May Term (formerly JTerm) is a two-week academic program in which students and teachers explore a diversity of innovative topics in great depth. Every day, we will highlight a few moments from May Term in our May Term Minute.
May Term
Taking place near the close of the academic year, May Term (formerly JTerm) is a groundbreaking, interdisciplinary program that allows EA’s Upper School students to experience engaging, rigorous courses in great depth.
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About May Term
During May Term's two-week span, each student enrolls in only one course and learns a subject area through intensive, experiential on- and off-campus study. This may include day trips, guest speakers, hands-on work, and international travel.
May Term offers students the chance to develop and broaden skills, talents, and interests. However, it also gives students the opportunity to bridge between subjects, gain appreciation for a new field, and experience learning in a new way.
Developing New Passions
With more than 30 courses offered across the natural and social sciences, arts, humanities, and service, May Term offers learning experiences that are sure to inspire students of every interest and passion.
May Term's interdisciplinary classes bridge the gap between seemingly different subject areas. Students refine culinary skills through studying chemistry, explore theatre technology through mastering physics, and learn about culture through analyzing economics. Courses are custom-designed by faculty of varying disciplines and backgrounds.
Exploring Beyond the Classroom
In May Term, students learn through experience. From studying Matisse at the Museum of Modern Art, to unpacking financial literacy on Wall Street, to learning about locally produced foods at family farms, students are given the opportunity to immerse themselves in a subject through venturing off campus.
International May Term courses provide students with the opportunity to embark on life-changing learning experiences around the world. Service trips to Jamaica and South Africa help create positive change in economically challenged areas, while educational tours of Florence and the Galapagos enable students to experience history where it happened and explore science up close.
Building Community
May Term is an opportunity for the entire Episcopal Academy community to come together in the spirit of learning. Students present their final projects to their peers in other classes, teachers and students work together on engaging topics, and Middle and Lower School students are routinely invited to participate in interactive May Term lessons.
Episcopal alumni and parents are also integral to the success of May Term. Experts from a diversity of industries act as guest speakers, instructors, or judges, providing students with real-world perspective and inspiring feedback. In 2015, students learned from journalists, CEOs, restauranteurs, scientists, and more.