Published: Sept. 25, 2018 By

Winter Session group in Yellowstone

Winter Session students observe wildlife in Yellowstone National Park. (Credit: Melanie Hill)

CU Boulder’s is once again offering for-credit courses on diverse topics in fascinating locales, from jazz in New Orleans, to horror writing at the Stanley Hotel, to ecology in Yellowstone National Park.

“Winter Session classes alter the learning experience. Students collaborate and complete hands-on coursework alongside top experts while immersed in the environments about which they are learning,” said Dean of Continuing Education Sara Thompson.“We’re thrilled to offer this unique opportunity to our students and the community.”

More about Winter Session
  • ³:Open to current CU Boulder students, visiting students and community members
  • When:December 2018 to January 2019
  • Dz:$2,000 to $5,850 (includes tuition, some food, and other program costs)
  • Deadline to apply:Oct. 31

Learn more

ճWinter Sessioncourses begin in late December 2018 and run through mid-January 2019. The courses are open to enrolled students and members of the public alike and feature online components mixed with field experiences in New Orleans, Yellowstone National Park and more.

Offerings include:

Ecology and Adaptation: Animals and Humans in the Yellowstone Ecosystem

Taught by CU Boulder Professor Joanna Lambert, of Integrative Biological Anthropology and Environmental Studies, this course focuses on the large-bodied mammals that are readily observed during winter, especially carnivores and ungulates (wolves, coyotes, red fox, pronghorn antelope, bison, and elk) as well as the realities of animal-human coexistence in the 21st century.

Taught in collaboration with—the educational institute of Yellowstone National Park—this intensive learning experience includes several weeks of online interaction and two weeks in the field, living in the famous Lamar Buffalo Ranch.

Music in American Culture: Jazz in New Orleans

new orleans winter session

Young musicians perform on the streets of New Orleans.

CU Boulder Professor of Jazz Studies, John Davis, teaches the history of jazz music in New Orleans from 1900, highlighting the people, places and events of New Orleans that shaped the development of jazz. Students develop an appreciation for the many cultures and factors that helped to shape the city of New Orleans and the music that has been such an integral part of its identity.

“Being in the city and actually standing in the same locations where jazz masters got their start adds a depth of understanding that simply isn’t possible in a classroom,” Davis said. “To hear the authentic music being played by local musicians in the same halls that became famous for jazz, visit the locations where significant developments took place and hear directly from guest speakers who grew up with and continue to play New Orleans jazz will make this course an experience to remember.”

Advanced Horror Fiction Writing at the Stanley Hotel

Acclaimed horror writer Stephen Graham Jones, a CU Boulder English professor and author of 23 published books, leads students through writing workshops and discussions on building suspense, scaring readers, and incorporating gore, disgust and revulsion into their plots. The course is designed for experienced writers who want to hone their craft in the horror genre. Enrollment is open to current CU Boulder students, visiting students and community members.

“The course includes both reading and writing, but we'll start with the reading and address what's scary, why is it scary and how is it scary,” said Jones. “Once we've got a handle on that, the class will start trying to scare each other on the page.”

Mountain Meteorology Lab Experience at the CU Boulder SEEC Lab

Taught by CU Boulder Professor Katja Friedrich of Atmospheic and Oceanic Sciences, this course provides a broad overview of mountain weather and climate. Class discussions and coursework address topics including: What causes Rocky Mountain snow to be "the greatest snow on Earth,” how to determine the best places for paragliding and windsurfing, can clouds be used to estimate winds and stability over nearby mountain peaks, and climate effects on snowpack and water availability in babyֱapp and the entire western United States. In addition to online coursework, students gain hands-on lab and data analysis experience in the CU Boulder SEEC Lab.