diff --git a/nextjs/package.json b/nextjs/package.json
index 352683f..e83d66f 100644
--- a/nextjs/package.json
+++ b/nextjs/package.json
@@ -10,20 +10,14 @@
     "test": "vitest"
   },
   "dependencies": {
+    "jsdom": "^25.0.0",
     "next": "^14.2.7",
     "react": "^18",
-    "jsdom": "^25.0.0",
     "react-dom": "^18"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
-    "yaml": "^2.5.0",
-    "axios": "^1.7.5",
-    "marked": "^14.1.2",
     "@monaco-editor/react": "^4.6.0",
     "@tanstack/react-query": "^5.54.1",
-    "isomorphic-dompurify": "^2.15.0",
-    "react-error-boundary": "^4.0.13",
-    "react-hot-toast": "^2.4.1",
     "@tanstack/react-query-devtools": "^5.54.1",
     "@testing-library/dom": "^10.4.0",
     "@testing-library/react": "^16.0.0",
@@ -31,10 +25,16 @@
     "@types/react": "^18",
     "@types/react-dom": "^18",
     "@vitejs/plugin-react": "^4.3.1",
+    "axios": "^1.7.5",
     "eslint-config-next": "^14.2.7",
+    "isomorphic-dompurify": "^2.15.0",
+    "marked": "^14.1.2",
     "postcss": "^8",
+    "react-error-boundary": "^4.0.13",
+    "react-hot-toast": "^2.4.1",
     "tailwindcss": "^3.4.1",
     "typescript": "^5",
-    "vitest": "^2.0.5"
+    "vitest": "^2.0.5",
+    "yaml": "^2.5.0"
   }
 }
diff --git a/nextjs/src/app/course/[courseName]/modules/CreateModule.tsx b/nextjs/src/app/course/[courseName]/modules/CreateModule.tsx
index 1bcb4ec..f738b1d 100644
--- a/nextjs/src/app/course/[courseName]/modules/CreateModule.tsx
+++ b/nextjs/src/app/course/[courseName]/modules/CreateModule.tsx
@@ -1,17 +1,20 @@
+import { Expandable } from "@/components/Expandable";
 import TextInput from "@/components/form/TextInput";
 import { useCreateModuleMutation } from "@/hooks/localCourse/localCourseModuleHooks";
 import React, { useState } from "react";
 
 export default function CreateModule() {
   const createModule = useCreateModuleMutation();
-  const [showForm, setShowForm] = useState(false);
   const [moduleName, setModuleName] = useState("");
   return (
     <>
-      <button onClick={() => setShowForm((v) => !v)}>
-        {showForm ? "Hide Form" : "Create Module"}
-      </button>
-      <div className={"collapsible " + (showForm ? "expand" : "")}>
+      <Expandable
+        ExpandableElement={({ setIsExpanded, isExpanded }) => (
+          <button onClick={() => setIsExpanded((v) => !v)}>
+            {isExpanded ? "Hide Form" : "Create Module"}
+          </button>
+        )}
+      >
         <form
           onSubmit={async (e) => {
             e.preventDefault();
@@ -30,7 +33,7 @@ export default function CreateModule() {
           />
           <button className="mt-auto">Add</button>
         </form>
-      </div>
+      </Expandable>
     </>
   );
 }
diff --git a/nextjs/src/app/course/[courseName]/modules/ModuleList.tsx b/nextjs/src/app/course/[courseName]/modules/ModuleList.tsx
index 2ec9321..f7b7c15 100644
--- a/nextjs/src/app/course/[courseName]/modules/ModuleList.tsx
+++ b/nextjs/src/app/course/[courseName]/modules/ModuleList.tsx
@@ -7,10 +7,12 @@ export default function ModuleList() {
   const { data: moduleNames } = useModuleNamesQuery();
   return (
     <div>
-      <CreateModule />
       {moduleNames.map((m) => (
         <ExpandableModule key={m} moduleName={m} />
       ))}
+      <div className="flex flex-col justify-center">
+        <CreateModule />
+      </div>
       <br />
       <br />
       <br />
diff --git a/nextjs/src/app/course/[courseName]/settings/HolidayConfig.tsx b/nextjs/src/app/course/[courseName]/settings/HolidayConfig.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6219f6b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nextjs/src/app/course/[courseName]/settings/HolidayConfig.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+"use client";
+
+import TextInput from "@/components/form/TextInput";
+import {
+  useLocalCourseSettingsQuery,
+  useUpdateLocalCourseSettingsMutation,
+} from "@/hooks/localCourse/localCoursesHooks";
+import {
+  dateToMarkdownString,
+  getDateFromStringOrThrow,
+} from "@/models/local/timeUtils";
+import { useState } from "react";
+
+const exampleString = `springBreak:
+- 10/12/2024
+- 10/13/2024
+- 10/14/2024
+laborDay:
+- 9/1/2024`;
+
+export default function HolidayConfig() {
+  const { data: settings } = useLocalCourseSettingsQuery();
+  const updateSettings = useUpdateLocalCourseSettingsMutation();
+
+  const [rawText, setRawText] = useState("");
+
+  const parsedText = parseHolidays(rawText);
+
+  return (
+    <div className="flex flex-row gap-3 border w-fit p-3 m-3 rounded-md">
+      <TextInput
+        value={rawText}
+        setValue={setRawText}
+        label={"Holiday Days"}
+        isTextArea={true}
+      />
+      <div>
+        Format your holidays like so:
+        <pre>
+          <code>{exampleString}</code>
+        </pre>
+      </div>
+      <div>
+        {Object.keys(parsedText).map((k) => (
+          <div key={k}>
+            <div>{k}</div>
+            <div>
+              {parsedText[k].map((day) => {
+                const parsedDate = getDateFromStringOrThrow(
+                  day,
+                  "holiday preview display"
+                );
+                return <div key={day}>{dateToMarkdownString(parsedDate)}</div>;
+              })}
+            </div>
+          </div>
+        ))}
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+const parseHolidays = (
+  inputText: string
+): { [holidayName: string]: string[] } => {
+  const holidays: { [holidayName: string]: string[] } = {};
+    
+    const lines = inputText.split("\n").filter(line => line.trim() !== "");
+    let currentHoliday: string | null = null;
+
+    lines.forEach(line => {
+        if (line.includes(":")) {
+            // It's a holiday name
+            const holidayName = line.split(":")[0].trim();
+            currentHoliday = holidayName;
+            holidays[currentHoliday] = [];
+        } else if (currentHoliday && line.startsWith("-")) {
+            // It's a date under the current holiday
+            const date = line.replace("-", "").trim();
+            holidays[currentHoliday].push(date);
+        }
+    });
+
+    return holidays;
+};
diff --git a/nextjs/src/app/course/[courseName]/settings/page.tsx b/nextjs/src/app/course/[courseName]/settings/page.tsx
index a0c9f63..152cac3 100644
--- a/nextjs/src/app/course/[courseName]/settings/page.tsx
+++ b/nextjs/src/app/course/[courseName]/settings/page.tsx
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import DaysOfWeekSettings from "./DaysOfWeekSettings";
 import AssignmentGroupManagement from "./AssignmentGroupManagement";
 import SubmissionDefaults from "./SubmissionDefaults";
 import DefaultFileUploadTypes from "./DefaultFileUploadTypes";
+import HolidayConfig from "./HolidayConfig";
 
 export default function page() {
   return (
@@ -19,6 +20,7 @@ export default function page() {
         <DefaultFileUploadTypes />
         <DefaultDueTime />
         <AssignmentGroupManagement />
+        <HolidayConfig />
         <br />
         <br />
         <br />
diff --git a/nextjs/src/components/form/TextInput.tsx b/nextjs/src/components/form/TextInput.tsx
index ad471bd..d961279 100644
--- a/nextjs/src/components/form/TextInput.tsx
+++ b/nextjs/src/components/form/TextInput.tsx
@@ -5,21 +5,32 @@ export default function TextInput({
   setValue,
   label,
   className,
+  isTextArea = false,
 }: {
   value: string;
   setValue: (newValue: string) => void;
   label: string;
   className?: string;
+  isTextArea?: boolean;
 }) {
   return (
-    <label className={"block " + className}>
+    <label className={"flex flex-col  " + className}>
       {label}
       <br />
-      <input
-        className="bg-slate-800 border border-slate-500 rounded-md w-full px-1"
-        value={value}
-        onChange={(e) => setValue(e.target.value)}
-      />
+      {!isTextArea && (
+        <input
+          className="bg-slate-800 border border-slate-500 rounded-md w-full px-1"
+          value={value}
+          onChange={(e) => setValue(e.target.value)}
+        />
+      )}
+      {isTextArea && (
+        <textarea
+          className="bg-slate-800 border border-slate-500 rounded-md w-full px-1 flex-grow"
+          value={value}
+          onChange={(e) => setValue(e.target.value)}
+        />
+      )}
     </label>
   );
 }
diff --git a/nextjs/src/models/local/localCourse.ts b/nextjs/src/models/local/localCourse.ts
index 74859ab..8cf1c27 100644
--- a/nextjs/src/models/local/localCourse.ts
+++ b/nextjs/src/models/local/localCourse.ts
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@ export interface LocalCourseSettings {
   defaultLockHoursOffset?: number;
   defaultAssignmentSubmissionTypes: AssignmentSubmissionType[];
   defaultFileUploadTypes: string[];
+  holidays: {
+    [key: string]: string[]; // e.g. "spring break": ["datestring", "datestring", "datestring", "datestring"]
+  };
 }
 
 export enum DayOfWeek {
diff --git a/nextjs/src/models/local/quiz/utils/quizQuestionMarkdownUtils.ts b/nextjs/src/models/local/quiz/utils/quizQuestionMarkdownUtils.ts
index 880dcb4..4e482bc 100644
--- a/nextjs/src/models/local/quiz/utils/quizQuestionMarkdownUtils.ts
+++ b/nextjs/src/models/local/quiz/utils/quizQuestionMarkdownUtils.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { LocalQuizQuestion, QuestionType } from "../localQuizQuestion";
 import { LocalQuizQuestionAnswer } from "../localQuizQuestionAnswer";
 import { quizQuestionAnswerMarkdownUtils } from "./quizQuestionAnswerMarkdownUtils";
 
-const _validFirstAnswerDelimiters = ["*a)", "a)", "*)", ")", "[ ]", "[*]", "^"];
+const _validFirstAnswerDelimiters = ["*a)", "a)", "*)", ")", "[ ]", "[]", "[*]", "^"];
 
 const getAnswerStringsWithMultilineSupport = (
   linesWithoutPoints: string[],
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ const getQuestionType = (
 
   if (isMultipleChoice) return QuestionType.MULTIPLE_CHOICE;
 
-  const isMultipleAnswer = ["[ ]", "[*]"].some((prefix) =>
+  const isMultipleAnswer = ["[ ]", "[*]", "[]"].some((prefix) =>
     firstAnswerLine.startsWith(prefix)
   );
   if (isMultipleAnswer) return QuestionType.MULTIPLE_ANSWERS;
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ const getAnswers = (
   );
   return answers;
 };
+
 const getAnswerMarkdown = (
   question: LocalQuizQuestion,
   answer: LocalQuizQuestionAnswer,
diff --git a/nextjs/src/models/local/tests/quizMarkdown/multipleAnswers.test.ts b/nextjs/src/models/local/tests/quizMarkdown/multipleAnswers.test.ts
index 2693b4a..5fd9257 100644
--- a/nextjs/src/models/local/tests/quizMarkdown/multipleAnswers.test.ts
+++ b/nextjs/src/models/local/tests/quizMarkdown/multipleAnswers.test.ts
@@ -78,6 +78,61 @@ Which events are triggered when the user clicks on an input field?
     expect(firstQuestion.answers[3].text).toBe("submit");
   });
 
+  it("can parse question with multiple answers without a space in false answers", () => {
+    const rawMarkdownQuiz = `
+Name: Test Quiz
+ShuffleAnswers: true
+OneQuestionAtATime: false
+DueAt: 08/21/2023 23:59:00
+LockAt: 08/21/2023 23:59:00
+AssignmentGroup: Assignments
+AllowedAttempts: -1
+Description: this is the
+multi line
+description
+---
+Which events are triggered when the user clicks on an input field?
+[*] click
+[] submit
+`;
+
+    const quiz = quizMarkdownUtils.parseMarkdown(rawMarkdownQuiz);
+    const firstQuestion = quiz.questions[0];
+
+    expect(firstQuestion.answers.length).toBe(2);
+    expect(firstQuestion.answers[0].correct).toBe(true);
+    expect(firstQuestion.answers[1].correct).toBe(false);
+  });  
+  
+  it("can parse question with multiple answers without a space in false answers other example", () => {
+    const rawMarkdownQuiz = `
+Name: Test Quiz
+ShuffleAnswers: true
+OneQuestionAtATime: false
+DueAt: 08/21/2023 23:59:00
+LockAt: 08/21/2023 23:59:00
+AssignmentGroup: Assignments
+AllowedAttempts: -1
+Description: this is the
+multi line
+description
+---
+Points: 1
+Which tool(s) will let you: create a database migration or reverse-engineer an existing database
+[] swagger
+[] a .http file
+[*] dotnet ef command line interface
+`;
+
+    const quiz = quizMarkdownUtils.parseMarkdown(rawMarkdownQuiz);
+    const firstQuestion = quiz.questions[0];
+
+    expect(firstQuestion.answers.length).toBe(3);
+    expect(firstQuestion.answers[0].correct).toBe(false);
+    expect(firstQuestion.answers[1].correct).toBe(false);
+    expect(firstQuestion.answers[2].correct).toBe(true);
+  });
+
   it("can use braces in answer for multiple answer", () => {
     const rawMarkdownQuestion = `
 Which events are triggered when the user clicks on an input field?
diff --git a/nextjs/src/services/fileStorage/settingsFileStorageService.ts b/nextjs/src/services/fileStorage/settingsFileStorageService.ts
index e9dba98..1701bbc 100644
--- a/nextjs/src/services/fileStorage/settingsFileStorageService.ts
+++ b/nextjs/src/services/fileStorage/settingsFileStorageService.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,13 @@ const getCourseSettings = async (
   const settingsFromFile =
     localCourseYamlUtils.parseSettingYaml(settingsString);
 
+  const settings: LocalCourseSettings = populateDefaultValues(settingsFromFile);
+
+  const folderName = path.basename(courseDirectory);
+  return { ...settings, name: folderName };
+};
+
+const populateDefaultValues = (settingsFromFile: LocalCourseSettings) => {
   const defaultSubmissionType = [
     AssignmentSubmissionType.ONLINE_TEXT_ENTRY,
     AssignmentSubmissionType.ONLINE_UPLOAD,
@@ -40,10 +47,9 @@ const getCourseSettings = async (
       defaultSubmissionType,
     defaultFileUploadTypes:
       settingsFromFile.defaultFileUploadTypes || defaultFileUploadTypes,
+    holidays: !!settingsFromFile.holidays ? settingsFromFile.holidays : {},
   };
-
-  const folderName = path.basename(courseDirectory);
-  return { ...settings, name: folderName };
+  return settings;
 };
 
 export const settingsFileStorageService = {
diff --git a/nextjs/src/services/tests/fileStorage.test.ts b/nextjs/src/services/tests/fileStorage.test.ts
index 8933b42..0ea2731 100644
--- a/nextjs/src/services/tests/fileStorage.test.ts
+++ b/nextjs/src/services/tests/fileStorage.test.ts
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@ describe("FileStorageTests", () => {
       endDate: "07/09/2024 23:59:00",
       defaultDueTime: { hour: 1, minute: 59 },
       canvasId: 0,
+      defaultAssignmentSubmissionTypes: [],
+      defaultFileUploadTypes: [],
+      holidays: {}
     };
 
     await fileStorageService.settings.updateCourseSettings(name, settings);