2026 Session 2

Instructor: John Blake

This summer, discover your inner Frank Lloyd Wright, your budding Frank Gehry, or your emerging I.M. Pei. The Beginning Design: Architecture + Interior Design course is a unique opportunity to peek into the lives of architects and designers. You will work in the design studios, be taught by Miami professors, and build from your own imagination. With a curriculum geared toward improving designs for creating competitive architecture and interior design portfolios, you will identify and examine several design topics. In multiple phases through a series of rigorous investigations and discoveries, you will practice fundamental design principles. The overriding emphasis will be placed on the "process" of design. Where might it start? How does it evolve? Learn to develop your own ideas and use them to drive the creation of space and form. At the end of the session, you will have an exhibition of works you've created as well as documentation and analysis to enhance your college admission application.

Instructor: Imran Mirza

Computers rule our world, but are you ready for what comes next? Step into the future this summer at Miami University with Quantum Computing, the technology that's rewriting the future of computing and how information technologies are going to look! Over one action-packed week, you'll go beyond standard screens and dive into the mind-bending world of quantum mechanics, discovering how tiny particles of nature, such as atoms and photons, can solve complex problems in fundamentally new ways compared to our current computers. You'll get hands-on with real quantum platforms, design your first quantum circuits, and learn about qubits, superposition, and quantum entanglement in a collaborative environment. No advanced physics or mathematics knowledge needed, just your curiosity and a drive to lead the next frontier of high-tech innovation. Whether you're building a standout college resume or want to be the first to gain knowledge about the tech of tomorrow, this module is your launchpad into the Quantum Era!

Instructor: Dr. James Chagdes

Instructor: Dr. Jennifer Quinn

How much of our brains do we really use? Are we really “right-brained” or “left-brained”?

Misconceptions about the structure and function of the human brain are all too common. Once these myths are widely disseminated, it is often difficult to separate scientific fact from fiction. This module will examine some of these myths, and provide you with the science and investigative tools to effectively debunk them. You will have the opportunity to examine real brains, observe direct brain manipulation techniques, and interact with researchers in their laboratories. As part of a team, you will select a cluster of related myths to evaluate, present the scientific evidence to dispel them, and create games to educate others about these misconceptions.

Instructor: Alim Dewan

Scholars will engage in hands-on exploration of core chemical engineering principles, including fluid mechanics and heat and mass transport, and apply those principles to real-world applications such as fluid flow in piping system, distillation, and paper manufacturing.

Instructor: Dr. Amy Roberts

Students will engage in activities to explore how they can make a difference in the world through various helping professions (e.g., social work, family life education, marriage and family therapy, child life specialists, and other closely related fields). Students can look forward to learning about on-campus programs to support student wellness, hearing from guest speakers working in each profession/area, role-plays, demonstrations, and creating a vision board to illustrate future goals. This session will also include the opportunity for students to earn a Certificate in Mental Health First Aid for the purpose of increasing knowledge and reducing the stigma surrounding mental health. At the completion of the module, students will identify which helping professions are of interest and set goals for their individual pathways to the professions.

Instructor: Prince Edward Johnson, II

Learn about transformative education, its potential for social renewal and capacity building, and its relationship to Miami University’s rich history related to Freedom Summer. This program will include dialogue and discussion about various issues about education that students, schools, and communities are facing in our society. There will be experiential activities that center youth voices and arts integration about educational deliberation including opportunities connected to theater of the oppressed and youth participatory action research. Students will learn foundational skills related to democratic thinking, teaching, and learning. This module is intended for students in Cincinnati Public Schools who are interested in or already a part of the TEACh Cincinnati program.

Instructor: Dr. Geoffrey Long

Games and fictional worlds both ask "What if?" and then make up rules to explore those answers. Students will learn the fundamentals of great game design, create their own storyworlds using the same method used by the professor in the games industry and Hollywood, and then make short games set in their worlds.

Instructor: Dr. Cameron Hay-Rollins

With a disease of your "own," you will get to explore how global health and medical anthropology intersect in ways that have promise for making the world a healthier place. Global health is a practical field that seeks to understand the complexities of health and disease in order to innovate creative solutions. Medical anthropological perspectives offer a lens for understanding the complex interactions of biological, cultural and economic processes at both local and global levels. Together they are a powerful combination. In this class you will be introduced to both fields, explore how they intersect, and use your new understandings to practice creative problem solving to improve health.

Instructor: Jeb Card

We'll discover the subtle clues and sensational treasures of ancient peoples from the earliest depths of prehistory to the great empires of Egypt and the Inca. We will learn how humans colonized the world, adapted to changing environments, transformed the landscape, and built new technologies and social orders to face daunting challenges. In the process we’ll analyze real artifacts, participate in the 3-D scanning and printing of artifacts, try our hand at how archaeologists excavate a site, decipher ancient hieroglyphs, figure out how old ancient Egyptian tombs are, and explore the role of archaeology today.

Instructor: Michelle Cosmah

Interested in becoming a teacher in the primary grades? In this module, participants learn about the essential skills and qualities needed for effective teaching. They explore various teaching methods, classroom management strategies, and the importance of fostering a positive learning environment. The workshop emphasizes hands-on experiences, providing opportunities for field experience in real classroom settings where attendees can interact with young students. This practical exposure helps aspiring teachers develop their confidence and understanding of the teaching profession, highlighting how they can make a meaningful impact on the lives of their students.

Instructor: David Eyman

The Entrepreneurial Experience explores the creative thinking skills necessary to develop innovations that drive the future of business. In this fun, creative environment, students experience learning firsthand. Students learn about themselves, the entrepreneurial process, and Design Thinking. Bring a smile, not an ego and we'll create the future of business together.

Instructors: Dr. Steve Sullivan

Nature is a fundamental part of every major. The raw materials for everything you own were either grown on or dug from the Earth. Your culture, neighborhood, family history, and even worldview have been influenced by nature. Your ancestors were naturalists. Yet, the skills of a naturalist are declining, even within the biological sciences. Students of any experience level or background are invited to join the Hefner Museum of Natural History team to get muddy, cut things up, smell the roses (and remove the invasive ones), and learn through firsthand experience the basic principles and theories of nature that make you who you are. This course is a literal walk in the park (among other things). It will be a good overview for the aspiring biologist but equally, it is designed to be useful and exciting for the non-biology student who has often wondered about nature but never had a guide.

Instructors: Dr. Becky Crews, Elizabeth Troy

This summer, you have the opportunity to engage with First Year Integrated Core faculty to learn about key workplace skills such as: collaboration, communication, critical thinking, creative thinking, and business research. As you learn these key skills, throughout the week, you will apply them to a mini business project. You will work with the faculty and in groups to experience what it’s like to weave together skills and apply them to a final project. Get ready to engage in a high-touch, experiential learning experience to start unpacking your business briefcase!