January Term

Creativity, Breadth, Diversity and Intensity: Jan Term classes are intended to be a lively, challenging, exciting and horizon-broadening academic experience. Want to serve, learn, and explore far from home?  Hope to pick up a new language?  How about exploring some Bay Area museums?  Or giving poetry a serious (or playful) try?  Is it time for you to dabble in Econ? Jan Term is your launching pad into these new experiences and more!

Jan Term is a month long session in which every undergraduate explores a single topic in depth at an accelerated pace, featuring a unique blend of opportunities on and off campus. 

The Jan Term course list is a great introduction to the sorts of things you might study— global climate change, wine connoisseurship, urban food justice and web design are just a few options from last year. You might explore topics like intensive Japanese, entrepreneurship or popular TV.

Some of the most exciting Jan Term offerings are travel courses — every January several groups of SMC students fan out across the country and the world, gathering knowledge and providing service. January Term classes have contributed to the rebuilding of New Orleans and Haiti, critiqued movies at the Sundance Film Festival and explored the ecology of Tonga.

For more information on our travel courses, CLICK HERE.