News Collection

Winter Term

Oberlin provides a winter term each year to empower students to discover the value of self-directed education. Students may devise an individual project in collaboration with an Oberlin staff or faculty member, or participate in a group project that has been organized by Oberlin staff, faculty, or other students. These undertakings can happen on or off campus. The Office of Winter Term oversees these projects.

The central objective of this period is to continue the process of personal and academic discovery outside of the classroom.

Explore the on-campus experience

  • The Journey of My Happy Feet

    “From Guinea to Brooklyn: The Journey of my Happy Feet,” a Senior Honors Show by Donnay Edmund, will be performed at 8 p.m. on March 4 and 5 in Warner Main Space.

  • Yarn to Garment

    In this winter-term project, participants truly create their own garment from scratch, from yarn selection and learning how to weave fabric on a loom, to sewing and fitting their completed design.

  • Rapidfire Language Learning

    Students who choose an intensive language course over winter term learn an entire semester’s material in one month.

  • Learning the Secrets of Songwriting

    This winter term, a small group of students participated in a songwriting workshop led by noted singer-songwriter Lucy Wainwright Roche ’03.

  • From Yarn to Garment

    Chloe Deshusses threads needles on a weaving loom in preparation for making a custom sleeveless dress in the winter-term project From Yarn to Garment. Directed and sponsored by Betsy Bruce, director...

  • Rebellion on the Nile

    A dozen students led by Associate Professor Zeinab Abul-Magd spent winter term exploring the political and environmental issues facing Egypt.

  • Volunteering in Vietnam

    Third-year Gabriel Hitchcock, a neuroscience major and art history minor, spent his winter term in Hanoi, Vietnam, volunteering at a traditional medicine hospital.

  • Concert Halls and Castles

    Students in Technology in Music and Related Arts spend winter term sharing their works and exchanging ideas at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.

  • Students Display Work in Once Upon a Woodblock

    The students enrolled in the winter-term workshop Blades on Wood: Relief Printmaking for the Strongly Devoted display their work on Friday, January 22, in the South Dome of the Art Department in...

  • Filming Wine in France

    Thomas Chevrier, French lecturer and faculty in residence at French House, led a group of students to wine country during winter term to document the iconic French art of winemaking.

  • Taiko Members Hone Their Craft

    Members of Oberlin College Taiko spend winter term learning essential skills and knowledge from members of the San Jose Taiko ensemble.