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As summer approaches, taking summer classes may be the last thing crossing many students’ minds.
But taking classes online during the summer months offers unique opportunities to blend learning and leisure—and staying on course to graduate.
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| This Summer Stay on Course |
Christy Bibbs, advisor and recruiter for the online bachelor’s degree in business administration, says summer online courses are ideal for students, in part “because it allows them to finish their degree faster.”
“Enrolling in the summer semester gives them an extra chance to complete those courses and stay on track with their courses and credits—or to just get ahead in their degree program,” says Bibbs. “For those wishing to graduate early, summer courses allow them to cross off required courses so they can take others during the fall and spring. They can actually shave a semester or two off of their college career.”
Several of Ball State’s university core curriculum courses are offered as five-week courses in the summer.
For undergrads who have not ventured into distance learning, online classes readily fit into a summer schedule because most classes do not meet at fixed times. Typically, students maintain contact with their instructor and classmates each week and complete assignments, readings, exams, discussions, group projects, and other activities.
The online and distance education marketing staff likes to say that online classes travel well.
“The incredible feature about summer online courses is that, due to their asynchronous format, classes accommodate summer internships, summer jobs, family vacations, summer recreation, and all those activities that round out our lives,” says Trudi Weyermann, assistant provost for learning initiatives. “Whatever you’re doing this summer, you can add the important element of intellectual transformation.”
As online enrollees, main campus students who are going home for the summer will still have access to professors, library services, the Writing Center, the Learning Center, the Technology HelpDesk, and all the services used by students on campus.
“Taking summer courses keeps students in the groove of studying,” says Bibbs. “It also allows students to take, maybe, a more difficult course during the summer than what they would normally do in a fall or spring term—especially if they take it by itself so they can focus on just that one course instead of splitting their time between four or more courses.”
She says it also helps students open up their schedules to pursue internships during the fall and spring semesters.
Approximately 5,ooo main-campus students supplement their schedules with online classes during fall, spring, and summer semesters.
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Source: Ball State Daily
