Study Away

Mountain Term

The Inaugural Mountain Term Launches this May 2024!

 

Mountain Term Student Policies Document 2023-24

 

Mountain Term is an optional term at Warren Wilson that takes place from mid-May (the Wednesday immediately following commencement) until early June. During this three-and-a-half-week-long term for full-time Warren Wilson students, Warren Wilson faculty and staff will teach highly experiential courses that take place on campus, in the greater Asheville community, or farther afield in domestic locations. Mountain Term will afford students the opportunity to apply their learning beyond the classroom walls in settings as varied as the piggery on the college farm, a local non-profit’s food kitchen in downtown Asheville, faculty-guided scientific research at a local distillery, or in a remote national park in the Alaskan wilderness. Mountain Term is an open book, and the community building and unique experiences it provides will highlight the best of what Warren Wilson has to offer. 

 

For students who have commitments during the school year that keep them on campus (such as athletics or work crew leadership positions), Mountain Term works well as a time to step away from those obligations and focus fully on one academic course. Mountain Term can also be used as a valuable time to catch up on credits if a student has fallen behind, but wishes to graduate on time.

2024 Mountain Term Courses

For full course descriptions, see here. Mountain Term course offerings for 2024 include:

  • ENG 2730 American Women Writers in Context, taught by Paula Garrett (partially on-campus with 8-day travel component in New England)
  • WRI 2010 Serve it Forth: Food Writing in Creative Nonfiction, taught by Alysia Sawchyn (on-campus)
  • ENS 2951: Everybody Lives Downstream: The French Broad and Colorado Rivers, taught by Amy Knisley and Pat Ciccotto (partially on-campus with 10-day travel component to Utah and Colorado)
  • ANT 3400: Archaeological Field School: Freedom & Family at a Historically Black NC Homestead, taught by Scotti Norman (on-campus)

Learn more about each course here!

How to Register/Apply

There are two types of Mountain Term courses: Traveling Mountain Term courses (which include a portion of off-campus travel to another region in the United States) and Local Mountain Term courses (which include many experiential opportunities in the WNC region, but are housed on WWC's campus). 

Apply to a Traveling Mountain Term Course (DEADLINE OCTOBER 25TH)

Traveling Mountain Term courses require a special online application, which is due October 25th. This is to ensure that students are in good standing and are prepared to represent the College responsibly during off campus travel, which demands strong group cohesion and commitment. Please note, there is a minimum GPA requirement of 2.0 to be eligible for a Traveling Mountain Term course, and students must be in good standing across campus. Please budget about 15 minutes to complete the application. 

Apply to ENG 2730: American Women Writers in Context

Apply to ENS 2951: Everybody Lives Downstream

Registering for a Local Mountain Term Course

There is no special process for registering for a Mountain Term course; when a student registers for their spring classes, they will have the option to register for a Mountain Term course as well. Mountain Term courses meet during Term 5 (May 15th through June 7th). Students who register for a Mountain Term course will be allowed to register for up to 20 total credits in the spring (including spring semester + Mountain Term) without an additional charge. This can be a great way to earn additional credits if you are behind and wish to graduate on time!