Have plans for Winter Break? Consider enrolling in classes offered through Winter Intersession. 

“Winter Intersession is a great opportunity for students to make the most of their winter break,” says Emelina Logan, Associate Director for Summer and Winter Sessions at Sac State’s College of Continuing Education (CCE).“With most courses online students can take up to 3 units allowing them to stay on track or even get ahead while still enjoying some time off in between the fall and spring semesters. Winter Intersession is also a valuable program for students who may need to catch up.”

Several colleges across the country now offer accelerated courses during the Winter Break, including several other CSU schools. As one of the many benefits is helping students graduate sooner, this option appeals to many students for this reason and more. 

“By offering courses during the winter break, colleges can help students overcome bottlenecks in their schedules and ensure they stay on track for graduation.,” adds Emelina Logan. “This can be particularly beneficial for high-demand courses or for students who need to complete prerequisites before moving on to more advanced classes. Additionally, it can offer students a chance to lighten their regular semester course load or even accelerate their degree progress.

“The winter holiday season can be an extremely stressful time. Running around buying presents and seeing family can be exciting, but on the flip side, it is a lot,” Carmichael Sherwood wrote in a recent article published in Her Campus. “This may persuade you to think taking classes can be way too much. However, I encourage you to give winter classes a chance; it may even be a lifesaver later in your college career.”

Similarly, at the top of the list 7 Benefits of Taking Summer or Winter Courses in College compiled by Niche.com is Ease Your Workload. According to the article, “By taking classes during the winter or summer months, you can ease your course load during the fall and spring. Thinking about double majoring, or minoring? Or joining intense extracurriculars, like college sports, visual arts or student government? By taking summer and winter courses, you can have an easier time balancing your academics and extracurriculars. That way, you make time for the things you WANT to do.”

“A course offered in Winter Intersession is much shorter than regular semester courses, which means they pack a lot of material into a condensed timeframe,” says CCE’s Emelina Logan. “This format can be beneficial for many because it allows students to concentrate fully on a single subject without the distraction of multiple courses at the same time. Overall, Winter Intersession is a strategic way to enhance educational flexibility and support students’ academic journeys.”

Learn more about Winter Intersession here. Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis. It’s recommended to register early.