Hello again, Bears! We have reached the time of the semester where many students are planning out their schedules and preparing to register for their fall courses. The spring registration sequence is unique, however, because along with the fall semester, you can also register for summer courses. Whether or not you should take a summer class can depend on many factors, and it’s important to weigh both the pros and cons. As we approach registration, I thought that I would use my post for this week to discuss summer courses with you as a student who has taken multiple summer courses in the past.  

Pros

Saving Time

Taking a summer course or two is one of the best ways to progress in your degree at a quicker rate. Or, in some instances, you may prefer to take fewer courses during the fall/spring semester and take a couple of summer classes to continue making solid progress towards your degree completion. In many cases, you can take the same three credit course over the summer in a shortened time frame compared to the full 16 weeks in a regular semester. The ability to complete a couple of required classes over the span of just four to eight weeks is very convenient, and many students enjoy having the opportunity to do so over the summer when student lives may be less busy than usual.  

Flexibility

A majority of summer courses through the Missouri State campus are offered online, which provides a great deal of flexibility to students wanting to take them. Online courses are convenient for many reasons, but the students who prefer them mostly praise that they can be taken from anywhere. If you aren’t close to Springfield during the summer, you still have the opportunity to take a summer class or two and complete a few credits. Most of these classes are also asynchronous, meaning that you complete the coursework on your own time. Asynchronous learning is also convenient if you work or have other commitments that don’t allow you to meet for class at a specific time.  

Cons

Intensity

While the flexible nature of summer courses makes them appealing to many students, the shortened time frame in which the summer semester takes place often makes these courses more intense of a workload. Most of the time, a full 16 week course is being shortened into a time period of just four to eight weeks. A lot of students can find this change intimidating, along with the impersonality of an online class. It can also be more difficult to succeed in a course if your environment changes over the summer, and you don’t have space to dedicate to your studies. Whether or not you are a student that might be impacted by this difference, it is important to consider this when deciding if you should take a summer class.  

Losing Time

Summer classes can help you make progress faster, but it’s also important to keep in mind the time commitment that taking a class adds to your life. If you are pursuing a challenging internship over the summer, or you work, have vacation plans, or other larger time commitments, finding time to complete summer course work adequately can be difficult. If you want to take a class or two over the summer, you want to be sure that you will have enough time to devote to classwork. Even though the courses are shorter in time, the more intense workload means that students have to dedicate more time to their studies.  

Takeaways

As you prepare for registration, I hope that these pros and cons help you better weigh whether or not a summer course is for you. As a student who has taken summer courses in the past, I loved the flexibility and shorter time frame, but I also felt slightly intimidated by their intensity and time commitment. If you are having a hard time deciding if you should take a summer class, you have many resources available to you. Consider reaching out to your academic advisor, or visiting our Peer Mentors and Success Coaches here in the CAST office. I hope that you continue to have a great semester, and I wish you the best of luck with registration! 

~Hallie 

(Bio: I am a junior out-of-state student studying Creative Writing and Philosophy.)