So, it is your senior year. You have worked so hard for the past four years and now you are finally finished.
Maybe you have an internship lined up to prepare you for your career? Or perhaps you plan to attend graduate school and earn a higher degree? Quite possibly you even have a full time job waiting for you as soon as you step off the stage with your diploma.
Or, maybe you have to take summer classes to earn those last few required credits.
Yes, summer classes.
The two words every college senior dreads to hear from their advisor.
While your classmates will be planning their summer vacations to celebrate their accomplishments, you will be standing in line at the bookstore purchasing yet another over priced text book you probably will not end up needing. But, there is a way out.
Winter Intersession is a possible solution to saving your summer and relaxing before the "real" world kicks in.
Winter Intersession is a chance for students to pick up three credits in just two weeks. Classes this year will run Jan. 5 through Jan. 18 and offer students the opportunity to lighten their spring load, get on a faster track to graduation, make up credits for graduation, or all three.
Every year, the University of Missouri-St. Louis offers a variety of classes to students during the winter break. This year, classes are offered from five different colleges, and some of the courses offered promise to be both interesting and informative.
The College of Arts and Sciences is offering courses in criminology and criminal justice, gerontology, history, philosophy, political science and social work.
Interestingly, a special topics class will be offered for students in the criminology and criminal justice program. The course will focus on gang crime in Missouri.
Taught by Glen David Curry, professor of criminology and criminal justice, the course will explore gangs in Missouri, both across time and throughout the entire state.
Students will read four books for this course, take four online open notes/open book exams, and discuss the history of gangs. Main focuses will be on male and female gang members in the St. Louis and Kansas City areas.
For students needing a history credit, another intriguing class, titled "History of St. Louis," will be offered. The course will provide an overview of the history of the St. Louis metropolitan region from its founding in 1764 to the present.
Another department to offer a Winter Intersession course is the College of Business Administration. The department is offering Principles of Insurance, taught by Steven G. Bailey.
The College of Education will offer two undergraduate seminars in adult education and counselor education, and three graduate seminars in school-wide education.
Additionally, the College of Fine Arts and Communication is holding a course in media studies called Introduction to Comparative International Media Systems.
Two courses will be offered in music history, literature, and theory. Non-Western Music is a course that will teach students the music of Oceania, folk, classical music, and dance of East Asia, Tibet, and Southeast Asia. This course will discuss the influence of Buddhism, Islam, and Western acculturation on the functions of music in these societies.
The final class offered from the College of Fine Arts and Communication is Intro to Music Theater: Booth to Broadway.
This course gives students the opportunity to travel to New York City for the premiere of "Booth!" After meeting for 10 hours on campus during the Winter Intersession the class will make the trip east. Along with viewing Booth!, students will attend two other musicals while in the Big Apple.
Lastly, the Public Policy and Administration Department will offer one class over break. The class is called Strategic and Program Planning for Nonprofit Organizations and is taught by Scott Helm.
Registration is still available until Jan. 2, 2009 for currently enrolled UM-St. Louis students and for guest students until Dec. 30. Student fees will be billed at the spring 2009 rate and with the spring 2009 billing schedule. Scholarship and student loan money for the spring semester may be used for Winter Intersession courses.
More information about how to register and classes offered can be found on the UM-St. Louis website or by calling the Division of Continuing Education at (314)516-5961.
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