As finals week is coming up for students across campus at the University of North Dakota, it is now time to look forward to the future and what this summer has in store as we prepare ourselves for the end of this academic school year.
Whether these plans include heading home to spend time with family during the summer months or lavish vacation plans that include traveling abroad and lounging on beaches, an incredibly underrated and productive way that many students are planning to spend their summer this year includes staying on campus or opting for the more flexible virtual option while taking college classes that are offered over the summer at UND.
Taking classes over the summer enables students to get ahead with course work as they plan for graduation, and due to the accelerated nature of almost all the classes that are offered, you can accomplish an entire semester’s worth of course work in just under an eight-week time frame.
At UND, most four-year programs that are offered require a minimum of 120 credit hours’ worth of courses to be completed within that time frame. This can prove to be incredibly difficult because many upper-level courses have prerequisite courses that must be completed prior to enrolling in them, and at times, all the course sections that are offered in each semester can fill up and potentially delay graduation dates for some students.
By taking summer courses, students often benefit from smaller class sizes with ample seats available, and more one-on-one attention from professors that may prove to be beneficial if you are forced to retake a failed course due to extenuating circumstances throughout the spring or fall semesters.
Kasia Hoekstra, a second-year student at UND, is opting to take an online course this upcoming summer.
“Kinesiology 305 was only offered during the fall semester this past year, and it made more sense for me to take it virtually this summer,” Hoekstra said. “I can fit it into my busy schedule, so that I can stay on pace of achieving my goal of graduating in four years.”
This is an incredibly common concern that many university students have and highlights the value and flexibility that taking classes over the summer can offer.
If you are an undergraduate student and are concerned whether or not you are enrolled in the right classes or on track to graduate on time for your expected class date, visit the UND academic advising webpage at und.edu and schedule an appointment with your academic advisor via Hawk Central. They have valuable insight and knowledge regarding course planning and can help aid you in making a decision about whether or not enrolling in classes over the summer makes sense for you.
Keeping this in mind, the fall and spring semesters can prove to be incredibly draining throughout the course of an academic year, and it can prove to be equally as beneficial simply prioritizing your own wellbeing and resting during the summer months as well spending time at home or with family.
The responsibility ultimately falls upon yourself in making an informed decision regarding your academic future at UND and following through with a plan that makes sense for you and your own academic and mental needs.
Daniel Silva is a Dakota Student General Reporter. He can be reached at [email protected].
