Winter Term
A: Oberlin provides a Winter Term of four weeks in January to encourage and enable students to discover the value of self-education. This term affords students an opportunity to devise and pursue programs of independent study or research and to undertake, individually or with a group, on or off campus, other projects of educational value that the structured curriculum during the academic year cannot accommodate easily. Winter Term credits are not the same as semester credit hours, i.e., the Winter Term credits are not included in the required 112 Arts and Sciences or 124 Conservatory or 152 Double-Degree semester hours.
Q: What are the Winter Term academic regulations?
A: In order to graduate from Oberlin, students pursuing a bachelor's degree are required to earn three full Winter Term credits. Credits are earned by completing a project, either individually or as part of a group. Winter Term projects are rated as half or full and are evaluated as "completed" (Y) or "not completed" (N); no letter grades are given. Students may propose Winter Term projects from one of the following categories: 1. Academic Study: a faculty-sponsored, academically-focused research, study, or performance project that can be conducted on- or off-campus, individually or as part of a group project. 2. Field Experience: a learning activity that could include career exploration, social or political action, community service, or an unpaid internship. 3. Personal Growth and Development: an opportunity to learn a skill, try something new, or pursue subject matter outside of traditional academic disciplines. All three Winter Term credits may be earned from categories one and two. Only one full project (or two half projects) may be earned from category three. All three Winter Term credits may be earned from categories one and two. Student and sponsor together must
determine the most appropriate category for a proposed project.
Q: Will Winter Term projects be recorded on my son's transcript?
A: Yes, Winter Term project titles and credit earned are recorded on students' transcripts.
Q: What is the schedule for Winter Term?
A: Each fall the Winter Term website is updated with a detailed description of Winter Term procedures, dates, and deadlines, as well as the Winter Term listing of publicized projects. All information is available online at www.oberlin.edu/wintertm .
Q: Are students required to stay on campus during Winter Term?
A: Students do not have to stay on campus during Winter Term. However, those who choose to pursue their projects on campus can take advantage of the facilities and opportunities that Oberlin offers. Many concerts, theatrical productions, films, lectures, forums, and discussion groups that enliven Winter Term are part of on-campus projects. Typical off-campus projects include (but are not limited to) career exploration, internships, and community service.