January Term On-Campus and Travel

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January Term On-Campus and Travel

Jan Term

January Term is one of Saint Mary's most unique and appealing programs. During a month-long course held every January, undergraduate students get to explore a single topic in great depth at an accelerated pace. It features a unique blend of opportunities on campus and around the world.

We offer on-campus, travel, remote, and hybrid courses in January. We also offer remote and travel courses in June.

Jan Term 2023 Courses

All Jan Term course information and descriptions may be found in the Jan Term Catalog

Jan Term 24 Course Proposals

Interested in submitting a course proposal? All your questions may be answered here!

2023 Travel Offerings

2023 Travel Scholarship

2023 Travel Registration Process

Every January, students take one course. Yes, just one.

What is January Term?

January Term: A Student Perspective

Alexa Gambero '17 and Erica Escalante '16 discuss their January Term courses—The Art of the Screenplay and Sport in Higher Education—and why January Term is so special at Saint Mary's.

Dismantle. Immerse. Reflect. Transform.

January Term course DIRT is a program where students are sent into disaster relief areas and challenged to collaborate with host communities to address quality-of-life issues.

Endangered Australia

This mission of this course is to survey Australian wildlife conservation efforts and to develop an understanding of the relationship it shares with Aboriginal culture.

Students visit wildlife conservation programs, Aboriginal sites, and national parks in order to gain an appreciation of how Aboriginal culture is contributing to the wildlife conservation movement. Activities include ample hiking, kayaking, surfing, snorkelling, and visiting cultural sites during free time.

From Pen to Podcast

Watch Ana Alvarado ’19 dive into January Term course - From Pen to Podcast, where she and her fellow students learn how to create engaging podcasts.

Types of January Term Courses

Classic Courses

Full-credit on-campus courses (lower division and upper-division)
Travel courses
Quarter-credit courses. Free for full-time students each semester

Independent Study courses

Freshmen students are allowed to take 0.25 or 0.50-credit independent study courses during January Term. Sophomores and above may take 1.00-credit independent study courses during January Term.
Students may take an independent study in January Term to satisfy up to half of their required January Term credits, but no more, so that they might still experience January Term in its regular iterations.

Why Require a January Term?

For both students and faculty, January Term can be a laboratory for experimentation in both subject matter and technique. It offers all of us a chance to try new ideas and explore topics in greater detail than is possible within the constraints of a regular semester. It is in keeping with the College’s mission that we offer this unconventional space of freedom and challenge to our students and faculty.

Learning Objectives

As a program, January Term has several Learning Outcomes that students should gain during their time at Saint Mary’s College. These learning objectives are in addition to the specific content of each January Term course and are part of what makes the January Term program unique from other courses students might take en route to a major or minor degree.

On-Campus Course Learning Objectives (scroll to the bottom)
Travel Course Learning Objectives

January Term Mission Statement

January Term at Saint Mary's College offers a curriculum of rigorous, intensive, unique courses outside students' usual realms of inquiry using analytical, focused, immersive, and experiential methods of pedagogy and critique, with the aim of broadening the academic, social, cultural and spiritual life of the College, in accordance with a Lasallian ethic of social justice, civic responsibility, and personal transformation.

Every January, biology majors become theater performers, art majors become barbarians, and psychology majors become beer brewers. Why? Because you are never done learning and exploring.

Search Our Site

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Common Searches

Creativity

Breadth

Diversity

Intensity

Focus

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Culture

January Term On-Campus and Travel

Jan Term

Jan Term 2023 Courses

Jan Term 24 Course Proposals

What is January Term?

January Term: A Student Perspective

Dismantle. Immerse. Reflect. Transform.

Endangered Australia

From Pen to Podcast

Types of January Term Courses

Why Require a January Term?

Learning Objectives

January Term Mission Statement

Contact Us

Email: janterm@stmarys-ca.edu

Jan Term On-Campus Office: South Arcade/Korth Tower Breezeway

Jan Term On-Campus Phone: 925-631-4633

Jan Term Travel Office: Dante Hall 110

Jan Term Travel Phone: 925-631-4245

Search Our Site

Search form

Common Searches

Featured Content

Creativity

Breadth

Diversity

Intensity

Focus

Passion

Culture

January Term On-Campus and Travel

January Term On-Campus and Travel

Jan Term

Jan Term 2023 Courses

Jan Term 24 Course Proposals

What is January Term?

January Term: A Student Perspective

Dismantle. Immerse. Reflect. Transform.

Endangered Australia

From Pen to Podcast

Types of January Term Courses

Why Require a January Term?

Learning Objectives

January Term Mission Statement

Contact Us

Email: janterm@stmarys-ca.edu

Jan Term On-Campus Office: South Arcade/Korth Tower Breezeway

Jan Term On-Campus Phone: 925-631-4633

Jan Term Travel Office: Dante Hall 110

Jan Term Travel Phone: 925-631-4245