Students Make the Most of Summer Through Summer Classes

Students are taking the opportunity to pick up some credits and enrich their summer through DU summer courses. With over 200 courses to choose from, students have the flexibility to get ahead in their course work or simply learn something new. Courses are taught online, in the classroom or in the field, and span a wide range of subjects, like Matthew Taylor’s Geography of Surfing class, which will be offered online because of travel restrictions.

“The class helps break the stereotypes around surfing,” says Taylor, professor of geography.

“We examine all aspects of surfing from a geographic perspective — how the culture spreads over space and changes through time, the impacts of surfing on the environment…, environmental activism of surfers, gender and surfing, wave ownership and territoriality, and the physical and mental benefits of surfing,” he added.

Another online course, Writing for Wellness, is designed to help students develop a writing practice to improve their personal, academic and professional wellbeing. Students explore current research on wellness writing, experiment with different approaches and design a wellness-writing self-study.

“Students who take this class enjoy the opportunity to focus on their own wellbeing and learn tools they can take with them into their busy and high-stress lives,” says Heather Martin, teaching professor in the Writing Program, who will offer this course in August.

Also in August, Roddy MacInnes will offer a Photography in Aspen course that will be based at the Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Snowmass. In addition to local photo opportunities, students will have use of a photography classroom and access to digital photo printing.

“Photo instruction and field trips will be major components of the class,” says MacInnes, associate professor in the School of Art and Art History. “Each student will assume an individual photography project. Participants will be encouraged to integrate their major and/or minor course of study with photography.” Students from all academic disciplines and all levels of photography expertise, from beginner to advanced, are encouraged to apply.

Summer@DU is open to current, visiting and high school students. Courses offer top-notch academics with a spirit of exploration, while students enjoy the flexibility and the chance to get ahead through summer classes.