10 Top Reasons to Register for Summer Courses (With Options)

Is it worth it taking summer college classes?

It’s summer—the time to relax, unwind, go on vacation (or a series of staycations), and not have to worry about textbooks and lectures…right? After all, summer is the time most college students head home for a few months to recharge before a new year. Even so, getting some coursework done in the summer can have tremendous benefits if you want to get ahead, earn additional credits, gain new skills, and still be productive from June through August. Check out these top 10 reasons to register for on-campus or online summer courses, along with some ideas for classes to take.

Reason #1 – Complete General Ed Requirements

Summer is a great time to complete your general education requirements early so you can get to your major coursework sooner and have fewer distractions. Getting these classes out of the way allows you to focus all your energy on the classes that interest you the most and are most relevant to your future career.

Reason #2 – Save Time (And Money)

Since summer classes are compressed, you’ll have the opportunity to complete your courses more quickly than you would during a full fall or spring semester. You can also save money on credits thanks to lower summer tuition rates. With online summer classes, you may also be billed at a lower rate.

Reason #3 – Take a Fun Class

Whether you’ve been interested in learning a new language or discovering the intricacies of ancient Greece, summer presents the unique opportunity to take classes you wouldn’t normally have the chance to take during the regular school year. This allows you to broaden your perspective and worldview.

Reason #4 – Double Up Your Classes

If you’re planning to double major but don’t want to spend double the time in college, taking summer classes enables you to get a lot of prerequisites out of the way so you can still graduate on time. By the time the fall rolls around, you’ll be able to add yourself into the core classes you need to take sooner rather than later.

Reason #5 – Prepare for What’s Ahead

If you know you’re going to further your studies by enrolling in a graduate or doctoral program after earning your degree, it never hurts to prepare yourself by taking more challenging courses over the summer. This allows you to get a glimpse of what furthering your education entails and the level of work expected of you. If you hope to go to law school, for example, you can seek out classes designed to prepare you for the LSAT.

Reason #6 – Take (Or Retake) a Challenging Class

Registering for a challenging class you weren’t able to complete during a regular semester, you finished but want a better grade on to bring up your GPA, or you’re feeling apprehensive about taking, can help you better concentrate and give the subject your full attention. While classes may be shorter in the summer, you’ll be able to get more one-on-one support from the professor without having to worry about splitting your attention between four other classes.

Reason #7 – Enjoy Smaller Class Sizes

Smaller class sizes have a variety of benefits, from more personalized support from your professors to improved opportunities for classroom engagement. Since summer classes tend to have lower enrollment than during the regular school year, you can develop a deeper relationship with your professors and classmates and feel less like you’re lost in a crowd of faces.

Reason #8 – Finish in Less Time

If you want to get your degree sooner, taking some summer courses is a great way to get there without feeling overwhelmed and pressured during the regular year. Some students are able to graduate a whole semester—if not a whole year—early thanks to strategic summer enrollment.

Reason #9 – Brush Up on Your Skills

Even if you’re not actively working toward a degree or you recently finished one, a summer course can be a great way to acquire new skills and competencies, especially as technology advances at the speed of light. If you’re considering going back to school, taking a summer course can help you get a feel for what you could expect if you went full-time.

Reason #10 – Find a Passion or New Interest

If you’re considering changing your major or are still undecided on what you want to do with your career, taking some summer courses can help you discover your options and find your passion. If you enjoy learning just for the sake of knowledge-seeking, summer classes can also be a fun way to dive into your unique interests and see where they might take you.

Classes to Take Over the Summer at Regent University

Whether you’re pursuing the goal of graduating early or you don’t want the learning to end for three months, putting your time into summer courses is well worth it. Meet with your advisor to discuss the possibility of registering for summer courses and see what’s available. Regent University offers a number of options for undergraduate and graduate students interested in getting ahead over the summer. Here are just a few of our popular summer courses:

• Public Speaking
• Foundations of Communication
• English Composition
• Math: Precalculus, Algebra, Statistics
• U.S. History
• Western Civilization
• Consumer Behavior
• Law & Ethics
• Study of Great Leaders
• Fiction Writing
• Microeconomics and Macroeconomics

Regent University offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in more than 150 areas of study, including business, communication and the arts, counseling, cybersecurity, divinity, education, government, law, leadership, nursing, healthcare, and psychology. Find flexible degree options and the right summer classes for you at explore.regent.edu.