Summer School
History
In 1877, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill established what was possibly the first summer school in the United States. It enrolled 235 students in courses from 10 disciplines. Students came from 42 North Carolina counties and several neighboring states. Women were also first admitted into University courses during this summer session.
The University has continued annually to provide a wide offering of summer academic opportunities to the people of North Carolina and other residents from this country and abroad.
Opportunities
The College of Arts and Sciences as well as many professional schools offer summer courses for undergraduate and graduate students. The Summer School is central to the teaching mission of the University. Summer courses are of the same quality and provide the same credit as corresponding courses in the fall or spring terms.
Summer School courses relieve pressure on fall and spring enrollments, create opportunities to enhance students’ programs, increase student access to courses in non-major fields and other schools, and ensure that students can complete their degree requirements in a timely manner. Summer also allows incoming students the opportunity to take courses and become acclimated to campus before the fall term begins.
Because some subjects are best learned in an intensive and concentrated way, summer provides a time when students can focus on a single field. This is particularly useful for some laboratory experiences, concentrated arts courses, and foreign languages. Some curricula require field study or research projects, and summer uniquely allows time for these studies.
The total number of students is also fewer in the summer, and the mix includes a higher proportion of nontraditional and visiting students than during the fall or spring terms. Because class sizes are typically smaller and classes meet daily, students interact more with faculty members and with each other.
Finally, summer is a time for faculty members to develop and experiment with new content and teaching models that can be incorporated into fall or spring courses.
In recent summers, enrolled students have come from all 100 counties in North Carolina and all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and 60 foreign countries.
Programs
The Summer School offers two sessions of five weeks each, as well as a three-week Maymester. The available courses include many that satisfy undergraduate degree requirements.
The Summer School also offers many online courses, as well as in-person and field courses. Some offerings combine off-campus activities and on-campus classes or combine online and face-to-face learning formats.
Student Services and Advising
The Summer School coordinates and distributes information on summer course offerings for credit in all Academic Affairs units. Course offerings are available on the Summer School Web site in mid-December. Current UNC–Chapel Hill students who need information on summer courses and early registration should contact their advisor or the relevant academic department.
All UNC–Chapel Hill majors and minors have a primary academic advisor assigned in ConnectCarolina. They are strongly encouraged to meet regularly with their advisor and review their Tar Heel Tracker.
Summer School also admits and advises visiting students. A potential visiting student can find information and the online application from the Summer School website.
