UC Davis will offer about 600 summer courses -- from high-demand science and writing courses to the explorations of personal finance and introductory sculpture -- beginning June 25. And they are open not only to university students but also to the general public and some high school students.

Summer Session I runs from June 25 to Aug. 3, and Summer Session II goes from Aug. 6 to Sept. 14; registration continues through June 29 for Session I and Aug. 10 for Session II.

Offerings also include classes on the presidency, the scientific study of war, and hip hop in urban America, along with instruction in Chinese, Japanese and Spanish.

Mary Wall, director of Summer Sessions at UC Davis, said many students take summer courses to complete a series of major prerequisites that can be tough to get into during the school year.  These include chemistry, biology, statistics and calculus.

Top high school students often take calculus and introductory science courses. To be eligible, students must have completed their junior year and have their school principal or counselor verify that they are capable of handling university work.

Courses and class schedules are posted on the Summer Sessions website.

Last year, more than 14,600 people enrolled in 580 courses.

Fees, based on the 2011-12 academic year, are $271 per unit for UC students and $340 for non-UC students; for each session enrolled, there is an additional campus-based fee of $292, mostly for student services and uses of facilities.

Those other than continuing UC Davis students must submit an application.

Limited financial aid for Summer Sessions is available to UC Davis students who filed a 2011-12 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form; financial aid applications are due June 18 for Summer Session I, and July 30 for Summer Session II.

Applications for on-campus housing for Summer Sessions are due June 15 for Summer Session I and July 27 for Summer Session II.