Jean Georges
Features Writer

What are you doing this summer? It’s a question many college students are asked by friends and family. If your answer is “nothing,” why not consider taking summer classes at Millersville?

Summer classes at Millersville are a great way to advance your coursework, cut back on the course load you’d normally take in the Fall and Spring, and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the campus—without parking hassles or crowded dining halls.

Why not investigate human sexuality in a biology course offered in Summer I and II, enroll in that Watercolors I class you’ve always wanted to take as an art & design major or fulfill your foreign language requirement in a short and sweet summer session.

Every summer for the last 10 years, Dr. William Archibald, assistant professor of English and director of the Chryst Writing Center, has taught summer courses. This Summer I, Archibald will teach two online courses: ENGL.110-Freshman Composition and ENGL.311-Advanced Composition, each a four-week session that will run from May 12 to June 6. Students will write a research paper in ENGL.110 and write creative non-fiction in ENGL.311.

When asked if he thinks attending a summer writing session is a good option for a student, Archibald was quick to respond that it is an excellent option.

Get ahead next semester by taking classes this summer. Millersville offers three summer sessions that include many departments varying from English to Math.
Get ahead next semester by taking classes this summer. Millersville offers three summer sessions that include many departments varying from English to Math.

“Students have a chance to concentrate on the writing. [The summer session] shrinks the 15-week semester into a more concentrated learning experience. I love teaching summer session,” he said.

Perhaps you’ve fulfilled your English requirements and need to concentrate on mathematics. Dr. Cynthia Taylor, assistant professor of mathematics, is teaching the nine-week evening course Math 104-Fundamentals of Mathematics in Summer I. It will run from May 13 to July 10. The course is designed for prospective teachers of mathematics and covers everything from number systems and algorithms to properties of integers.

“The extended time for instruction [during a summer class] allows for uninterrupted time for hands-on investigations exploring various mathematical concepts prospective teachers will be required to teach (and then debriefing the investigation) the same class period,” Taylor said.

Taylor will also offer the five-week Math 101-College Algebra morning Summer II course, beginning June 9 and ending July 11.

While the mathematics professor admits that the condensed number of days for instruction in a summer session does not provide much opportunity for lengthy projects that are assigned during a 15-week semester and that students must be more disciplined in devoting adequate time outside of class for readings and completing assignments, she does, however, point out a big advantage of summer study. It provides students with the opportunity to accelerate through a degree program.

No worries about math requirements for those who have to take introductory chemistry and want to zip through it in two short sessions. Dr. Edward Rajaseelan, professor of chemistry, is teaching two four-week courses this summer: CHEM 111-Introductory Chemistry 1, scheduled for May 12 through June 6 (Summer I) and CHEM 112-Introductory Chemistry 2, running July 14 to August 8 (Summer III).

“The class size is generally small, and I can pay attention to individual needs. For the students, they can focus on just one class and study the material in depth,” Rajaseelan said.

The chemistry professor outlines which three student groups benefit from a summer session. “This would include students who are behind in their four-year plan, students who want to complete their degrees in three years (two chemistry majors graduated from the honors college in three years last year) and students who are interested in taking courses in other disciplines outside their majors (this could even lead to a minor in that field),” Rajaseelan pointed out.

Zach Love, a master’s degree student in technology education, remembers the summer courses he took as an undergraduate at MU, including Technology and Humans ITEC 301. “This class was all online and the experience was great with Dr. Thomas Bell. It was very innovating and engaging,” he said. “I would say that it gave me an opportunity to graduate on my time schedule and lessen my work load the next semester.”

“It is a fast and easy way to get required classes finished. Summer courses are a great way to finish your degree in less time,” said Elizabeth Lapchak, a master’s in English candidate who is planning to take Spanish 102 and English 586-Special Topics Seminar: The Graphic Novel in Summer II. “I am required to be proficient in a second language for my MA in English, therefore I chose Spanish to be that language. The Graphic Novel course looks very interesting and something somewhat out of my element.”

Summer courses allow students to get ahead or catch up on classes.
Summer courses allow students to get ahead or catch up on classes.

What if, instead of taking a foreign language as a single requirement, you are a student wishing to pursue a graduate degree in a foreign language in the summer? Look no further than MU. The University has just been awarded Best Summer Program for Language Teachers by NerdScholar, the online resource that provides education-based information to students.

Millersville’s Summer Graduate Institutes offer degrees in French, German and Spanish. According to the foreign language department at MU, all students in the graduate language programs are expected to observe a “no-English” rule both in and out of the classroom. The language schools welcome degree candidates, teachers working toward certification, persons planning to travel abroad and those desiring “refresher courses” for credit or by audit.

“A total immersion experience is offered that features coursework in linguistics, literature, civilization, history and the fine arts,” said MU’s Dr. Leroy Hopkins, professor of German and chair of foreign languages. “Classroom work, however, is just a segment of the summer experience at Millersville. Participants who can stay on campus also participate in the many extracurricular activities available.”

Registration
If you are a current student, it’s easy to register. Check the summer course schedule, login to MAX and register for the course.

Payment/Bill Dates
Summer I: April 30
Summer II: May 28
Summer III: June 25

Financial Aid
Applications are available on MAX. Your yearly aid award will be divided into summer, fall and spring installments. For more information visit the financial aid office in Lyle Hall (first floor), see MU’s financial aid webpage or call 717-872-3026.

Housing and Residential Programs
Housing is available for all summer sessions. Summer I housing applications are due by April 11 and by May 7 for Summer II and III. For more information, stop by the housing office in Harbold Hall, visit MU”s summer housing webpage or call 717-872-3162.

Meal Plans
Meal plans are available for Summer II and Summer III. You may select anywhere from five to 19 meals per week. Visit the MU Bursar’s homepage and click “meal plans” or call 717-872-3760 with questions.