Online Summer Courses

Summer online courses at Gettysburg are five weeks long, from Monday, May 20, to Friday, June 21.

At this time, Gettysburg College summer courses are available for Gettysburg College rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors only.

You can take one class per summer session at Gettysburg College.

Your grade earned through the summer online course will be on your transcript. A strong summer grade can help you raise your overall GPA.

Gettysburg’s online summer courses are only open to current sophomores, juniors, and seniors at Gettysburg College. If you are a current high school student, you may join us through our summer programs.

Instructor: Aisha Mershani

Introduction to computer-mediated communication technologies (CMC) examining how digital media is used for interpersonal interactions and collective action. Social connections through various new media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and more) are explored to convey the possibilities and limitations of using digital platforms for social interaction. We will draw from various academic disciplines such as cultural studies, communications, and new media studies to critically evaluate the influence of social media on activism, politics, mainstream media, relationships and identity. Students will maintain an online blog throughout the semester and utilize social media during the course to engage with new media content.

Instructor: Vernon W. Cisney

Exploration of the development of major genres of Western literature and thought (from the fall of the Roman Empire to the 18th century), including epic and narrative poetry, drama, the novel, and literary nonfiction. Authors read may include St. Augustine, Dante, Rabelais, Shakespeare, Milton, Voltaire, and others. Through reading, writing, and discussion of complete works, the student is introduced to those humanistic skills and critical methods that have traditionally distinguished the liberally education person. Course not offered every year.

Instructor: Vernon W. Cisney

This course will examine the nature of philosophy (‘the love of wisdom’) through a particular question: what is the meaning of love? Love is arguably one of the most basic, most universal, most natural things that human beings do, and yet it is also one of the most complex and paradoxical; and many of our most basic intuitions about love are irreconcilable. We believe that love should be passionate, and yet that it should transcend bodily desires. We believe that love is the fusion of two incomplete selves, and yet, we also believe that love should be grounded in one’s own emotional and moral strength. We believe in ‘soul mates,’ while also holding that ‘there are a lot of fish in the sea.’ We believe that love makes us stronger, and that ‘love hurts.’ We see it as both a basic biological impulse, and as a reflection of the divine in humanity. In this course we shall examine the nature of this complex phenomenon through the lenses of religious thought, film, and philosophy.

Instructor: Stephanie A. Sellers

Interdisciplinary exploration of the history, cultural meanings, and contemporary practices of team sports and individual athletes of Indigenous nations of the Americas before and after European contact. The course examines the historic disruptions of these practices by European colonization and how Native Americans respond(ed) to those intrusions. Issues of Indigenous sports mascots, colonial narratives of Native peoples in relation to their physicality and identities, the role of sports at Indian boarding schools, the prevalence of Euro-formed historic narratives of Natives in media today, and critical Indigenous actors in the world of sports are discussed.

Instructor: Aisha Mershani

This course will introduce the numerous ways in which Arab youth charted an alternative path towards social and political change in the Middle East through the use of new media and modern technologies. Discussions focus on the challenges Arab youth face in their 21st-century, globalized environments, and on their engagement with their regimes and societies, particularly in the context of the Arab Spring. Arab youth’s artistic and political expressions are discussed as a primary aspect for the transformation in the region. This course will place engagement in new media platforms within the broader context of the Arab media landscape and its history, as well as examine the socially constructed category of “youth" within a regional and historical context. Additionally, contemporary cultural and political events in the Arab world will be frequent sources of discussion. Readings for this course will be drawn from a variety of fields of scholarship, including sociology, anthropology, and media studies, among others.

Instructor: Maheshan Ekanayaka

Introduction to the power and scope of mathematical ideas by investigating several particular topics. Topics vary among sections. Example of topics include basic mathematical modeling, dynamic geometry, puzzles and recreational mathematics, linear programming, game theory, voting power, legislative representation, and cryptology. Course is intended for first year and sophomore students in the arts, humanities, and social sciences who do not plan to take calculus. Students who have received credit for any Mathematics course at Gettysburg College, whether through course completion, transfer credit, or AP credit, may not enroll in Mathematics 103. No prerequisites.

Instructor: Katherine W. Delaney

Introduction to the scientific study of behavior and mental processes, including topics such as cognition, learning, development, personality, social behavior, and psychological disorders. The course emphasizes how psychologists collect, analyze, and apply data to understanding individuals and societal issues.

Instructor: Allison Yurasek

Course will provide an introduction to how biological, psychological, and social factors influences health and illness prevention. The course broadly focuses on health beliefs and behavioral change. Sample topics include stress, nutrition, weight control, exercise, addiction, pain management, psychoimmunology, and healthcare accessibility. Prerequisite: PSYCH 101

Instructor: Divonna Stebick

Education shapes our lives in powerful ways—but access to high-quality learning experiences isn’t distributed equitably. This course explores how different educational systems—urban, rural, private, cyber, and magnet—reflect and reinforce broader social inequities. Through real-world case studies and interdisciplinary research, we’ll examine why gaps in opportunity and achievement persist and how factors like social class, race, gender, and identity shape students' experiences. By investigating the systems behind these disparities, students will develop a deeper understanding of how education impacts communities—and how they can play a role in making it more just.

Instructor: William O'Hara

Survey of technological, sociological, and artistic issues related to games and game music. Students will critically examine notions of play; explore the evolution of video game soundtracks; analyze how music operates in games; explore and critique "music games" such as Guitar Hero; and explore music and sound in game-related cultural phenomena (such as video game soundtrack concerts and tribute bands). The course includes a substantial multimedia component. Offered occasionally.

Instructor: Katherine W. Delaney

A developmental approach to the study of adolescence and emerging adulthood. Theory, methodology, and research are presented in the areas of physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and moral development. This course will discuss research addressing the role of family, peers, schools, and culture in adolescence and emerging adulthood. Prerequisite: Psychology 101. Credit may not be granted for this course and Psychology 229.