Hi everyone! I hope you are doing well, and hanging in there – the end of the semester is so close! In this blog, I’m going to talk about J-term, the short semester during the month of January that I think is pretty unique to Amherst. Please email me at sgoldsmith24@amherst.edu with any questions!
What is J-Term?
J-term (January term) at Amherst College is what we call the month of January during which students are able to take a single intensive class during the month for a full course credit. Participating in J-term is optional – students can take the month off from school if they wish. Personally, I like using J-term as an opportunity to fulfill major requirements because it allows me to knock out a class in only a month, instead of devoting an entire semester.
J-Term During COVID
I’ve only experienced Amherst’s J-term during the pandemic, so I am the most well-versed in how J-term operated in 2021 (and will be operated in 2022). COVID J-term differed from the norm because students were able to fulfill a full class requirement during the term, when in the past, students would typically take “fun” classes just to fill the January time. Last year during January, anyone who opted into a J-term class took it remotely. I took intro Psych, and the class was for 80 minutes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, all over Zoom. To be frank, the process was a little isolating last year (as was all of college), but I am hopeful that this J-term, professors will implement better strategies to facilitate remote learning.
J-term was especially advantageous last year because we were permitted to take a less-than-full course load to help cope with the difficulties of COVID. Although the number of classes needed to graduate was adjusted appropriately (so a J-term class wasn’t necessary), J-term allowed people to take three classes in the fall semester and a fourth class in January, which was appreciated by students.
This year, most J-term classes will again be remote, but I think that a few will be in person. Students have the option to stay on campus during J-term for their class, whereas last year everyone (barring special circumstances) was off-campus.
Typical Activities/Options
A big activity that typically occurs over J-term is ACEMS training. ACEMS is Amherst College’s student-run EMS service, and during the training, students become EMS certified. I’m told that it is an intense few weeks, but because it takes place during J-term, students are able to focus solely on what they are learning instead of juggling it with academic classes.
Some departments facilitate research trips during January, including biology (to Costa Rica) and geology (to Hawaii). Other students stay on campus to play their varsity sports, go on ski trips, or just relax for a month away from home. I think the class-for-course-credit concept in J-term is new to the COVID era, but I hope it sticks around – it takes pressure off committing to a class for an entire semester that you may not enjoy.
Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!