diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index bcd8b90..4d994e7 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
-services: mongodb
+services:
+  - mongodb
+  - mysql
+  - postgresql
 
 before_script:
   - "mysql -e 'create database by_star_test;'"
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f3e8cb1..24a7d41 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ See sections below for detailed argument usage of each:
 | `by_month` | Query by month. Allows integer arg, e.g. `11` for November. |
 | `by_calendar_month` | Month as it appears on a calendar; days form previous/following months which are part of the first/last weeks of the given month. |
 | `by_quarter` | 3-month intervals of the year. |
+| `by_semester` | 6-month intervals of the year. |
 | `by_year` | Query by year. Allows integer arg, e.g. `2017`. |
 
 ### Relative Scopes
@@ -544,11 +545,41 @@ Post.by_quarter(2, year: 2012)
 This will return all posts in the 2nd quarter of 2012.
 
 ```ruby
-Post.by_week(Time.local(2012,1,1))
+Post.by_quarter(Time.local(2012,1,1))
 ```
 
 This will return all posts from the first quarter of 2012.
 
+### by_semester
+
+Finds records by 6-month biannual period of year. Semester numbering starts at 1. The two semesters of the year begin on Jan 1 and Jul 1 respectively.
+
+To find records from the current semester:
+
+```ruby
+Post.by_semester
+```
+
+To find records based on a semester, you can pass in a number (representing the semester number) or a time object:
+
+```ruby
+Post.by_semester(1)
+```
+
+This will return all posts in the 1st semester of the current year.
+
+```ruby
+Post.by_semester(2, year: 2012)
+```
+
+This will return all posts in the 2nd semester of 2012.
+
+```ruby
+Post.by_semester(Time.local(2012,1,1))
+```
+
+This will return all posts from the first semester of 2012.
+
 ## Version Support
 
 ByStar is tested against the following versions:
diff --git a/lib/by_star/between.rb b/lib/by_star/between.rb
index 8662151..049df02 100644
--- a/lib/by_star/between.rb
+++ b/lib/by_star/between.rb
@@ -123,6 +123,20 @@ def by_quarter(*args)
       end
     end
 
+    def by_semester(*args)
+      with_by_star_options(*args) do |time, options|
+        date = ByStar::Normalization.semester(time, options)
+
+        first_semester_month = date.month - (5 + date.month) % 6
+        beginning_of_semester = date.beginning_of_month.change(month: first_semester_month)
+
+        last_semester_month = date.month + (12 - date.month) % 6
+        end_of_semester = date.beginning_of_month.change(month: last_semester_month).end_of_month
+
+        between_dates(beginning_of_semester, end_of_semester, options)
+      end
+    end
+
     def by_year(*args)
       with_by_star_options(*args) do |time, options|
         date = ByStar::Normalization.year(time, options)
diff --git a/lib/by_star/normalization.rb b/lib/by_star/normalization.rb
index 1632b9b..2f4ee3d 100644
--- a/lib/by_star/normalization.rb
+++ b/lib/by_star/normalization.rb
@@ -68,6 +68,20 @@ def quarter_integer(value, options={})
         time.beginning_of_year + ((value - 1) * 3).months
       end
 
+      def semester(value, options={})
+        value = try_string_to_int(value)
+        case value
+          when Integer then semester_integer(value, options)
+          else date(value)
+        end
+      end
+
+      def semester_integer(value, options={})
+        raise ParseError, 'Semester number must be between 1 and 2' unless value.in?(1..2)
+        time = Time.zone.local(options[:year] || Time.zone.now.year)
+        time.beginning_of_year + ((value - 1) * 6).months
+      end
+
       def month(value, options={})
         value = try_string_to_int(value)
         case value
diff --git a/spec/integration/active_record/active_record_spec.rb b/spec/integration/active_record/active_record_spec.rb
index 907ac8c..ccdd9a7 100644
--- a/spec/integration/active_record/active_record_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/integration/active_record/active_record_spec.rb
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
   it_behaves_like 'by month'
   it_behaves_like 'by calendar month'
   it_behaves_like 'by quarter'
+  it_behaves_like 'by semester'
   it_behaves_like 'by week'
   it_behaves_like 'by cweek'
   it_behaves_like 'by weekend'
diff --git a/spec/integration/mongoid/mongoid_spec.rb b/spec/integration/mongoid/mongoid_spec.rb
index 9b34fbe..e7e1a02 100644
--- a/spec/integration/mongoid/mongoid_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/integration/mongoid/mongoid_spec.rb
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
   it_behaves_like 'by month'
   it_behaves_like 'by calendar month'
   it_behaves_like 'by quarter'
+  it_behaves_like 'by semester'
   it_behaves_like 'by week'
   it_behaves_like 'by cweek'
   it_behaves_like 'by weekend'
diff --git a/spec/integration/shared/by_semester.rb b/spec/integration/shared/by_semester.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..26587e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/integration/shared/by_semester.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+require 'spec_helper'
+
+shared_examples_for 'by semester' do
+
+  describe '#by_semester' do
+
+    context 'point-in-time' do
+      subject { Post.by_semester(1) }
+      it { expect(subject.count).to eql(12) }
+    end
+
+    context 'timespan' do
+      subject { Event.by_semester(1) }
+      it { expect(subject.count).to eql(14) }
+    end
+
+    context 'timespan strict' do
+      subject { Event.by_semester(Date.parse('2014-02-01'), strict: true) }
+      it { expect(subject.count).to eql(9) }
+    end
+
+    context 'with :year option' do
+
+      context 'point-in-time' do
+        subject { Post.by_semester(2, year: 2013) }
+        it { expect(subject.count).to eql(10) }
+      end
+
+      context 'timespan' do
+        subject { Event.by_semester(2, year: 2013) }
+        it { expect(subject.count).to eql(13) }
+      end
+
+      context 'timespan strict' do
+        subject { Event.by_semester(2, year: 2013, strict: true) }
+        it { expect(subject.count).to eql(8) }
+      end
+    end
+
+    it 'should raise an error when given an invalid argument' do
+      expect{ Post.by_semester(0) }.to raise_error(ByStar::ParseError, 'Semester number must be between 1 and 2')
+      expect{ Post.by_semester(5) }.to raise_error(ByStar::ParseError, 'Semester number must be between 1 and 2')
+    end
+
+    it 'should be able to use an alternative field' do
+      expect(Event.by_semester(1, field: 'end_time').count).to eq(14)
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/unit/normalization_spec.rb b/spec/unit/normalization_spec.rb
index 9a6ee3b..70072d2 100644
--- a/spec/unit/normalization_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/normalization_spec.rb
@@ -317,6 +317,36 @@
       specify { expect{ ByStar::Normalization.quarter(5) }.to raise_error(ByStar::ParseError, 'Quarter number must be between 1 and 4') }
     end
   end
+  
+  describe '#semester' do
+    subject { ByStar::Normalization.semester(input, options) }
+    it_behaves_like 'date normalization from string'
+    it_behaves_like 'date normalization from time value'
+
+    context 'Integer 1' do
+      let(:input){ 1 }
+      it { expect eq Date.parse('2014-01-01') }
+    end
+
+    context 'Integer 2' do
+      let(:input){ 2 }
+      it { expect eq Date.parse('2014-07-01') }
+    end
+
+    context 'with year option' do
+      let(:options){ { year: 2011 } }
+
+      context 'Integer 2' do
+        let(:input){ 2 }
+        it { expect eq Date.parse('2011-07-01') }
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'out of range' do
+      specify { expect{ ByStar::Normalization.semester(0) }.to raise_error(ByStar::ParseError, 'Semester number must be between 1 and 2') }
+      specify { expect{ ByStar::Normalization.semester(5) }.to raise_error(ByStar::ParseError, 'Semester number must be between 1 and 2') }
+    end
+  end
 
   describe '#year' do
     subject { ByStar::Normalization.year(input, options) }