At Hollins, you’ll hear students and faculty talking about J-Term, January Term, or Short Term. They all mean the same thing: a month set aside for students to engage in one of a variety of activities. Students see January as an interlude between fall and spring semesters, a time to expand their intellectual and geographic horizons. Test drive a career with an internship, take a travel/study course, or sign up for an engaging seminar.

internships galore
Hollins students intern everywhere. From law offices to Capitol Hill. From a local television station to MSNBC. From a doctor’s office to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Internships with Hollins

short term seminars
First-year students choose from an array of seminars. Examples of recent courses:
- “Artificial Intelligence: Science and Speculation”
- “Biology of the Dog”
- “Effective Listening in the Modern World”
- “Fashion in Fantasy, Sci Fi, and Superhero Movies”

Independent Study
Students propose a topic to a faculty member and work independently on a project. Students working on honor theses often use J-Term to do research and writing.