Professor Stephanie Coster working with Emily Allen ’24 and Anna Stribling ’24 on a biomonitoring project in a stream during a J-Term biology trip to Belize

January Term

Explore

Affectionately called “J-Term” on campus, January term is our 20-day mini-mester between fall and spring semester. This abbreviated semester is the perfect size for students to immerse themselves in an experience.

It’s a time when students commonly travel abroad, complete an internship, or take an intensive study course. And it’s included in your tuition!

RMC biology students lined up on the stairs of ruins during a J-Term travel course in Belize

J-Term is a great chance to explore the world by studying abroad. RMC students travel across the globe from Belize to Australia, from Japan to Sicily, and everywhere in between! These travel courses offer a taste of global cultures while exploring in-depth subjects like the Chemistry of Winemaking or Warfare in Antiquity.

study abroad

Internships, for pay or credit, offer students the opportunity to get hands-on experience in the professional field of their choice. J-Term is the perfect time to connect knowledge from the classroom to your future goals.

internships
A man standing in front of a cat store.
A student participates in a virtual reality experience in the Makerspace area of the McGraw-Page Library, as part of a course on Dr. Donelle Boose’s course on oral history.

One class, every day, for 20 days. Many students use their J-term to go all in on a single class on campus in Ashland. It might be a course on a topic you are really excited about, or – let’s be real – a tough class where time to really focus will help you succeed.

from pickleball to psychobiology

buzzworthy Some special January experiences

Academics Criminology Sociology and Anthropology

Netherlands Day by Day: A January Term I’ll Never Forget

Emma Skelton ’26 details her experience taking the “Human Rights: Culture and Conflict” travel course in the Netherlands.

Five people stand on a bridge over a canal in a city, with historic buildings and a clear blue sky in the background.
Academics Chemistry English

Intensive Focus and Unique Coursework Highlight January Term in the Classroom

Courses range from major requirements to unique and interdisciplinary classes, many taught exclusively during J-Term.

An instructor addresses students seated at desks with open laptops in a classroom setting.
Academics Career Preparation Internships

Community Connection: A J-Term Internship with Hanover and King William Habitat for Humanity

Meredith Gray ’26 took on a range of responsibilities, from drafting a policy memo to maintaining social media accounts.

Two people sit in an office having a conversation; one is at a desk with a computer and calendars on the wall behind them.