Course Descriptions
Course offers vary for each of the summer sessions. View the registration page for details. The Summer Science Academy course at McDaniel College is a fantastic experience for high school students interested in science.
Forensic Science
You all know CSI, but what techniques do they really use? Experience what it is like to learn about and use skills and scientific procedures employed in the field and laboratory. Example topics include determining blood-spatter angles of impact, drug separation and identification, fingerprinting, reproducing bite marks, measuring refractive indexes of glass fragments, and satellite imaging.
Environmental Science
Come prepared to be outside, visit sites, and expand your understanding of our relationship with the natural world! We will discuss environmental issues, learn about environmental careers, perform meaningful and engaging experiments, and contribute to on-going environmental projects.
Pre-Health Science: Human Genetics
This course will explore the principles of genetics, including inheritance and expression of the genetic code, in both healthy and disease states. We will discuss methods developed to treat genetic disease, including as gene therapy, cancer immunotherapy, personalized medicine, and CRISPR, as well as the ethical considerations for these therapeutics. As part of the laboratory component of the course, we will use the tools of molecular biology to engineer bacteria to produce a novel protein, the technique used currently to produce many human therapeutics such as human insulin. This course is open to all students, but is particularly aimed at students thinking about a future career in health (nurse/physical therapist/doctor/trainer/pharmacist).
Astronomy and Space
People throughout time have gazed at the heavens in amazement. Through observations; application of principles governing our cosmos; and analysis of exotic denizens of our universe, like pulsars and black holes, we will unlock ancient, celestial secrets.
Biological Machines
Our understanding of biology has reached a point where organisms like bacteria and yeast can be engineered like mechanical machines, and there are “parts” libraries that can supply building components to add functionality to living cells. In this course, we will work through the theory and experimental design sufficient to understand how to build biological machines, but the focus will be on actual laboratory experiments in which we will add new functions to cells or optimize their outputs.
Pre-Health Science: Plagues and Pandemics
For millennia, microbes have shaped human civilization. Past scourges such as the bubonic plague and smallpox, up to current-day threats, like COVID-19, have all had significant societal and historical impacts. This course will focus on the pathogens that cause human diseases. We will explore the inner workings and transmission pathways of these infectious agents, as well as the treatments and prevention strategies scientists have developed to fight them, including vaccines. This course is open to all students, but is particularly aimed at students thinking about a future career in health (nurse/physical therapist/doctor/trainer/pharmacist).
Marine Science
Ever considered a career in marine science? If so, come get your feet wet in this week-long, hands-on course where we will carry out practical laboratory experiments and do meaningful fieldwork to explore topics in marine ecology, biological oceanography, and physical oceanography. This course includes a field trip on a working oceanographic research vessel.
Engineering Laboratory
Interested in engineering? In this course, students will gain an understanding of the various professional engineering fields. The topics covered will include: Problem conceptualization and solution design, economic and technical constraints, basic mathematical and computational techniques for solving engineering problems, and engineering as a creative endeavor. Students will also learn how to recognize and understand the impact of engineering solutions on the environment, economy, and society.
ELIGIBLE STUDENTS
Get a $40,000 McDaniel Scholarship!
Students who successfully complete at least one session of the Summer Science Academy and who have not already been admitted to McDaniel College will receive a guaranteed minimum $40,000 scholarship to attend McDaniel College as an undergraduate.