Students can add minors, travel abroad or concentrate on challenging courses in a relaxed atmosphere during the Summer Session at West Virginia University May 19-Aug. 7.
The session is designed to fit the goals and needs of students who want to earn credits and still have time to work or go on a summer vacation, said Sue Day-Perroots, dean of Extended Learning.
The length of individual summer courses varies, depending on the subject. Courses may be as short as one week or three weeks or as many as six, eight or 12 weeks. With so many choices, the theme this year isSummer@WVU: Summer That Fits.
For example, a student might take a six-week advertising course for three credit hours, while another might take a 12-week professional field experience course in agriculture for six credit hours. There are hundreds of choices available.
Students on campus also benefit from having access to the Student Recreation Center and WVU Libraries for the entire summer no matter how long a particular course lasts.
Many students take courses over the summer to maintain scholarships or get ahead to graduate early,Day-Perroots said.Students often take classes over the summer to maintain living arrangements and hold summer jobs. In fact, the greatest enrollment growth is the number of students who take an on-campus course paired with an online course.
The growth in online minors is also spurring an increase in summer enrollment. Online minors are available in advertising, public relations, business, child development, communication studies, entrepreneurship, history, and professional writing and editing.
Additionally, the Universitys School of Physical Education has added two new minors:
- The adventure sports leadership minor is designed for students interested in working with the adventure sports and recreation industry. Courses cover topics such as outdoor leadership, trip planning, instruction techniques and a selection of electives including courses in rock climbing, canoeing, cycling, caving, adventure racing and wilderness first aid. The minor requires a minimum of 19 hours of coursework. For more information, contact Nathan Kile, program coordinator, at 304-293-3295 ext. 5290 or Nathan.Kile@mail.wvu.edu .
- The aquatic facility management minor is designed to prepare students to manage an aquatic facility effectively and efficiently. The minor offers four certifications needed for pool operation: American Red Cross lifeguard, water safety instruction, certified pool operator and aquatic aerobics instructor. Students will get hands-on experience while working with pool managers and aquatic directors. All required courses can be completed in six weeks of the summer session. An internship is also required. For more information, contact Mindy Eskridge, clinical instructor of aquatics, at Melinda.Eskridge@mail.wvu.edu .
WVU Summer Session registration begins according to the following schedule:
- Tuesday, March 18�€Graduate, professional and honors students; students with disabilities; athletes
- Tuesday, April 1�€Seniors
- Tuesday, April 8�€Juniors
- Tuesday, April 15�€Sophomores
- Tuesday, April 22�€Freshmen
Information about the Summer Sessionincluding Web links to course listings, registration, tuition and fees, financial aid, housing, admissions and moreis available athttp://www.wvu.edu/~summer. Students are also encouraged to talk with their academic advisers.
New courses are added weekly, so students should check the listings frequently, Day-Perroots said.
Students may register online up until the first day of class. Students returning home for the summer in the Montgomery, Charleston and Keyser areas may continue their studies by taking summer courses at the WVU Institute of Technology and Potomac State College.
For registration questions, contact WVU s Office of Admissions and Records at 304-293-2121 or wvuregistration@mail.wvu.edu .