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Academic Calendar Guidelines

Temple University applies rules to establish the academic calendar followed by its domestic campuses and to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations. Currently, Temple’s academic calendar includes four terms: fall, spring, summer I, and summer II. Within each term are many parts of term, which contain courses that share a particular date range, such as the 7-week Courses offered during the fall and spring terms.

The basic rules for establishing term dates for an academic year are described below; however, please note that calendar dates may be subject to change. When making any plans or scheduling decisions, please refer to the official calendar rather than these guidelines.

Note: The schools of Dentistry, Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Podiatric Medicine follow unique academic calendars and parts of term used by Temple Japan, Temple Rome, Education Abroad, and some programs may deviate from the main calendar according to their unique requirements. 

General guidelines:

  • A fall or spring term is 16 weeks in length, including 14 weeks of instruction, a week-long break, and a final exam period.
  • Observed holidays or University breaks are noted on the academic calendar.
  • A summer term is at least 6 weeks in length, though the summer I term also contains a 12-week part of term.
  • Final grades are due within 72 hours of the last day of exams or the last day of part of term.
  • The official diploma date is the day following the last day of the term.

Fall:

  • Begins the fourth Monday in August.
  • Contains two 7-week parts of term, the first of which coincides with the first day of the term and second begins on the Tuesday of week 8.
  • The University is closed and no classes are held on Labor Day (first Monday in September) and during the Thanksgiving holiday (fourth Thursday and Friday in November). 
  • A fall break, during which the University is open but no classes are held, occurs on the Monday through Wednesday preceding Thanksgiving.
  • A wellness day, during which the university is open, is scheduled around the midpoint of the semester on a pre-determined Friday in October
  • The final day of instruction falls on the Monday of week 15. A study day is scheduled for the following day. Final exams begin on Wednesday and continue each weekday through the following Tuesday.
  • The fall diploma date is the Wednesday after the last day of exams.

Spring:

  • Begins the first business-day (non-holiday) Monday following the second Saturday in January. If that Monday falls on the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, then the term begins on the Tuesday immediately following the holiday.
  • Contains two 7-week parts of term, the first of which coincides with the first day of the term and second begins on the Tuesday of week 8.
  • No classes are held on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (third Monday in January). 
  • A week-long spring break, during which the University is open but no classes are held, occurs after week 7
  • The final day of instruction falls on the Monday of week 15. A study day is scheduled for the following day. Final exams begin on Wednesday and continue each weekday through the following Tuesday.
  • The spring diploma date is the Wednesday after the last day of exams.
  • University Commencement is held on the Thursday of week 16 (the week final exams conclude).

Summer I:

  • Begins the Monday following the end of the spring term.
  • Consists of 6 weeks of instruction, but also contains two 4-week and one 12-week parts of term. 
  • No classes are held on Memorial Day (last Monday in May) or Independence Day (July 4 or observed federal holiday). 
  • The university is open but may not hold classes on Juneteenth depending on where that day falls on the calendar.
  • The summer I diploma date is the day after the last day of the 6-week courses part of term.

Summer II:

  • Begins the Tuesday following the end of the summer I 6-week part of term.
  • Consists of 6 weeks of instruction, but also contains a 4-week part of term. 
  • No classes are held on Independence Day (July 4 or observed federal holiday).
  • The summer II diploma date is the day after the last day of the 6-week part of term. This is also the diploma date for graduating students enrolled in the summer I 12-week Courses.