STEM Lectures and Study Sections
This class provides a series of seminars from experts in selected STEM fields. Each seminar offers an introduction to a particular STEM topic and provides a glimpse into original research in that field. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions about research in that area and gain some insight into career pathways in the field. An emphasis is placed on cross-disciplinary topics that combine research from multiple fields.
The seminars are accompanied and supported by STEM Sections that help the students understand the content of the seminars and learn skills needed to succeed in STEM courses and majors in college. During STEM sections students will further explore a particular topic area by engaging in a hands-on project in small groups. Through these labs, students will learn the scientific process, how to collect and analyze data, modify experimental designs based on their data, and summarize and present their findings. Students will also pose an independent research question related to the focus area of their section. They will then learn how to read and interpret scientific literature, identify misinformation in online resources, and develop an infographic to present at the end of the summer.
College Prep
UW MSUB College Prep equips students with the skills and knowledge necessary to be admitted to and succeed in college. The course focuses on what students can be doing in high school to prepare for college, be competitive when applying for college, and eventually thrive in a college environment.
• Prepare for college: This course will help students understand how their learning styles and habits can affect their long term success, the ways that colleges look at their high school records, how to plan ahead for admissions and college majors, and how to search for college and scholarship options.
• Apply for college: As students consider their post-secondary options, this course will expose them to more resources that can assist them in their search. Students will learn specifics about how colleges evaluate their applications, and how to be most effective in telling their story in admissions applications. Additionally, students will begin to plan out the pathways they may take once in college in order to be admitted into their major of choice.
• Thrive in a college environment: Building on the effective habits discussed related to succeeding in high school, students will also explore strategies that will help them succeed in college. They will learn about the resources available and how to access them, the community cultural wealth they bring with them, and how to make the most of their college experience.
College Prep Writing
College Prep Writing will introduce students to the skills and habits they will need to succeed as a writer, thinker, and learner at the university level. The course expands on and develops the work students completed last summer in College Prep, but also moves off into new territory in preparing students to meet the demands of college-level critical thinking and writing. Over the six weeks of Summer Academy this course will develop awareness of these skills through focused assignments which use writing and writing-based projects to help teach the basics of inquiry, research, exposition, and reflection. This writing-intensive course will consist of two distinct sequences. The first focuses on a trio of concepts—inquiry, complexity, and conversation—that will help lay the groundwork for students’ successful transition to university study. For the course’s final two weeks we will focus on the college application personal essay. As student learners we encourage students to make the most of this time, to engage with interest and depth in the topics and tasks we pursue, and to open themselves to the idea of re-thinking their own writing process within this collaborative space.
Animal Physiology
Ever wonder how caterpillars become butterflies? Or how cheetahs run faster than any other animal on
the planet? This course provides an introduction to the form (anatomy) and function (physiology) of animals. In this class, students investigated questions related to how animals function and take a deep dive into the anatomical form which allows them to survive, reproduce, and develop. By the end of this course, students were able to describe common trends in physiology and development across the diverse animal kingdom and performed hands-on laboratory experiments with an emphasis on data interpretation and visualization.
Astronomy
This course is an introduction to astronomy, designed to ignite curiosity about the universe and explore what it takes for life to exist beyond Earth. Over the course of four weeks, students will learn the structure of our universe and how astronomers study the cosmos using light, motion, and observational tools.
The remainder two weeks, students shift their focus to astrobiology. Students study what makes a
planet habitable, how scientists search for signs of life on other worlds, and what we can learn
from Earth’s history to guide the search for life elsewhere. Through interactive lectures and
hands-on labs, students will build a working understanding of our universe and how life could
possibly form outside of Earth. By the end of the course, students will not only have a broader
understanding of astronomy, but also a deeper appreciation for the scientific process and the big
questions that continue to drive space exploration.
Data Visualization
From Spotify playlists to NBA stats to social justice trends, data is everywhere. The ability to
visualize it clearly and powerfully is one of the most valuable skills you can build.
In this hands-on programming course, students learn how to create compelling, accurate, and
ethical data visualizations that help people understand complex stories at a glance. Students build
skills in collecting, organizing, analyzing, and visualizing structured data using beginner-friendly
tools like Google Sheets and Google Colab, where you’ll write and run code in Python.
By the end of the course, students complete a personal data project using a dataset that matters to
them, whether it’s music, fitness, sports, social issues, or something else entirely. Prior coding
experience is helpful but not required.
Latin
Originally spoken by the ancient Romans, Latin evolved into the various romance languages
spoken around Europe: Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese… Yet, during the European
Middle Ages, more or less classical Latin remained in use as the language of the Catholic
church and academia. Because of its long and varied history, Latin words and even Latin
grammar have left an indelible mark on the English we use today. Words of Latin origin are
ubiquitous in the technical vocabulary of many academic disciplines — particularly the
sciences, medicine, law, and philosophy. In fact, about 50% of English is made up of Latin
roots! This class introduces students to the basics of Latin grammar and dozens of Latin root words
that you can use to decode complex scientific terminology, SAT vocabulary, and even some
common Latin phrases.
Math A
This course is designed to strengthen foundational math skills and build confidence in key algebraic concepts. This course offers structured instruction and guided practice in essential topics, including arithmetic, simplifying expressions, inequalities, systems of equations, and quadratic functions. Through interactive lessons, hands-on problem-solving, and personalized feedback, students develop critical thinking skills, improve their ability to manipulate algebraic expressions, and gain a deeper understanding of mathematical relationships. By the end of the course, students are equipped with the tools needed to approach their next math class with greater confidence and success.
Math 1
This course is designed to strengthen the basic analytic skills necessary for future high school math courses and introduce students to the concepts taught in an Algebra 2 or Precalculus class. The course will examine in detail exponential and logarithmic functions, polynomial functions, and rational and radical functions. Emphasis on graphing skills and effective calculator use.
Math 3
Math 3 focuses on learning new mathematical skills while strengthening old ones in order to prepare
students for classes such as pre-calculus, calculus, and onwards. While this course covers a range of
topics (all of which are fundamental and frequently used) the core of it is in understanding and being
able to work with functions. This exploration includes polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic,
and trigonometric functions. This class explores each type of distinct function while drawing connections
between each to strengthen our general comfortability of working with functions.
Math 4
This course provides an introduction to the concepts of differential calculus. Students learn how their algebra knowledge and skills are utilized in this advanced mathematical subject. The course begins with a refresher of past topics, especially functions. It then moves on to the topic of limits, and then to the topic of derivatives.
Math 6
This course is introductory linear algebra, which is an exciting area of mathematics with many modern-day applications to all the mathematical sciences ranging from engineering and data science to the social sciences, law and business. Students develop the basics of this subject through a geometric lens and see several applications.
Sound Art
Sound Art is making creative work out of the world of sound that surrounds us. Everyone listens to music, but Sound Art uses the raw sounds of everyday life to express experiences and communicate through art with others. In this class students explore different ways of hearing, recording, organizing, and processing sounds, learning basic sound editing software and collage techniques. Mixing technical and creative aspects, students create their own sound pieces, creating work that connects to our lives and those around us. A phone with a microphone and recording capability, and/or STEMsub-issued recording device and computer, are the tools used to record and manipulate sound. Students who wish to share their projects have opportunities to do so, although this is not required.