Interim has been a beloved Wofford College institution since 1968. In 2024, students continued to explore topics of interest, engage with global and local communities and develop experiences and knowledge related to their professional interests.
Living history
Egypt: Temples, Tombs and Ancient Egyptian Religion gave students a look at life during a time when the pyramids were under construction. Dr. Jim Neighbors and Dr. Jessica Tomkins taught the course.
Build an affordable house
Students in Dr. Bill DeMars’ Interim helped build three houses with Habitat for Humanity. The homes are all located within a mile of the campus. In addition, students learned about the homes’ environmental and social footprint.
Elegance of dance
Students in Dr. Vicki Gilbert’s Interim discovered the history, culture and evolution of ballroom dancing, including an exploration of the social norms, identities and patterns of migration involved. Students learned the waltz, foxtrot, tango, rumba, swing and shag.
New perspective
Daniel Brasington ’25 shared his perspective on his month in Copenhagen, Denmark. His first experience out of the country, he discovered new friends and the concept of hygge, a word that means a feeling of contentment and a quality of coziness that’s a part of the Danish way of life.
Clinical internships in medicine
Wofford graduates, such as Dr. Grant Warren ’95, were among the medical mentors who allowed students to spend the month exploring a career in medicine. Students rotated between hospitals, clinics and private practices on their way to the 100 shadowing hours required by the course. Instructors and advisors were Dr. Stefanie Baker and Dr. Natalie Spivey.
Solid grounds
Dr. Aaron Harp and Dr. Dane Hilton brought the wide and varied world of coffee — from growing, culture and harvesting to roasting, brewing and appreciating — to students. The class also learned about popular coffee-growing regions.
The Christians
The Christians offered the same student-led edgy staging and provocative production that marks Pulp Theatre Interim productions. Dr. Mark Ferguson ’94 and Colleen Ballance served as advisors and mentors during the month.
Get out!
Students learned about land conservation in the Southeastern United States, public land use policies and the environmental impacts of outdoor recreation activities while exploring the great outdoors with Dr. Patrick Stanton and Dr. Ben Cartwright.
Stories of Spartanburg
Students used field research and the ethnographic method to approach learning in Dr. Phillip Dorroll’s Interim course. The experience involved spending time in the community conducting interviews and collecting stories about the community’s culture, literature, music and history.
Learning to swim
In addition to learning to swim, students in the Interim taught by Dr. Kimberly Rostan and Dr. Grace Schwartz learned about the social history of swimming in America, including how segregation and integration have impacted pool access to the present day.