Maximize Your Break: Take Summer Classes, Earn Credit

Summer classes are the perfect opportunity to maximize your break by growing your understanding of difficult subjects, knocking out some general education courses, or dipping your toes into topics you’ve never considered studying – think Culinary Medicine. 

Taking a summer course, then, is to us a no-brainer, or as Nathan Domitrovich, director of UM’s Undergraduate Advising Center, puts it so succinctly:  

“Why not? It’s hot! Do summer!” 

Summer School Dates

A little background: UM Summer offers one 10-week session and two five-week sessions running from the end of May through July.   

• 10-week session: May 19-July 25, 2025 
• 5-week session I: May 19-June 20, 2025
• 5-week session II: June 23-July 25, 2025

Current students, incoming freshmen, students from other universities and the general public are welcome to enroll in UM Summer. You can browse summer courses here. Leaving Missoula for the summer? No problem, there are more than 200 classes offered online. Summer financial aid also is available.   

Advice on Taking Summer Classes

We wondered what other sage thoughts folks in UM’s Undergraduate Advising Center might have for those considering enrolling for a summer course. Here’s what we heard: 

• “It’s a great time to focus on a class that you think is going to be difficult. It gives you extra time and help for this subject” 
• “Take one STEM class at a time/per session so you can focus and improve your GPA.” 
• “Take WRIT 101 if you haven’t already.” 
• “Summer session is a great way to reduce the stress of finishing ‘on time.’” 

•  “Keep checking your email. Keeping up to date is even more important for accelerated classes.” 
• “Just do it!” 

And lest you think UM Summer studies will totally trash your river time, consider this last insight from Maryann Dunbar, academic advisor at UM’s Missoula College:    

“Taking summer courses will still give you a month break before fall semester starts,” she says, “and it will help you get ahead.”