The Classroom Experience
Yale Summer Session (YSS) is part of Yale College, the undergraduate branch of Yale University. The College’s curriculum is broad and encourages students to take a diverse mix of courses, even as they concentrate their studies in one field by pursuing an academic major. In fact, Yale undergraduates are required to take a wide variety of courses to earn their degrees. At Yale, biologists write poetry, poets conduct anthropological research, and anthropologists study Shakespeare.
YSS's curriculum offers you the same opportunity to take a wide variety of courses. While Yale students typically take five or six courses each semester during the academic year, you will take one or two courses at most during your 5-week YSS session. Whatever classes you choose, you can expect to experience the same hallmarks of a Yale education--small class sizes, leading experts as instructors, and a community of scholars.
[point] YSS shares Yale College’s basic educational principle that an education is “to cultivate a broadly informed, highly disciplined intellect without specifying in advance how that intellect will be used. Such an approach to learning regards college as a phase of exploration, a place for the exercise of curiosity, and an opportunity for the discovery of new interests and abilities.”
In short, an education from Yale College is a liberal arts education, which includes both breadth and depth.
Types of Courses
What can you expect from a Yale Summer Session course? Similar to Yale College courses, YSS courses fall into the following four categories and are taught by Yale faculty.
Seminars
In a seminar, a small group of students meet for an extended amount of time. Seminars center around close reading, critical thinking, and active participation. You are expected to complete assigned readings before class and come prepared to engage in thoughtful dialogue with your instructor and classmates. While the instructor will guide the discussion, you and your classmates play a central role in shaping the conversation. Because of their smaller size and interactive format, seminars often foster strong connections between students and professors, as well as deep engagement with the course material.
Lectures
In a lecture course, students generally meet in a large group several times each week. The instructor delivers the course material in a structured talk, often supported by slides, videos, or other multimedia tools. Lectures may be less interactive than seminars, though you are encouraged to take notes as well as ask or answer questions. Often, you can stay after class or attend office hours to ask additional questions, seek clarification, or explore topics more deeply.
Studio Courses
Studio courses are hands-on, experiential courses typically found in the visual and performing arts. Students learn by doing--practicing techniques and developing creative work through ongoing projects. Instructors provide demonstrations, individual feedback, and group critiques to help you refine your skills and artistic voice. These courses may involve time spent working in the studio both during and outside of class.
Laboratories
In the natural sciences, many courses include an associated laboratory component that gives students hands-on experience with the scientific process. In Yale’s state-of-the-art research facilities, you will conduct experiments, collect and analyze data, and write reports that interpret your findings. Lab sessions reinforce concepts introduced in lectures and provide practical training in scientific methods, tools, and safety procedures.
Course Modality
Yale Summer Session courses are offered in two formats: in-person or online. Each course description indicates the modality so students know whether it will be held in New Haven or delivered remotely.
In-person courses meet at scheduled times in classrooms, laboratories, or studio spaces on Yale's campus. Instructors may organize on-campus field trips to Yale's libraries, museums, and other resources; some courses may also incorporate off-campus excursions in or around New Haven, Connecticut, or beyond.
Online courses include required synchronous sessions, during which you attend live classes via Zoom at scheduled days and times. Some courses may include asynchronous components--such as watching recorded lectures or posting on discussion boards--that you complete on your own schedule. Learn more about the online courses at YSS.
Browse and Select a Course
Browse our course list and find the perfect class for you. We also have a page with tips for selecting a YSS course.
Living on Campus
Learn about the experience of living on campus.