FAQs
If you are seeking information about the Semester-A-Trail program, this page answers commonly asked questions.
If I wanted to hike the entirety of the Appalachian Trail, how would I do it in association with this program?
Semester-A-Trail is essentially thu-hiking school. We will teach you necessary skills, provide full long distance hiking hit, and support the first 475 miles of your hike from Springer to Damascus. Our program provides world class preparation and training, setting hikers up for success should they choose to attempt the full length of the trail.
What is included in the SAT tuition?
- Students in the Semester-A-Trail Program complete a first aid course.
- Students engage in immersive skill-building workshops and training.
- A complete hiking kit is provided that includes top-of-the-line backpacking gear and footwear.
- An on-trail hiking budget is provided.
- Program staff provides on-trail support for hikers.
- While on campus, students enjoy the University’s outdoor program facilities and activities.
How do the academic courses work in conjunction with the hike?
- Condensed courses with a seven-week course schedule. These courses are100% completed by the departure for the trail experience.
- Project-based courses are begun while students are on campus before the hike and then completed post-hike. Students receive a grade of “In Progress” until final work is completed.
*The academic theme for the Semester-A-Trail is Appalachia. There are three common courses that all SAT participants take: ENGL 328 Nature Writing (3 credits, Project-based), CIVN 350: Stories of Place, Memory, and Justice(3 credits; 7 weeks), and CFOS 301: Long Distance Hiking (3 Credits; 7 week).
- Transfer students have several course options to choose from in addition to the common courses.
- It is possible that courses will fit into the requirements for a transfer student’s major program, but it’s more common that the courses fulfill the requirements for general education courses.
Can I transfer to Emory & Henry from another institution to be a part of this program for one semester?
Yes, students may transfer to Emory & Henry to participate in the SAT. The transfer students are able to complete an array of courses that will transfer back to the student’s institution of origin. Many SAT participants are transfer students.
Do I need to be physically fit to participate in this program?
Long distance hiking is physically demanding, so physical fitness is an important consideration in preparing for the hiking experience. The minimum fitness standard is to be able to jog three miles in 40 minutes or less.
Do I need to have backpacking or backcountry experience?
Backpacking and backcountry experience is recommended. Long distance backpacking is uniquely different from most backpacking experiences, and this program is a developmental program that prepares participants for the journey.
When is the application submission period?
March 1, 2025 to August 1, 2025. Due to the limited number of participant slots available to this program, it is important for applicants to submit applications sooner rather than later.
When should I expect to hear back about my application?
The application process is multi-phased, and applicants should expect to hear back within a month of their initial application submission.
Do I also need to apply to Emory & Henry?
Once SAT students have gone through the first few steps of the SAT application process, the Outdoor Program Staff will refer them to Admissions, where they will go through an abbreviated application process as a special/visiting student. Outdoor Program Staff will guide applicants through this phase of the application.
Where will I live?
SAT students will live in E&H campus housing. SAT students will all live in the same building.
How long will I be able to live there?
Housing through E&H is available from the beginning of the semester to the end of the semester. Students will have access to their living space until the end of the semester, regardless of when they embark on the trail. This provides a resource for hikers if they need a break from the trail.
Is this program for first year students?
No. Due to the unique nature of the Semester-A-Trail experience, applicants should have at least a year of college experience.
Are students not in a college or university eligible for the Semester-A-Trail program?
No, this program is exclusively for matriculated students enrolled in a four year undergraduate institution.
Are graduate students eligible for the SAT program?
Currently, we are not accepting any students other than undergraduate students.
Is the Semester-A-Trail a GAP year program?
Did you not find the answer you were looking for? Send an email to outdoorprogram@emoryhenry.edu.
This College Will Give You Class Credit for Hiking the Appalachian Trail
I f sitting on a chair for four years to earn a college degree makes you antsy, know that there are options out there to get you out of the classroom and moving. Emory & Henry College in Virginia is offering any college students around the world the chance to earn college credit while hiking the famous Appalachian Trail. Stretching 2,190 miles through 14 states, hiking the trail is no easy feat, but that’s exactly what makes conquering it worthy of college credit.
The initiative is part of the college’s outdoor program called “Semester-A-Trail.” Students who enroll complete a wilderness first aid course, as well as other outdoors training with Emory & Henry College before they set off on the trail. They are provided with backpacking gear, footwear, and an on-trail hiking budget.
You don’t have to be an outdoors student to participate, however; all you need is an academic goal that will be achieved thanks to the hike. For example, Sadie Burton, a creative communications major at Emory & Henry, took on the challenge with the goal to film a documentary and put together a photography art show. She hiked 400 miles of the trail.
And don’t worry — even if you’re not currently a student at Emory & Henry College, you’re welcome to transfer there for a semester while earning your trail credits. Tilghman Moyer, a transfer phenology student from Temple University, completed the thru-hike in five months and studied plant and animal life cycles along the way in collaboration with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.
To learn more about the program, check out Emory & Henry’s website and watch the video below.
https://www.emoryhenry.edu/academics/outdoor-studies/semester-atrail/faqs/https://matadornetwork.com/read/college-credit-hiking-appalachian-trail/
