On this page:

• Who needs to complete a Jan Term? 
• When do Jan Term classes meet?
• How are Jan Term classes graded?
• Can I take a Jan Term class to count toward my major?
• Are regular semester courses offered during Jan Term?
• Can I repeat a Jan Term Course for additional credit?
• Can a student from another college take a Jan Term course?

Who needs to complete a Jan Term?
Students are required to complete successfully one Jan Term. All students at McDaniel College are eligible to participate in the Jan Term; these include full time students, part-time students, and those who plan to enroll full-time in February. Special students may apply to attend Jan Term through the Office of Academic Affairs. 

Back to top

When do Jan Term classes meet?
Generally, all classes meet at 10 a.m. on the first day of Jan Term. After the first day of class, meeting times are flexible and are at the discretion of the professor. Students should expect to spend, on the average, a minimum of two hours a day in class and four hours a day out of class working on assignments. Of course, this varies. Some courses require attendance all day in a classroom setting; others require fewer class hours and more independent work by students.

Back to top

How are Jan Term classes graded?
Courses and projects will be graded in one of three ways: regular letter grades; credit/fail; or student's option (where the student decides during the first two days of Jan Term whether he or she wishes to receive a regular letter grade or Credit/Fail).

Note: "Credit" is awarded for work of "C-" quality or better. "F" is given for work below the quality level of "C-."

Can I take a Jan Term class to count toward my major?
You may take a course in your major during Jan Term. It is up to the discretion of the department or program head as to whether or not a course may count toward major requirements.

Back to top

Are regular semester courses offered during Jan Term?
Except for the EPE activities and the Basic Algebra, regular semester courses are not offered during the Jan Term, and Jan Term courses cannot be used to satisfy basic liberal arts requirements, except for the activity EPE courses. All credits taken in the Jan Term will count toward graduation.

Except for the cases mentioned above, you may carry only one full course (two credits) during a Jan Term. All courses carry two credits unless otherwise noted.

While taking a Jan Term course for two credits, you may also complete a non-credit course, such as Basic Algebra mentioned above, music lessons, or physical education activities.

Back to top

Can I repeat a Jan Term Course for additional credit?
You may take any given Jan Term course only once for credit. This stipulation does not apply to internships/independent studies.

If you repeat and pass a Jan Term course you previously failed, you will gain hours toward graduation, you will receive the quality points, if appropriate, for the new grade, and the original failing grade will no longer be used to determine your grade point average. If you repeat a Jan Term course you previously passed, you will not gain any new hours towards graduation. However, if your second passing grade is higher than the first, it will be used to determine your grade point average. If it is not higher, then the first grade will continue to be used. In either case, there is no limit to the number of repeats you may take.

Back to top

Can a student from another college take a Jan Term course?
Yes, but students at other colleges will not be able to register for Jan Term classes until students at McDaniel have had a change to register.  Students at other colleges must also pay the regular Jan Term class fees.

Back to top