25 Courses Offered for 2010 Summer Session

This summer, students will have the opportunity to complete semester-long courses in a period of five weeks.

Twenty-five courses, taught by Wesleyan faculty, will be offered during the 2010 Summer Session. Classes begin June. 7.

“These courses include some highly popular courses that always have more interested students than space during the regular academic year, as well as some new and advanced courses, and some new thematic institutes,” explains Joe Bruno, vice president for Academic Affairs and provost.

Highlights include three two-course institutes on different themes: neuroscience and psychology, computer programming and computer music, and visualizing and creating theatrical performance.

Wesleyan also is offering a number of new and advanced courses, as well as courses that are always in high demand during the academic year.

Richard and Brenda Williams P’12, P’01 of East Lyme, Conn. are among the parents who proposed the idea of a summer session. In a letter to Wesleyan President Michael Roth, the Williams included reasons why they thought Wesleyan could accomplish a test program while generating additional income for the university.

“There is a huge diversity of learning opportunities at an excellent liberal arts university such as Wes,” Richard Williams says. “Unfortunately, building the foundation for a fulfilling life is always limited by the time available. I am extremely pleased that Wesleyan has chosen to provide its undergraduate students with the flexibility of expanding their knowledge and intellectual skills through a quality portfolio of summer courses. I know my child is very interested.”

Chemistry major Travis Williams ’12 says he’s interested in taking humanities courses this summer for enrichment. He’s considering a writing class, GOVT 155: International Politics or ECON 110.

Charles Salas, director of strategic initiatives, who was instrumental in getting the program set-up and running, says the Summer Session is a win-win for students and faculty. By offering summer courses, students will have the opportunity to get ahead, catch-up, take a lighter course load during the academic year, or take a course they were unable to take before.

“It’s also going to be an intensified learning experience. Students will be immersing themselves in one or two subjects on a daily basis. This really offers flexibility in charting their degree,” Salas says.

Individual Course examples include: “Quantitative Methods,” taught by Joyce Jacobson, the Andrews Professor of Economics, tutor in the College of Social Studies; “Place, Character, and Design: Exercises in Writing Fiction and Nonfiction,” taught by Anne Greene, director of Writing Programs, adjunct professor of English; “Music and Downtown New York, 1950-70” taught by Eric Charry, associate professor of music; and “Foundations of Contemporary Psychology,” taught by Sarah Carney, visiting assistant professor of psychology.

The Summer Session also offers Thematic Institutes, which feature intensive connection of two course subjects. Students must register for both courses. For example, if a student takes the Computer Programming and Computer Music thematic, he or she would take “Composing, Performing and Listening to Experimental Music,” taught by Ron Kuivila, director of the electronic music and recording studios, and “Introduction to Computer Programming,” with Jim Lipton, associate professor of computer science.

Other thematic institutes include Neuroscience and Psychology and From Page to Stage: Visualizing and Creating Performance.

Classes will be held five days a week for two hours a day.

Registration opens Jan. 4, 2010. The financial aid deadline is March 5. The late registration period is April 26-June 7. Students may take up to two course credits (2.5 if taking a course that offers a laboratory section) during the summer session.

Tuition is $2,500 per course credit, of which $500 must be paid during registration. Housing and dining is an additional $2,135.  Some classes may be cancelled if enrollement is too low.

A registration form will be posted soon to student e-portfolios and to www.wesleyan.edu/summer.

The Summer Session Office is located at 284 High Street, and is administered by the staff of Continuing Studies and Graduate Liberal Studies. For more information e-mail summer@wesleyan.edu or visit the Wesleyan Summer Session website.