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Need help getting ahead in your academic pursuits?

Fast-track, Boot Camp-style refresher classes are offered on some CT State campuses to prepare students for taking math and English coursework. These free programs are intensive and meticulously designed to equip you with the fundamental skills and knowledge necessary to prepare for success in future coursework. Whether you’re a seasoned student or just beginning your academic journey, these courses are your gateway to staying ahead of the curve.

In these courses, you will:

  • strengthen foundational skills crucial for advanced coursework
  • enhance critical thinking and problem-solving abilities
  • build a supportive community of peers and mentors
  • gain confidence in your academic journey

What Courses are Covered?

Refresher courses are offered in math and English and are most appropriate for students who have been placed into MAT0988/0900I, MAT0989/0900, ENG0960 or ENG0930.

Classes are offered during the winter and summer terms and are free to CT State students. They are not credit-bearing courses.

Benefits of Taking a Refresher Course

  • Cost-Effective: Refresher courses serve as a cost-effective solution, helping you save both time and money. By honing in on key concepts and skills, you’ll be better prepared to tackle more advanced coursework, reducing the need for additional classes.
  • Accelerated Learning: Get ready to fast-track your understanding of basic content skills. Our instructors are committed to condensing essential knowledge into a concise and engaging format, ensuring you absorb the information efficiently.
  • Interactive Approach: Our courses employ an interactive and collaborative approach, fostering a dynamic environment where students actively participate in discussions, group activities, and collaboration to aid in mastering the subject matter.
  • Tailored to Your Needs: We understand that every student is unique. That’s why our free refresher courses are tailored to address the specific needs of a diverse student body, accommodating various learning styles and backgrounds.

Upcoming Programs

Find upcoming courses by choosing from the available campuses above.

Gateway Campus

CT State Gateway offers boot camps in Pre-Algebra, Elementary Algebra and English/Reading Skills. Learn more about each course and upcoming offerings below.

To learn more or to register for a boot camp, contact Kaitlyn Kos at Kaitlyn.Kos@ctstate.edu or through Microsoft Teams. 

Note: Courses are offered either online (LRON) or in-person (TRAD). See more information about each in the "Course Modalities" section at the bottom of this page.

English-Reading Boot Camp

The English Boot Camp for Gateway students wishing to improve their English and/or reading skills. This course will emphasize basic sentence skills, grammar, mechanics, paragraph writing, and reading comprehension. 

This course is for students who place into ENG0960 or ENG 0930, or any student whose reading and writing skills need reinforcement in preparation for the rigor of college reading and writing and are motivated, hard-working, and able to commit to the program.

To learn more or to register for an upcoming session, contact Kaitlyn Kos at Kaitlyn.Kos@ctstate.edu or through Microsoft Teams. 

Summer 2025 Course Offerings

Session 1
(July 7-25)

CRN: 80252
Days: Monday-Friday
Times:
 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Course Modality: TRAD (Room S207)

CRN: 80251
Days: Monday-Friday
Times: 5-8 p.m.
Course Modality: LRON

Session 3
(July 28-August 15)

CRN: 80253
Days: Monday-Friday
Times:
 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Course Modality: TRAD (Room S207)

CRN: 80254
Days: Monday-Friday
Times: 5-8 p.m.
Course Modality: LRON

Pre-Algebra Math Boot Camp

The Pre-Algebra Math Boot Camp is for Gateway students wishing to refresh their basic skills. Topics covered will include addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of whole numbers, integers, fractions and decimals. Ratios, proportions and some beginning algebra topics are also included.

This course is for students who place into MATH0900I or any student whose math skills need reinforcement in preparation for the rigor of the college math and are motivated, hard-working and able to commit to the program.

To learn more or to register for an upcoming session, contact Kaitlyn Kos at Kaitlyn.Kos@ctstate.edu or through Microsoft Teams. 

Summer 2025 Course Offerings

Session 1
(June 9-27)

CRN: 80256
Days: Monday-Friday
Time:
9 a.m.- 12 p.m.
Course Modality: LRON

CRN: 80267
Days: Monday-Friday
Time:
5:30-8:30 p.m.
Course Modality: LRON

Session 2
(July 7-25)

CRN: 80268
Days: Monday-Friday
Time:
9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Course Modality: LRON

CRN: 80269
Days: Monday-Friday
Time:
9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Course Modality: TRAD (Room N210)

CRN: 80270
Days: Monday-Friday
Time:
5:30-8:30 p.m.
Course Modality: LRON

Session 3
(July 28-August 15)

CRN: 80271
Days: Monday-Friday
Time:
9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Course Modality: LRON

CRN: 80272
Days: Monday-Friday
Time:
9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Course Modality: TRAD (Room N210)

CRN: 80273
Days: Monday-Friday
Time:
5:30-8:30 p.m.
Course Modality: LRON

Elementary Algebra Boot Camp

The Elementary Algebra Math Boot Camp is for Gateway students wishing to refresh their Elementary Algebra skills. This course covers topics including properties of real numbers, linear equations and inequalities in one variable, graphing linear equations in two variables, formulating equations of lines in two variables, an introduction to functions, solving systems of linear equations, rules of integral exponents and operations of polynomials.

This course is for students who place into MATH0900 or any student whose math skills need reinforcement in preparation for the rigor of college math and are motivated, hard-working and able to commit to the program.

To learn more or to register for an upcoming session, contact Kaitlyn Kos at Kaitlyn.Kos@ctstate.edu or through Microsoft Teams. 

Summer 2025 Course Offerings

Session 1
(June 9-27)

CRN: 80276
Days: Monday-Friday
Times: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Course Modality: LRON

CRN: 80275
Days: Monday-Friday
Times: 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Course Modality: LRON

Session 2
(July 7-25)

CRN: 80277
Days: Monday-Friday
Times:  9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Course Modality: LRON

CRN: 80278
Days: Monday-Friday
Times:
9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Course Modality:
TRAD (Room N201)

CRN: 80279
Days: Monday-Friday
Times: 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Course Modality: LRON

Session 3
(July 28-August 15)

CRN: 80280
Days: Monday-Friday
Times:
9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Course Modality:
LRON

CRN: 80281
Days: Monday-Friday
Times:
9 a.m.-12 p.m
Course Modality:
TRAD (Room N201)

CRN: 80282
Days: Monday-Friday
Times:
 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Course Modality:
LRON

Course Modalities

These courses are offered in a synchronous manner including live remote online learning (LRON) or traditional on campus (TRAD) modalities. Students should understand that a synchronous Boot Camp will involve a rigid schedule.

Students will be required to attend class meetings – which in most cases will be 3-hour sessions, 5 days a week for 3-weeks. This means if you have a hectic and unpredictable schedule, it is important to select the modality that is most appropriate for you.

Committing to a synchronous Boot Camp requires adhering to set schedule for the duration of the course.

Students interested in the LRON Boot Camp should be aware that online or distance learning will happen in real time. Students and the instructor will interact in a virtual classroom using WebEx or Microsoft Teams technology. This could include video lectures, live chatting, and live streaming lectures.

Housatonic Campus

CAP Summer Programs

June 1—Start of Fall Semester

ONLINE iMath and iEnglish

ONLINE—iMath and iEnglish are online programs with the option to work and get help on campus. After an orientation, you work through an online program with a goal to complete in 4 weeks. You can finish faster or take a little longer if you need. During the program, you can work and get tutoring from home or on campus. CAP English and Math Specialists will support you during your program and meet with you upon completion to discuss course placement.

ON-CAMPUS Math and English

CAP Summer Sessions meet for 3 weeks and provide an in-person learning experience that includes instruction, tutoring, and lab/classroom access. Both in-person attendance and homework will be required. After successful completion of all required assignments, you complete a placement assessment. Programs are taught by a CAP Specialist for English or Math 3 days per week.

  • English Session 1: July 28-August 15
    Monday/Wednesday/Friday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
  • English Session 2: July 28-August 15
    Monday/Wednesday/Friday, 1-4 p.m.
  • Math Session 1: July 21-August 7
    Monday/Wednesday/Thursday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
  • Math Session 2: July 21-August 7
    Monday/Wednesday/Thursday, 5-8 p.m.

You're eligible for these courses if you: 

  • are a new or continuing student and registered for courses at CT State Housatonic
  • are recommended for placement into ANY course beginning with 09. For example, English 0910 or Math 0901.

To register, contact us:

Location: Lafayette Hall Room B152 (ASC)
Email: HC-TutoringCenter@ctstate.edu 
Phone: 203-332-8585

Middlesex Campus

English

Did you place into English 0960, 0930, or 1010/0910? Do you want to sharpen your English skills before taking (or retaking) one of these courses? Take an English Bootcamp on the Middlesex campus!

This FREE two-week non-credit boot camp is designed to improve your reading and writing skills and prepare you for a higher-level English course.

You are eligible if you are a student who:

  • placed into any of the following English courses: 0960, 0930, or 1010/0910
  • needs to repeat your last English course
  • struggles with reading or writing and wants a basic review before the fall semester

This class requires:

  • accessible placement measures (SAT, GPA, self-reported GPA, or an essay challenge score).
  • a CT State student banner ID.
  • at least 75% completion of assigned work. Students who meet the completion policy will have the opportunity to take an exit assessment at the end of the workshop. This assessment will determine a student’s English course placement.

Summer 2025 English Bootcamp

Dates: August 4–15
CRN: 80339
Location: Snow Hall, Room 419 (In-Person)
Days and Times: Monday-Friday, 9 – 11:30 a.m.

To register, contact your academic advisor or Emily DeToro at 860-343-5862 or emily.detoro@ctstate.edu.

Math

Did you place into MAT*0988/0900I OR MAT*0989/0900/ Take a Math Bootcamp on the Middlesex campus!

This free non-credit math fast-track style bootcamp is designed to review and improve your arithmetic and elementary algebra skills, and allow you the chance to possibly move up to a higher-level math course! Classes are held in person on the CTState-Middlesex campus.

You are eligible if you are a student who:

  • Did not place into a college-level math course
  • Did not do well in MAT*0989-I/0989 and need to repeat the course.

This course requires:

  • ALEKS Placement scores on file prior to start of bootcamp
  • An ability to commit the time and effort needed to be successful
  • Completion of minimum number of hours assigned by the ALEKS PPL

Students who meet or exceed the completion policy will be give the opportunity to retake the ALEKS placement on the last day of the bootcamp.

Summer 2025 Math Bootcamp

Dates: August 4–15
CRN: 80341
Location: Snow Hall, Room 406 (In-Person)
Days and Times: Monday-Friday, 12-2:30 p.m.

To register, contact your academic advisor or Kim Riordan at kimberly.riordan@ctstate.edu

Last updated: June 16, 2025 | 2:40 pm