Basic Information - Calendar
Living On Campus
Autumn Semester
Autumn Semester (14 weeks of "instructional time" - 70 day of classes - but generally covers a span of 16 weeks)
Autumn Session 1 (generally 7 weeks of "instructional time")
Autumn Session 2 (generally 7 weeks of "instructional time")
- Autumn semester will start about a month earlier than autumn quarter did, and commencement will fall later in December.
Spring Semester
Spring Semester (14 weeks of "instructional time" - 70 day of classes - but generally covers a span of 16 weeks)
Spring Session 1 (generally 7 weeks of "instructional time")
Spring Session 2 (generally 7 weeks of "instructional time")
- Spring semester will start a few days later than winter quarter did, and spring commencement, most years, will be in early May.
Summer Term
There are three parts to summer term:
May Session (4 weeks) - This begins in 2013
Summer Session (generally 7 weeks of "instructional time")
Summer term (begins the first day of May Session and ends the last day of Summer Session)
- A break of two weeks will separate the end of Summer Term and Summer Session from the start of Autumn Semester.
There will be a number of procedures (scheduling, for example) that students and university offices will only need to do twice, rather than three times, during the regular academic year. This also means, however, that students will have fewer opportunities to choose the correct classes, compensate for a misstep, or take the electives they most want. Fewer opportunities to schedule may also alter the current flow of business in advising offices during the academic year. Students, for instance, who wait until even late January to apply to graduate in the spring will not have another opportunity to make up missing requirements. PLAN WELL!!!
Questions and Answers
Q: When do classes begin and end each year under the semester system?
A: Generally, autumn semester classes begin on Wednesday of the third week in August and end earlyDecember. Spring semester classes typically begin on Monday of the second week in January and end the third week in April. Exam periods follow for each. Dates for academic-years 2012-2017 are available on the academic calendar.
Q: When does the semester system begin?
A: Summer 2012. The 7-week Summer Term will be followed directly by Autumn Semester, which begins August 22, 2012. See the academic calendar for 2012-17.
Q: Are students able to take a full-time load of course work at anytime during semesters?
A: Technically the system will allow students to enroll in 12 credit-hours (which is full-time status) for ANY session. However, taking 12 hours during May Session or during a 7-week session would be challenging to schedule and manage, and would not be recommended or encouraged.
Q: What types of courses will be available during autumn and spring "sessions"?
A: It depends on the department. Our best advice would be to go to the Schedule of Courses and search for courses by session and see what is available - select "Additional Search Criteria." If you have a particular course in mind, you should contact the department offering the course.
