Make the Most of January with J Term

Students can make the most of their winter break by enrolling in SMU's "J Term," or January Term, at the SMU-in-Plano campus. Now in its second year, the concentrated program of study, set for January 4-13, 2011, allows students to complete one three-credit-hour course at a discounted tuition rate before the start of the spring semester.

The 33 available courses feature offerings from the Cox School of Business, Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Lyle School of Engineering, Meadows School of the Arts and the Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development. The enrollment deadline for J Term is November 23, 2010.

"J Term allows students to pursue a very focused learning opportunity with SMU faculty members and adjunct professors," says Kate Livingston, SMU-in-Plano campus director and director of the J-Term program. "These credit hours can help students accelerate their degree completion, earn a second major or minor, fulfill general education requirements or prerequisites, or just take a course of interest."

This year's J Term includes the courses "Marketing Concepts," "Management Concepts" and "Legal Perspectives and Business Law" for business minors and non-business majors. "These courses previously have been offered only in the summer, so this is a great opportunity for all students to try out a business course," says Gary Moskowitz, associate dean of the undergraduate program at the Cox School. "For students who are considering or pursuing the minor in business during the summer, the J Term offers more flexibility." (The courses are not open to students pursuing a BBA or minor in business administration.)

J-Term courses are not available for registration through Access.SMU. To enroll, students should meet with an adviser to select appropriate courses and to complete the J-Term application form. The application must be received in Enrollment Services, faxed to 972-473-3433 or emailed to jterm@smu.edu by 4 p.m. November 23, 2010.

The J Term schedule provides six hours of instruction per day over an eight-day period, January 4-7 (Tuesday-Friday) and January 10-13 (Monday-Thursday). Most classes meet from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m. A few classes will meet from 2 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. Courses may require advance reading, assignments due before and during the two-week period, in-class or take-home exams, and final papers or projects due after the last class meeting.

Students participating in J-Term will be responsible for their own housing. The SMU-in-Plano campus has no residence halls, and those at the University's main campus are closed during that period. However, discounted hotel rooms are available at the Marriott TownPlace Suites, about a mile from the SMU-in-Plano campus. Shuttle service is also available. Learn more here.

J-Term tuition is $985 per credit hour. Most SMU merit scholarships are available in pro-rated amounts for J Term courses.

For more information, contact Kate Livingston, J-Term program director, at klivingston@smu.edu or 972-473-3401.
 

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