin in June and July and last for one to two months. Students are able to take multiple classes during these sessions. “I love taking summer classes because I can concentrate on one or two subjects and be part of a small, focused learning environment,” said Michelle Hiland, a junior integrative physiology and business major.

The Faculty- in-Residence Summer Term, or FIRST, brings internationally-known faculty to campus to teach summer classes. These faculty are master teachers and outstanding academics who spend the summer in Boulder to share their experiences and knowledge with CU students. They come from institutions such as the University of Chicago, Rice University and the University of Wisconsin. “FIRST is a great opportunity for students," said summer session director Carol Mehls. "It allows them to study with world-renowned faculty and take classes that they otherwise would not have the opportunity to take during the academic year."

While it may seem as though the campus becomes quiet at this time of year, Summer Session at CU-Boulder provides an educational experience that is active and eye-opening for thousands of students.

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