Academic Calendar 2020-21
The academic calendar has been organized in the following manner:
- While the timing for the fall remains similar to previous years, starting the day following Labor Day (September 8), spring and summer terms will take place earlier than usual. Classes for spring 2021 will first meet on January 11; in the summer term on May 3.
- Each term will offer the optional possibility of immersive courses by being divided into two equal-length sequential blocks. This arrangement of A and B time frames will provide flexibility to faculty as they develop curricula for specific programs and for students as they select coursework, even as most courses are likely to take the more traditional full-term shape.
- The earlier start to the spring term will allow a prompter opening for the summer term, thus assisting students who enroll in summer coursework (including those who concentrate their work during ‘summer A’) to have the ability to participate in internships, summer employment, and other seasonal activities.
- Commencement events will take place following the spring term exam period, as is traditional, but earlier than is common, during the last week of April.
Columbia University academic calendar for fall 2020 term
- Labor Day
- Monday, September 7
- Classes Begin
- Tuesday, September 8
- Exams for Immersive Courses
- Tuesday, October 20-Friday, October 23
- No Classes
- Monday, November 2
- Election Day, University Holiday
- Tuesday, November 3
- No Classes
- Wednesday, November 25-Friday, November 27
- Thanksgiving, University Holiday
- Thursday, November 26
- Last Day of Classes
- Monday, December 14
- Reading and Exam Days
- Tuesday, December 15-Wednesday, December 23
- End of Semester
- Wednesday, December 23
Columbia University academic calendar for spring 2021 term
- Classes Begin
- Monday, January 11
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day, University Holiday
- Monday, January 18
- Exams for Immersive Courses
- Tuesday, February 23-Friday, February 26
- Spring Break
- Monday, March 1-Friday, March 5
- Classes Resume
- Monday, March 8
- Last Day of Classes
- Thursday, April 15
- Reading and Exam Days
- Friday, April 16-Friday, April 23
- Semester Ends
- Monday, April 26
- Commencement Week
- Tuesday, April 27-Friday, April 30
Columbia University academic calendar for summer 2021 term
- Classes Begin
- Monday, May 3
- Memorial Day, University Holiday
- Monday, May 31
- Reading and Exam Days
- Tuesday, June 15-Friday, June 18
- Break
- Monday, June 21-Friday, June 25
- Classes Resume
- Monday, June 28
- Last Day of Classes
- Friday, August 6
- Reading and Exam Days
- Monday, August 9-Monday, August 16
- Semester Ends
- Monday, August 16