UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Even as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, Penn State will offer a full slate of courses in summer 2021, with thousands of courses to choose from across 24 campuses. Students will also have the flexibility to take courses at any Penn State campus.
“With a wide range of courses to choose from, students can benefit greatly from continuing their learning this summer, whether they wish to catch up or get ahead in their degree programs,” said Kelly Griffith, director of the Office for Summer Session. “Students will also have the flexibility to select where and how they wish to learn, which is especially important during the pandemic.”
As in past summers, students will have the option to take courses at any Penn State campus, including online through Penn State World Campus. This flexibility allows students to take advantage of course offerings across the Penn State system, to experience life at another campus or to learn closer to home than during the academic year. Students can customize their summer learning based on their individual learning preferences, financial constraints or health needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We recognize that flexibility continues to be critical to our students as the pandemic continues,” added Griffith.
While the University has not yet published the official course schedule for summer 2021, given the evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and unknowns related to course delivery mode, Penn State has published a historical class search tool that can aid in students’ summer course planning. The search tool includes undergraduate and graduate summer courses offered at every Penn State campus in 2019 and 2020 and provides a good indication of what will be offered this summer. Once a user identifies a course of interest, they can read a full course description in the University Bulletins.
Students may opt to use summer as an opportunity to catch up in their degree programs by taking courses that did not fit into their schedules during the regular academic year or to retake a course that did not go as planned. Alternatively, students may wish to get ahead in their degree programs or to make progress toward a minor or certificate.
More information about 2021 summer courses, including the official schedule of courses, the timetable for when students can register and course delivery modes, will be forthcoming.
The Office for Summer Session is part of Undergraduate Education, the academic administrative unit that provides leadership and coordination for University-wide programs and initiatives in support of undergraduate teaching and learning at Penn State. Learn more about Undergraduate Education at undergrad.psu.edu.