What is Winter Term?
January 21, 2025 | Natalie Pond
Winter break here at Miami University is technically six weeks, but we have a short (three-week) term in January called J-Term. During this time, students have many opportunities to study abroad or away, participate in micro-internships, take classes, and more. Here’s how many Miami students take advantage of our three-week J-Term.
Micro-Internships
A micro-internship is exactly what it sounds like – a short internship. Generally, they are measured in hours and can be anywhere from five to 40 hours. Micro-internships can be great for networking, short-term experience, and extra income.
Universities, including Miami, have resources to help students find micro-internships – Miami has a website where you can create a profile so it will only show you options that fit your preferences.
Study Abroad
Did you know that Miami University has a campus in Luxembourg? This is just one of the study abroad experiences that many of our students can take advantage of during Winter Term. Miami students have over 20 options to study abroad over J-Term.
Classes
Miami also offers accelerated courses over J-Term, and students can complete up to six credit hours in three weeks (courses that usually take 15 weeks).
Many of the courses are online asynchronous (100% online with no live meeting times/days) or online synchronous (100% online with live, virtual meeting times). There also are in-person, on-campus courses during J-Term.
Some of the reasons Miami students take courses over J-Term:
- To explore a new subject.
- They enjoy learning in an accelerated format.
- They want to graduate early or complete an academic requirement when they aren’t as busy.
- They want to add a minor or double major and need to complete extra courses.
- They want to take the course when they can give 100% of their attention to it.
