2024 Course Descriptions will be available by December 2023.
Check out what SEP 2023 had to offer:
Experiencing Business* with Dr. Lance Gentry, College of Business
Let’s run a business! Using an advanced computer simulation, we will gain a basic understanding of business in a fun and competitive environment with our peers.
True Crime: Crafting a Compelling Story with Dr. Janine Davis, College of Education
Why do true crime stories captivate our attention? What makes a story compelling? In this course we will explore these questions and more through hands-on activities like escape rooms, podcast analysis, and creation/discussion of mentor texts.
Painting for the Theatre with Professor Bridgette Dennett, Theatre and Dance
Scene Painting is a field that requires talented artists to create realistic scenic environments. During this class, you will get hands-on experience with painting realistic wood, brick, and other common textures.No previous artistic training or background is needed to take this class; we’ll teach you the basics!
Studying Pop Culture: The Case of Beyoncé with Dr. Adria Y. Goldman, Communication & Digital Studies
In this course we’ll explore pop culture and its influence on society using Beyoncé as the focus of a week-long case study. Each day, we will explore a new aspect of Beyoncé’s life and career to investigate aspects of pop culture including beauty standards, public relations, fan culture, digital marketing, feminism, media representations, and identity.
Computational Physics for Newbs* with Dr. Desmond Villalba, Physics
In this course we will learn how to solve physics problems using python programming language! This course is designed to expose you to learning a little programming and a little physics. Don’t think of yourself as a scientist? No problem! This course is still for you!
Drumroll Please! An Introduction to Percussion with Dr. Matt Case,Music
Interested in learning about playing percussion? We’ll explore this diverse family of instruments and develop basic skills to play them and perform in an ensemble. This course is designed for students with little experience with percussion instruments, but students who already have skills can participate as well!
Write Now? Right Now! with Dr. Brenta Blevins, English & Linguistics
Unleash your creativity by learning different writing strategies, prompts, and templates that you can apply to creative writing—and beyond! You’ll learn how these tools can be used for creative thinking and communicating in the sciences, digital environments, and traditional storytelling. We’ll write in class every day, so by the end of the week, you’ll have written a couple of short stories, several poems, and much more. You’ll leave with a variety of creativity and writing prompts that you can use again in the future.
The Realities of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality* with Dr. Brenta Blevins, English & Linguistics
Virtual reality and augmented reality? Sounds like science fiction, but they are actually science fact! We will learn about VR and AR and explore how those digital media are used for more than gaming. We will use VR headsets, Merge Cubes, Google Cardboard and other technologies to observe and analyze existing media. We’ll also create some of our own!
Growing Community in Urban Gardens with Dr. Eric Bonds, Sociology & Anthropology
We will investigate ways that urban community gardens can address food justice and sustainability while nurturing community. Campers will get a crash course on the social science of community gardens while also having a chance to dig in the dirt and contribute to a local community garden. Be prepared to work outside.
Gone Fishin’: Diversity of Fishes with Dr. Brad Lamphere, Biological Sciences
Fish species exhibit an astonishing variety of body shapes, physiology and lifestyles. In this course, we will explore that diversity as well as the ecological and evolutionary forces that drive the variations. We’ll be in the lab and in the field (well… water) so be prepared for hands-on excursions outside in nature.
Exploring Art and Practice with Professor Ashe Laughlin, Art & Art History
This class will provide a unique hands-on art making experience exploring a variety of two-dimensional processes including sketching and painting. Campers will learn about the artistic process and visual problem solving in our studio setting. All skill levels are welcome – from the seasoned to unseasoned artist!
Building Time: Investigating History in Your Everyday Environment* with Dr. Christine Rae Henry, Historic Preservation
Learn to explore the many layers of history that our buildings, landscapes, and surroundings can reveal. Through reading and hands-on activities, you will investigate how buildings and landscapes are designed, what tools and materials are used, and what stories about people that all places hold. Be prepared for some walking outside on campus.
Secret Languages* with Dr. Gonzalo Campos-Dintrans, Modern Languages & Literature
In this course we’ll learn how secret languages/codes have helped their speakers keep information away from others, create a sense of community, and sometimes to simply have fun.
Kitchen Chemistry: The Science Behind the Food We Eat* with Dr. Kelli Slunt, Chemistry
Everyone must eat to survive, but do you ever think about the food you are eating? What gives it flavor? Why is it cooked in a specific manner? In Kitchen Chemistry, we’ll explore the science of food and molecular gastronomy.
Adventures in Mapping!* with Dr. Jackie Gallagher and Dr. Steve Hanna, Geography
Mapping allows us to explore, understand, and communicate about the world we share. It is an important skill for careers in urban and community planning, environmental monitoring and advocacy, intelligence, and meteorology. We’ll use UMW’s Geographic Information Systems laboratory and excursions outside to explore mapping techniques and ultimately create different kinds of maps including mental maps, printed maps of data they collect, and online story maps. Be prepared to do some walking outside on campus.
Audio Technology and Production* with Professor Michael Bratt, Music
Audio Technology and Production is a hands-on learning course geared towards anyone with an interest in crafting electronic music. Students will engage with the fundamentals of production theory, audio recording, and live sound engineering.
An Introduction to Cybersecurity* with Dr. Xin-Wen Wu and Dr. Andrew Marshall, Computer Science
Engage in a hands-on exploration of cybersecurity. The course covers network attacks and defense, system security, privacy, and more. Meticulously designed hands-on activities are provided for students to enhance their understanding of cybersecurity concepts. Please note that this course meets for 2 class periods so you will only take one other SEP class with this one. Read more about this one-of-a-kind opportunity and an opportunity for a reduction in cost.
*Courses previously taught in SEP. This indicates a course was taught in previous summers and its curriculum is intended for students taking the course for the first time. Students who completed these courses before are encouraged to select different classes.
