Every spring, UC Davis Summer Sessions announces its summer course offerings in March, allowing students two months to review and plan to enroll when registration opens in late April. For many students, taking part in UC Davis’s so-called fourth quarter is a great way to reduce the number of classes they need to take during the rest of the year or to spread out some of the more rigorous courses and lab sessions their major requires them to complete.

With over 700 courses offered on campus, taking classes during the summer is a smart way to accelerate students’ time to obtain a degree. Two six-week sessions, running June 24 through Aug. 2 and Aug. 5 through Sept. 13. Special Session classes are offered outside the typical 6-week terms of Summer Sessions 1 and 2 and vary in length.

Each of the four undergraduate colleges offers multiple courses. The Graduate School of Management and the School of Education offers classes that can help students complete a minor.

“Summer session courses allow students to shorten time to degree or explore new subjects outside their major courses,” said Omega Lee, the Summer Sessions executive director.

Currently enrolled UC Davis students do not need to apply and can register for classes through Schedule Builder starting in April. The Office of the University Registrar emails Pass Times in mid-April and begins enrollment by April 22.

Students who qualified for financial aid during the regular academic year, may also qualify for aid in the summer. Review the Summer Sessions Fees and Aid page for more detailed information.

Summer Sessions welcomes students from other UC campuses and universities, the general public and newly admitted UC Davis students. The application is open on the Summer Sessions website and registration begins April 29. Application processing time is typically two to three days and handled by the Office of the University Registrar. 

“Watch for the Summer Sessions team around campus this spring,” Lee said. “We have fun tabling events planned and love to meet with students. We plan to provide more details about unique courses, new courses and more for summer 2024.”