The close of the spring semester means the start of summer -- summer classes, that is. Cornell offers hundreds of courses throughout the summer, both on campus and off, in Ithaca and around the world, in classrooms and via distance methods. Admissions is open; most courses and programs are scheduled between May 16 and Aug. 6, and run from a day or two to nine weeks in length.

The academic fare available during this beautiful time of year at the university runs the gamut, and, unlike most universities, the majority of courses are taught by Cornell's world-class faculty. "And, classes are small enough that you actually get to know your professors," says Charles W. Jermy Jr., associate dean of the School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions, and director of Cornell University Summer Session.

Among the several dozen summer-only courses are a Field Course in Iroquois Archaeology; Islam in America; Severe Weather Phenomena; Poetic Montage; Body, Mind and Health: Perspectives for Future Medical Professionals; Water Skiing; and Introduction to Small-Boat Sailing. Cornell Summer Session also offers more than 50 special and executive education programs, including the Prelaw Program; courses in Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and Nepali; satellite remote sensing; the Institute for Computer Policy and Law; the Administrative Management Institute; and even one for teachers of writing.

In addition, many fall and spring courses are also offered in the summer, among them, Color Photography; An Introduction to the Universe; Psychology of Social Computing; The Art of Secret Writing (a math course); Optics, Waves and Particles; and a host of physical education courses from scuba diving, swing dance, hip-hop and boxing to Swedish massage.

For more information, see http://www.sce.cornell.edu.