Bates College announced on May 1 that its Short Term program, a three-and-a-half week “minimester” where students take only one course, will begin on May 4 and end on May 27. The college said the program offers over 100 courses spanning topics such as natural resources, business consulting, test preparation, pop culture, and more.
The Short Term allows students to focus deeply on a single subject while engaging with professionals from various fields who serve as visiting instructors. According to Bates College, these practitioner-taught courses are designed to give students practical experience beyond the traditional liberal arts curriculum. Some courses include off-campus fieldwork in locations such as Arizona, Zambia, Hungary, Poland, and Italy.
Among this year’s offerings is “Biological Skills: Field Ecology,” taught by Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology Brecia Despard. The course introduces ecological principles and research methods in coastal marine biomes while teaching data analysis using R programming. Another course titled “Cooking Up French Culture,” led by Professor of French and Francophone Studies Mary T. Rice-DeFosse, explores how French culinary traditions are represented in film and literature.
Other notable classes include “Feminist Political Theory (Taylor’s Version),” which examines Taylor Swift’s cultural impact through the lens of feminist theory; “Lewiston: A History of a Place,” combining classroom learning with site visits around Lewiston; “Maine’s Marine Resources,” focused on marine management systems along Maine’s coast; and “Pit Firing Ceramics: Contemporary Approaches to an Ancient Process of Firing Ceramic Objects.” In addition to academic subjects, professional development is emphasized through practitioner-led workshops such as business consulting with alumni from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business and law school test preparation led by Ben Paris.
Students will also have opportunities for hands-on learning through community-based public health projects under the guidance of Leah Elsmore ’12 or participate in mediation skills training taught by practitioners including Margaret Micolichek and Jamar Williams.
The college reports that these varied offerings aim to equip students with both specialized knowledge in their chosen field and broader skills applicable beyond graduation.
