Courses and Academics
All students will take two courses as part of the Jump In program.
1) Major/Gen-Ed Course (3 or 4 credits): Students will be able to choose an online course of interest from a list of introductory and general education requirements. Depending on your major and final course offerings, you may be able to complete an introductory course for your major.
Depending on your major, you will register for either an introductory class in your major or a General Education class. In either case, the class will fulfill a requirement for your program of study. These courses, which will automatically transfer to your academic record, allow you to jump in for an early start to your college career.
These online classes are regularly scheduled, undergraduate courses that are open to Jump In students, as well as other students at various stages of life and education (adult students, non-degree students, returning students).
2) College Success Seminar (1 credit): Jump In students complete a 1-credit College Success Seminar during the summer, which does not fulfill the First-Year Seminar requirement. In the fall, students have the option to enroll in an in-person First-Year Seminar section designed as an extension of the summer experience. This allows students to continue building on the connections, skills, and support developed during Jump In while completing their First-Year Seminar requirement.
The below list shows all available class options for Jump In. Classes will be taught fully online and will run from July 6 to August 14. Course descriptions can be viewed here.
| Course | Credits | Gen Ed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASTRON101 The Solar System | 4 | PS | |
| ANTHRO104 Culture, Society, and People | 4 | SB,DG | Satisfies two gen eds. |
| ANTHRO275 Dragons Around the World | 4 | SB,DG | Satisfies two gen eds. |
| BIO105 Biology of Social Issues | 4 | BS | |
| E&C-ENG122 Intro to Programming for Electrical and Computer Engineering | 4 | N/A | |
| ENGLWRIT112 College Writing | 3 | CW | |
| GEOGRAPH110 Introduction to Climate Science | 4 | PS | |
| NUTRTN130 Nutrition for a Healthy Lifestyle | 4 | BS | |
| PSYCH100 Introductory Psychology | 4 | SB | |
| PHYSICS114 Applications to Speech and Hearing Science | 4 | PS | |
| POLISCI121 World Politics | 4 | SB,DG | Satisfies two gen eds. |
| POLISCI191A Democracy in America: Understanding Our Troubled Times | 4 | SB,DU | Satisfies two gen eds. |
| RESECON262 Environmental Econ | 4 | SB |
When registering for the Jump In program, students will be asked to select their top three class choices. Registration occurs on a space-available basis. If you have any questions about these course offerings, please email [email protected].
Asynchronous Courses
The online gen ed course you enroll in as a Jump In student will be taught in an asynchronous format. This means that you will not be required to log-in for “live” lectures on specific days and times. Instead, you will log in and complete your coursework during the times that work best for your schedule, if the work is completed by the due date. Asynchronous courses allow for more flexibility to decide when and how to complete your work. For that reason, developing skills in time management, organization, and personal accountability will be essential for success in these classes.
If you are new to asynchronous or online learning, please reach out to the Jump In team ([email protected]) to discuss strategies for success in the online space. We are happy to help.
Synchronous Courses
Your College Success Seminar will have synchronous components built into the framework of the course. This means that you will be required to log-in to a virtual class on Zoom during specific days and times during the week. These required synchronous components will allow for developing relationships with your instructors and peers.
Placement Exams
Some courses will require that you have math and writing placement scores completed before you can enroll. If you have chosen one of these courses upon registration, please be sure to complete the exam(s) as soon as possible. If you have not taken the necessary exam(s) within two weeks of completing the registration form, we will enroll you in your second-choice course. Find additional information here.
AP Scores
If you expect to have AP credit transferring to your academic record, please email the Jump In team at @email. We will check your scores and confirm that you are not enrolling in a summer course that you may not need.
Residential Academic Program (RAP)
If you plan to join a RAP in the fall, please verify that the course related to the RAP is not a course you plan to take during Jump In. You can learn more about RAP here: https://www.umass.edu/rap/programs.
First Year Seminar (FYS)
For some majors, the College Success Seminar you enroll in may count as the required First-Year Seminar (FYS) or transfer seminar. Please check with your academic advisor to determine if an FYS is required.
Impact to Your Fall Schedule
If you have already met with your college major academic advisor to enroll in fall classes, you may want to consult with them about your summer course enrollments. In some cases, these summer courses could impact your Fall schedule and require some changes. You can find your advisor's contact information in your Student Center in SPIRE.
Add/Drop and Withdrawal Deadlines
If you decide you are unable to participate in the Jump In program after you have registered and been enrolled, please contact the Jump In team at @email. We can work with you to drop your courses.
The last day to drop an undergraduate course is Friday, July 10. Drops must be submitted in writing to: @email. Dropping means the course will not show on your transcript, and financial charges will be removed.
The last day to withdraw from an undergraduate course is Wednesday, July 29. Withdrawals must be submitted in writing to: @email. Withdrawing means the course will show a grade of “W” on your transcript, and 50% of class charges and the registration fee will remain on your bill.