Summer Term
This summer, Mary Baldwin is proud to offer a selection of four exciting in-person classes to students over the Summer Study Term. This seven-week term, running from May 21 to July 5, features classes across Mary Baldwin’s colleges. Housing is available in Kable Hall for enrolled students.
Register for in-seat summer courses on MyMBU.
There, you’ll also find the complete summer listing of online classes.
| Cost | Tuition | Housing in double | Package Price |
| 6 credit hours | $2,760 | $675 | $3,435 |
| 3 credit hours | $1,380 | $675 | $2,055 |
Questions about financial aid? Email us at finaid@marybaldwin.edu
Course descriptions:
CE 277: Senses of Place (C )
In this course, we will become acquainted with the Staunton/Augusta County/Waynesboro (SAW) region via intentional engagement with community organizations and representatives. The course will begin with an exploration of community structures and the dual concepts of feeling “belonging” and being a “stranger” in order to provide a conceptual and theoretical background to understanding our place in a “place.” Then, through engagement with a curated set of community partners, we will explore some of the histories and elements that shape local identities here in the SAW region. Across this series of engaged lectures and site visits, students will delve into the socio-economic, cultural, and environmental factors that influence SAW community dynamics, and gain insights into the challenges and opportunities present in the region. Using a justice lens, we will utilize critical reflection and writing to ground these community experiences in a justice framework, and consider practical engagement strategies that could address community needs. The course will also provide a platform for students to interact with local leaders, activists, and community members, fostering a deeper understanding of the issues faced by different populations. Tentative community partners/locations we will visit include: Project Grows, Shenandoah LGBTQ Center, Shenandoah National Park, Waynesboro Educational Farm, River City Bread Basket, Valley Community Services Board, Building Bridges, and various locations throughout downtown Staunton.
- Instructors: Dr. Andrew Raridon and Dr. Paige Reed
- Schedule: Mondays and Wednesdays, 9–noon
PHYS/CHEM 100: Exploring the Physical World (N)
This is a course for students who like to learn by doing, emphasizing hands-on activities that link core chemistry and physics principles to the physical world. The objectives of the course are to give an appreciation of the process and content of physical science, and to provide experience in learning by the inquiry method.
- Instructor: Connor Koellner
- Schedule: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 9–11:00 a.m.
COMM 100: Public Speaking (O)
This course covers the theory and practice of public speaking in a variety of professional and social contexts, focusing on how presentations can transform speakers and audiences by creating an environment for the civil exchange of ideas, experiences, and opinions.
- Instructors: Dr. Bruce Dorries and Nancy Anderson
- Schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1–4 p.m.
THEA 101: Plays in Performance (AW)
This course gives student skills to analyze plays in performance in a “hybrid” format: students engage with plays through in-seat attendance at performances and virtual attendance at “live” theatre. Both regional and global, this course asks students to engage in performance analytics across cultures, chronologies, modes, and mediums.
- Instructor: Andrew Knight
- Schedule: Mondays and Wednesdays, 2–4:30 p.m., plus performance viewing on Thursdays
Room and Board
Students can reserve a spot in a double room in Kable Hall (which is air-conditioned and conveniently located beside the Deming Fine Arts Building) for $675. While food is not included in this housing cost, Hunt Dining Hall will remain open during the summer and meals will be available a la carte or on a weekly dining plan.
Summer in Staunton
Summer is an exciting time in Staunton, Virginia and a beautiful time of year to spend in the Shenandoah Valley. At Mary Baldwin, the Heifetz International Music Festival and the American Shakespeare Center’s Theatre Camp are housed on campus, and many of their performances take place on campus.
Aside from the chances for artistic enrichment on campus, downtown Staunton comes alive with the annual dine-out downtown event, opening Beverley Street to pedestrian traffic and outdoor dining among the city’s historic buildings.
If it’s adventure you’re after, there’s no better time or place to hike, paddle, or explore than summer in the valley.
