College Credit Courses

In the program's college credit study option, more than 300 Northwestern courses in virtually every academic discipline are open to you. Imagine immersing yourself in Arabic, Chinese, or Italian - and learning what filmmaker Federico Fellini meant when he said that "a different language is a different vision of life." You might find yourself discussing the science of climate change, analyzing the psychology of personality or researching the principles of genetics and evolution. You can explore a future major in chemistry or history or experiment with something you may not have tried before, like political science or philosophy.

Courses are flexibly scheduled, ranging from three-week intensive courses in science and languages, and four to eight weeks for most other offerings. Intensive three-week courses meet every day for about three hours (plus lab time), while six- to eight-week courses meet once or twice per week for a few hours. When taken as a three-course sequence, three-week intensive courses allow you to earn a full year of credit in biology, chemistry, physics or a foreign language in just one summer. Summer courses are offered during both day and evening. While most classes meet on the Evanston campus, some classes are held on the Chicago campus to meet the needs of all students. Most College Prep students enroll in one or two six- or eight-week courses, or in one of the intensive three-course sequences (in which students can register for one, two, or all three courses in the sequence).

As a College Prep student in the credit study option, you take the same undergraduate courses as other Northwestern and visiting university students during the summer. The course credit you will earn in the College Prep Program can be transferred to undergraduate programs at many other universities. At Northwestern, each course is worth four quarter hours of credit. Your grades will be available on an official Northwestern transcript - a strong beginning to your academic career.

Please refer to College Prep Course List for 2009 below. Course listings for 2010 will be posted shortly. Course list is subject to change without notice.

Students accepted to the College Preparation Program should return their materials as early as possible to ensure the best chance of enrollment in the courses of their choice. Registration during Summer Session is open enrollment and spaces cannot be held for students in any of the classes listed below. You must receive permission from the Summer Session director to enroll three-week intensive courses. Also, students may be able to enroll in 300-level courses, subject to prerequisites and permission.

Selected 300-level courses will be opened to College Prep students following instructor approval, and will be posted in mid March.