What is the difference between semesters, terms, and sessions?
At UMGC, course schedules use terms and sessions instead of traditional semesters.
- Semesters: Traditional colleges often use 15–16 week semesters. UMGC does not use this model.
- Terms: UMGC divides the year into shorter, flexible terms.
- Undergraduate programs: 3 terms (about 12–20 weeks each).
- Graduate programs: 4 terms, depending on your program.
- Sessions: Each term may have shorter sessions (4–12 weeks). Some sessions overlap to give you more scheduling flexibility.
Tip: Always check the Academic Calendar for important dates and the Schedule of Classes to find available sessions.