Early Start Course Options - Indianapolis

Purdue’s Early Start program offers flexible options to fit your needs and lifestyle.

Students can choose the experience that works best for them:

Residential: Live on campus and immerse yourself in the full college experience.
Commuter: Commute if you live nearby and enjoy the flexibility of staying close to home.
Online: Take courses online for added convenience and flexibility.

These choices make Early Start accessible to a wide range of students, allowing you to jumpstart your education while balancing personal preferences and commitments. With these options, you can tailor your summer experience and get ahead before the fall semester begins!

What’s the schedule like? Most on-campus courses will meet daily (Monday-Friday) for 90 minutes. Between classes, study time, and events with new friends, you’ll be actively engaged on campus — and busy. Great practice for the fall semester! Online courses will require meeting various deadlines throughout the module, but students are responsible for their own pace - we will be here if you experience any difficulty.

Residential Courses

Residential classes have been strategically selected to span majors across Purdue University. Students may complete up to nine credit hours during the five-week session if you are participating in the residential program, including:

Two 3-credit courses from the list below (many are part of the University's core curriculum)
- MA 15800 – Precalculus (Quantitative Reasoning)
- PSY 12000 – Elementary Psychology (Behavioral / Social Science)
- SCLA 10200 - Transformative Texts, Critical Thinking and Communication II: Modern World (Oral Communication)
- PHIL 20700 - Ethics for Technology, Engineering, and Design (Science, Technology & Society)

And one of the following courses based on your program:
- GS 12000 - Summer Beginners Seminar I (1 credit). This is a freshman seminar course focused on resource awareness and helping students transition into college.
- ENGR 29600 - Engineering Early Start (3 credits). This course will focus on engineering principles and skills required for success in the first-year coursework.

Online-Only Courses

Students participating in the online-only program may complete up to nine credit hours at any point during the summer in Module 2 and Module 3.

Two to Three 3-credit: See the Early Start 2026 Distance/Online Course Catalog
1-credit GS 12000 Summer Beginners Seminar I
This seminar helps students transition to college by building schedule management skills and learning how to make the most of free time between classes. Students set up and test the apps and tools they’ll use at Purdue, practice staying organized, and develop strategies to manage stress — all in a supportive environment that prepares them for success in the fall semester.

How do students register for courses?

Students will be planning summer and fall courses with the assistance of an academic advisor during a virtual registration appointment this summer. 

NOTE: Below are important websites for determining what college credit you may have earned during high school.

Need help? Contact Think Summer for assistance.