Summer College Classes: Get Ahead on Your Education

For many students, taking summer college classes is a popular and effective way to supplement their education, make up academic credits, and complete a degree more quickly. According to Best Colleges Online, “millions of college students study online and more than one-quarter of all higher education students will take at least one online course.” Similarly, a 2019 Online Education Trends Report notes that “of all students taking at least one online class, almost half (48%) are taking online classes.”

Online classes are popular among many learners, because they provide greater convenience and flexibility than traditional classes at brick-and-mortar schools. A student taking an online class only needs a computer and an internet connection to study from virtually any location in the world, which is particularly helpful for students working or traveling abroad.

And at American Military University (AMU) and American Public University (APU), the monthly class starts are an efficient way to complete general education requirements. In addition, online courses for transfer provide students with the opportunity to develop professional, in-depth knowledge through classes that may not be available at their own schools.

Advantages of Taking Summer College Classes

There are several advantages to taking online classes:

• Study from home — There’s no need to make a long drive to your campus. You can study at home at a time that best fits your schedule, whether that’s in the morning, during the day or in the evening.
• Try out a single class before committing yourself to a degree — If you’re new to online learning, you can take one class to determine if online education is a good choice for you.
• Take classes not available at your brick-and-mortar school — APU and AMU offer hundreds of courses in a wide range of fields — such as cybersecurity, management and homeland security — to help you improve your professional knowledge.
• Gain specialized credit or licensing — Taking courses online is a useful way to gain academic credits you’ll need for a professional license. Be sure to check with your licensing board for their requirements prior to signing up for a class.
• Transfer courses back to your own university — You could receive academic credit for your online classes at your current school.
• Earn college credits while you’re still in high school — Eligible high-school juniors and seniors may take classes at the 100 to 200 level (dual enrollment). Ask your guidance counselor about dual enrollment at your school.
• Transfer academic credits to the Community College of the Air Force General Education Mobile (GEM) Program — Through online courses, eligible Airmen can fulfill the CCAF’s general education requirement of 15 semester hours.
• Benefit from fewer distractions — Taking one or two online classes is easier than taking a full-time course load, so you can focus your energy on learning.
• Start classes monthly — APU and AMU offer eight-week classes that start on the first Monday of each month.
• Save money through affordable tuition — Both APU and AMU provide budget-friendly tuition at affordable rates; there is also a book grant for undergraduates, so you receive your textbooks or ebooks at no cost. Be sure to ask about our tuition payment plan options and military grant, too.

There are other reasons for taking online classes, too. For instance, these courses can help boost your grade point average, lay the groundwork for future job interviews, and allow you to get a jump on general education courses.

How to Sign Up for Courses

Signing up for online classes is simple. First, use our course schedule tool to find the class or classes you want to take. Print out the information you’ll need to show your current institution or licensing board, such as any prerequisites for the online class, course objectives, the course materials or books you will need, a previous syllabus from the course, and the proposed session and start date for your class.

Second, talk with an academic advisor at your current university and show your advisor the information about the APU or AMU course(s) you propose to take. Also, check with your university’s admissions or transfer credit department to ensure that the course you want meets all the requirements for the transfer credit process.

Third, complete the enrollment application, which only takes about 15 minutes. There is no cost to apply.

Also, be sure to register as an “Undergraduate Non-Degree Seeking” or “Graduate Non-Degree Seeking” student, depending upon the level of the online class you want. If you have questions about completing the online application, call 877-755-2787 or send an email to have university staff guide you through the application process.

By Susan Hoffman

Contributor, Online Learning Tips
Sponsored by American Public University