Neuroscience and the Law

In this course we look at how the brain functions, what the legal issues are, how the technologies that attempt to understand and address brain functioning work, and why this is pertinent to the legal system. Participants learn how to deal with the rising tide of neuroscientific information being proffered in litigation and in the legal policy context. They see how research studies are used in contexts outside the laboratory and are challenged to critically assess and evaluate not only the scientific principles but also their legal and ethical implications.

The course focuses on brain functioning as it influences behavior and responsibility principles. The legal principle of culpable conduct and its implications are addressed, and appropriate penalties and punishment for criminal conduct are discussed. Students are asked to address fundamental questions about what it means to be morally and legally responsible, and what, if anything, neuroscience can provide to our assessments of individual responsibility for actions.

Discussions transition from case-specific inquiries to first principles, namely: How do the separate domains of law, science, and behavior relate to one another? What are the purposes and roles of law in society? How may science help or hinder those purposes? And what can science tell us about behavior that might be legally relevant, and how?

Some of the topics that may be addressed include the Frye and Daubert standards for the admissibility of expert testimony, objective assessments of subjective complaints of pain, inaccurate eyewitness testimony, cross-racial witness identification, applicable jury instructions employing principles of science, memory and emotion, lie detection, adolescent brain function and implications for sentencing and criminal liability, addiction, artificial intelligence, and cognitive enhancements.

The course requires daily reading and active class participation; it is taught in a law school format, using the Socratic method. Assigned readings include scientific studies and articles from medical journals as well as prominent legal cases, including some lengthy U.S. Supreme Court decisions.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Florina Altshiler
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Minds, Brains, and the Nature of Conscio

Intro to Philosophy of Mi

How is the mind related to the brain? Are sensations, beliefs, and desires immaterial or physical states? What are the different types of consciousness and how, if at all, are they related? How do we know that beings besides ourselves possess mentality? Can robots possess minds?

We explore these questions via a philosophical analysis of a number of attempts to explain the nature of the mind and mentality. The course begins with dualist attempts to characterize the mind as a non-physical soul that possesses immaterial mental states such as beliefs and hopes, and proceeds to an investigation of recent efforts to understand the mind and mentality as physical phenomena. Some historically influential answers to the question what is a mind and what is mentality? are critically assessed, including (i) substance dualism, (ii) mind-brain identity theory, and (iii) functionalism. In the latter part of the course, issues such as the nature of consciousness as well as how to make sense of the causal efficacy of mentality are discussed.

Course readings include such influential works as René Descartes’s Meditations on First Philosophy, J.J.C. Smart's "Sensations and Brain Processes,” Hilary Putnam’s “The Nature of Mental States,” and Thomas Nagel’s “What is it Like to be a Bat?” Course activities include class debates, group presentations, the designing of thought experiments, critical writing exercises, and close textual analysis.

The broad goal of the course is to sharpen students’ analytical reading and writing skills, while the more specific objectives are to give them a solid understanding of issues in the philosophy of mind as well as an understanding of the methods of philosophy.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Jared Peterson
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Painting Intensive

Studio arts courses are offered in conjunction with Columbia University's School of the Arts.

In this course aimed at introducing students to basic acrylic painting techniques, each day the instructor introduces a new assignment through a live tutorial. Each assignment is complemented by a short art history lecture, which aids the students in thinking about content alongside studio progress. Students receive guidance from the instructor as they work from home on their paintings.

At the end of each day, students present their results to the class; the online platform serves as a virtual group crit. The works are reviewed by the instructor prior to the next session. Each student receives individualized, specific comments as to how to proceed with their work.

Participants also learn how to prepare a final portfolio for college applications.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Miguel Cardenas
  CULPA: 4 Info
• 0 points

Political and Economic Ideologies of the

Political & Economic Ideo

This course explores the central political, economic, and social ideologies of the modern world, including capitalism, socialism, communism, liberalism, populism, and nationalism. We ask what principles define these ideologies, how these ideologies intersect with democracy, and how they produce and require different meanings and understandings of key concepts such as freedom, equality, justice, and citizenship. Starting with an extended focus on capitalism and liberal democracy, students investigate the origins and key beliefs of each ideology and think about the pros and cons of various systems of governance and social control. Our goal is not to proclaim any one ideology as superior, but to more deeply understand different ways of thinking about politics and society that have shaped the past and present, and that offer us possibilities for the future. In the process, class participants become more reflective about and aware of their own convictions, and better able to articulate and defend such convictions in speech and writing with thoughtfulness, precision, insight, and persuasive force. Course materials include excerpts from classic and contemporary political theory texts, as well as newspaper and magazine articles and film clips. Students draft and revise personal ideology statements and participate in debates in which they marshal ideas from the sources studied to justify and defend their positions. The course also includes guest speakers representing various ideological positions. Students are encouraged to engage in serious dialogue with and pose difficult questions of these guests, probing what they believe and why. The morning sessions are generally devoted to helping students achieve a firm grasp of the theoretical and factual arguments found in the readings, through a combination of presentations by the instructor and class discussion. The afternoon sessions allow students to put these theories and facts to work in written and oral form, working both individually and in small groups to develop arguments and debate controversial political questions. By the end of the three weeks, students are equipped with not only a deeper understanding of the competing political and economic ideologies that shape the modern world, but also with the tools to make, understand, and critically evaluate claims of all kinds—tools which should serve them well both in their future studies and as future citizens and leaders.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
• Instructor: Geoffrey C Upton
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Social Psychology: Understanding Human B

Social Psychology: Human

This course introduces students to major psychological theories and research on human social behavior. We look at why humans often help each other but also why they hurt each other. Topics covered include empathy, prejudice, helping, compliance, bullying, conformity, and the development of personality. A variety of psychological methods for predicting and preventing anti-social behavior are discussed.

The course establishes a strong grounding in scientific principles and methodology. Students are encouraged to think about how empirical methods can be used to measure complex social phenomena, to recognize and appreciate experimental rigor, and ultimately to question common assumptions about human behavior found in ordinary discourse and the popular press.

Students typically spend a portion of each day watching live lectures and a portion in learning activities such as group work, discussion, online experiments, and behavior and personality tests. Outside of class, in addition to doing assigned reading, students complete homework assignments in which they apply what they have learned to real-world social situations. For example, observing behavior in their local communities and surveying their family and friends. The data they collect is pooled, analyzed, and discussed by the whole class.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Alison Martingano
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• Instructor: Kate Jassin
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• Instructor: Kimberly A Muellers
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• Instructor: Sara Konrath
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The Networked Self: Identity in the Digi

As the line between humans and technology becomes increasingly blurred, the proliferation of social media platforms is transforming conceptions of identity, community, and citizenship. This course aims to build on the premise that technology changes not only what we do but also who we are. We draw upon established theories of identity formation, self-presentation, and impression management in order to map the intersection between new media technologies and the evolving processes by which identities are constructed, maintained, and represented. We consider how these developments are providing new opportunities for individual expression and collective empowerment, while at the same time contributing to a growing sense of fragmentation, polarization, and uncertainty.

Central to this course is the understanding that self and identity are both the product of social interaction, and a force impacting the societies which help create them. Toward that end, through a combination of readings, lectures, discussions, videos, short papers, group work, and oral presentations, students investigate the connections between social media and the following topics: 1) The development of the “commodified self” and “self-branding.” 2) “Digital surveillance” and the “managed self.” 3). Expanding opportunities for the expression of historically “marginalized” identities, including race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality. 4). New avenues for the formation and mobilization of oppositional (or resistance) identities, including collective identification with political movements spanning the ideological spectrum from the far left to the far right.

The central goal of this course is to provide students with a deeper appreciation for how digital technologies are fundamentally redefining traditional understandings of self and society, as well as to push participants to think more critically about their own place in what promises to an increasingly networked future.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Timothy Novak
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MATLAB: Computer Modeling for Science an

The course introduces students to programming in MATLAB, a software used by engineers and scientists for creating experiments, collecting data, analyzing the data, and simulating models. While learning how to use the software, students are also introduced to several broad concepts in science and technology, such as machine learning, statistical analysis, signal processing, electrical circuit models, biological models, and mechanical models. Participants learn to apply these concepts by writing code and building models in MATLAB. In the process of building those models, students learn how to legitimately carry on scientific inquiry. They apply this learning to create their own experimental paradigms in MATLAB. They formulate scientific questions and design hypotheses to test those questions. To test the hypotheses, they create experiments and collect the necessary data by building graphical user interfaces (GUIs) with MATLAB. They further analyze data from the experiments using the MATLAB software and form conclusions regarding their scientific inquiry. Students also visit science and engineering labs at Columbia University and are introduced to the process of journal publication.
Participants are required to bring their own laptops, either Windows or Mac-based, for this course. Laptops should have at least 4Gb of RAM memory. Instructions on how to download and set up the software are emailed to students prior to the first class.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
• Instructor: Prachi Patel
  h-index: 3 Info
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International Humanitarian Law: Regulati

Is international humanitarian law (IHL) still relevant in regulating warfare in the 21st Century? Trends such as the proliferation of armed conflict between states and transnational insurgent groups and the development of autonomous weapons systems and cyber-warfare capabilities have raised questions about the sufficiency of IHL to regulate warfare today. This course introduces students to the theory and practice of IHL, and central debates about its interpretation and implementation in 21st-Century armed conflict.

In the first part of the course, students are introduced to the moral principles underpinning IHL. They then turn to surveying the texts of the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the two Additional Protocols of 1977, and the role played by the International Committee of the Red Cross in developing and ensuring respect for IHL.

In the second part of the course, we examine major debates about IHL and its implementation today. Topics include the questions raised by the proliferation of transnational terrorism, multiparty civil wars, humanitarian intervention, drones, autonomous weapons systems, and cyber warfare.

Course materials draw widely from political science, international law, psychology, philosophy, literature, and film. Class time is divided between lecture and discussion of the reading assignments, and film screenings, debates, group projects, and student presentations.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
• Instructor: Alexander D de la Paz
  CULPA: 2 Info
• 0 points

Inside the Animal Mind: What Animals Thi

Do rats laugh? Do dogs pretend? Can birds use tools? While it has traditionally been assumed that animals are not capable of thoughts, emotions, or anything comparable to human intelligence, researchers working with animals from rats and bats to wolves and whales now have an impressive and growing body of evidence, both scientific and anecdotal, that strongly challenges those earlier suppositions.

This course surveys the fascinating field of cognitive ethology—the study of animal minds—and explores questions of what animals think and feel, the complexity of their thought, and the depth of their emotions. Students examine cutting-edge research from fields such as cognitive neuroscience, psychology, endocrinology, and ethology that support the theoretical ideas first proposed by Darwin, who is often credited as the first scientist to seriously study the emotional lives of animals. Darwin’s ideas were later advanced by Donald Griffen, the “father of cognitive ethology,” whose big questions about animal consciousness laid the groundwork for the explosion of research we see today. What we are learning about animal sentience is transforming our understanding of non-human animals, creating impetus for new research into how they experience the world, each other, and possibly themselves.

In this seminar-style class, students read and discuss the research of ethologists such as Marc Bekoff, Konrad Lorenz, James Gould, Jane Goodall, Franz De Waal, and E.O Wilson. These pioneering researchers fundamentally changed our understanding of the animal mind, shedding new light on the extraordinary and diverse abilities of our fellow species to learn, problem-solve, use tools, express emotions, and even mourn their dead. What’s more, we are learning that animals communicate complex information in ways we could never have imagined.

Virtual tours of the Wild Bird Fund and the Wolf Conservation Center in Westchester County offer participants an opportunity to observe animal behavior and speak to experts about their research. These experiences provide context for the material covered in class and give rise to important questions and rich, stimulating discussions. Students also have an opportunity to explore the broad array of academic and career paths that relate to cognitive ethology, including evolutionary biology, animal behavior, conservation biology, psychology, philosophy and ethics, cognitive neuroscience, science writing, and animal law.

Course requirement in

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
• Instructor: Michelle A Ashkin
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Wealth and Democracy in the United State

Wealth & Democracy in the

This course considers the relationship between wealth and democracy, in theory, in history, and in practice today. Topics investigated include the following: political and legal debates about campaign finance reform from the late 20th century to the present, including whether money is speech and whether campaigns should be publicly financed; the role of the wealthy in American politics as candidates and as donors/funders; and the nature and problem of political corruption.

Readings are drawn from philosophers and political theorists, contemporary studies of the impact of wealth on American democracy, and key Supreme Court decisions including Citizens United. Other sources include film excerpts and press accounts. Students also benefit from several guest speakers working on issues pertaining to campaign finance and related issues of money and politics on the local, state, and/or national level.

Morning sessions are generally devoted to helping students achieve a firm grasp of the theoretical and factual arguments found in the readings, through a combination of presentations by the instructor and class discussion. Afternoon sessions allow students to put these theories and facts to work in written and oral form, working both individually and in small groups.

In addition to completing and discussing reading assignments, students write position papers and participate in debates in which they marshal ideas from the sources studied to justify and defend their positions.

Our ultimate goal is not to establish the proper role of money in politics, but to more deeply understand different ways of thinking about wealth and democracy that have shaped the past and present, and that offer us possibilities for the future.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Geoffrey C Upton
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Understanding the Arts: Art History

WHAT IS ART HISTORY?

A two-course curricular option for students wishing to develop their appreciation of art and architecture. Both courses emphasize critical thinking and analysis, skills that will be valuable to students in whatever fields they choose to pursue in college and beyond.

What is Art History?
This course introduces students to selected monuments of painting, sculpture, and architecture and to basic trends and concepts in the history of art. Examples are drawn from a wide range of periods and cultures. Students are introduced to aspects of visual analysis, historical context, and problems of interpretation. Participants engage in discussions centered around slide presentations and videos.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
• Instructor: Thomas I Campbell
  CULPA: 3 Info
• 0 points

THE ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF THE UNIVERSE

ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS

The origin and evolution of the Universe is one of the greatest (and oldest) questions ever asked. In a little over a century,
cosmology has matured as a discipline due to improvements in our understanding of fundamental physics
and technological advances allowing us to map the Universe in unprecedented detail and perform complex calculations.
This course is an introductory review of the standard cosmological model, a quantitative description of the universe that explains
with only six numbers a wide range of observed phenomena, from the chemical composition of the Universe, to the abundance
and distribution of galaxies. The course includes in-class interactive exercises to illustrate how simple mathematical models can shed light on seemingly
complex systems. We will discuss how the ideas on which the standard model rests won over alternative ideas,
and how scientists are still working to solve some outstanding puzzles, such as the unknown nature of dark
matter and dark energy.
Prerequisites: One year of high-school physics and calculus are strongly recommended. Experience with Python programming is useful
for some of the in-class exercises, but not necessary.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 9:10 a.m.-11 a.m.
• Instructor: James H Applegate
  CULPA: 44 Info
• 0 points

Blockchain, Cryptocurrencies, AI, and Be

This course is designed for students who have an interest in the future of finance, technology, blockchain, cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence, and work. Beginning with an exploration of Fintech (financial technology), we explore technology’s impact on everything from banking to real estate to Wall Street. Additionally, we look at how artificial intelligence (AI) will automate and reduce the need for human workers, as AI, Fintech, and other technologies are combined to automate many tasks.

After gaining a solid understanding of the real-world use cases of Fintech and the everyday ways it impacts the economy, social justice, and our lives, students take a journey of discovery into the world of AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, Bitcoin, and cryptocurrency. Since Bitcoin’s launch in 2009, cryptocurrency and decentralized ledger technology, aka blockchain, have emerged as an economic force majeure, disrupting the fundamentals of how people interact and how they perceive money. In addition to pushing the evolution of money, blockchain technology is now poised to disrupt how we organize businesses and the future of work. Course participants explore the organizational impacts and transformations caused by blockchain and cryptocurrencies and examine what this will mean to them as future CEOs and global business and thought leaders.

The course concludes by exploring the perspective of entrepreneurs and innovators, further examining how technologies come together to form the businesses, disruptions, and methodologies of the 21st Century. Participants walk away with a fundamental understanding of what tokens and cryptocurrencies are; how businesses leverage blockchain technology, AI, and other Fintech applications; and how digital transformation impacts social interactions and the future of work.

Please note: This course is not a computer programming course and requires no prior knowledge or experience, but rather looks at these emerging technologies more broadly from business, social, political, and cultural perspectives.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
• Instructor: Samson Williams
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• Instructor: Lindsley Medlin
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Big Data, Machine Learning, and their Re

BIG DATA

The exponential growth of data, advances in cloud computing, and machine learning have transformed every industry from retail and banking to healthcare and education. This introductory-level course enables participants to navigate the new reality of the “data economy,” in which data is the “the new oil”—a ubiquitous and invaluable asset.

We focus on the strategic use of data and innovative technologies to derive actionable business insights. Participants develop a strong foundation in data-driven thinking for solving real-world problems. They are introduced to a variety of popular technologies for data analytics and gain a familiarity with programming in either R, a software environment for statistical computing and graphics, or Python. Much of the in-class work involves working with one of these two languages. Students learn how to import, export, manipulate, transform, and visualize data; use statistical summaries; and run and evaluate machine learning models.

From the start of the course participants are immersed in the world of data: they are introduced to the concepts of big data, artificial intelligence, the internet of things, cloud computing, and data ethics in the context of real-world business scenarios. Through hands-on experience and practice they study data harvesting and exploration, as well as the basics of data visualization. After they get comfortable with data manipulation and transformation, they gain familiarity with statistical frameworks and methods designed to extract practical insights from data. Participants learn and implement common machine-learning techniques and develop and evaluate analytical solutions.

Toward the conclusion of the course, students work in groups on a final project and presentation, thereby (a) solidify their newly acquired analytical and programming skills and (b) practicing storytelling with data.

Participants should expect a dynamic and interactive environment: hands-on exercises, teamwork, continuous in-class dialogue, demonstrations, and interactive presentations. The course features real-world applications of data analytics across industries and challenges students to think in terms of the business value of data and machine learning.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
• Instructor: Elena Dubova
  Info
• 0 points

Big Data, Machine Learning, and their Re

BIG DATA

The exponential growth of data, advances in cloud computing, and machine learning have transformed every industry from retail and banking to healthcare and education. This introductory-level course enables participants to navigate the new reality of the “data economy,” in which data is the “the new oil”—a ubiquitous and invaluable asset.

We focus on the strategic use of data and innovative technologies to derive actionable business insights. Participants develop a strong foundation in data-driven thinking for solving real-world problems. They are introduced to a variety of popular technologies for data analytics and gain a familiarity with programming in either R, a software environment for statistical computing and graphics, or Python. Much of the in-class work involves working with one of these two languages. Students learn how to import, export, manipulate, transform, and visualize data; use statistical summaries; and run and evaluate machine learning models.

From the start of the course participants are immersed in the world of data: they are introduced to the concepts of big data, artificial intelligence, the internet of things, cloud computing, and data ethics in the context of real-world business scenarios. Through hands-on experience and practice they study data harvesting and exploration, as well as the basics of data visualization. After they get comfortable with data manipulation and transformation, they gain familiarity with statistical frameworks and methods designed to extract practical insights from data. Participants learn and implement common machine-learning techniques and develop and evaluate analytical solutions.

Toward the conclusion of the course, students work in groups on a final project and presentation, thereby (a) solidify their newly acquired analytical and programming skills and (b) practicing storytelling with data.

Participants should expect a dynamic and interactive environment: hands-on exercises, teamwork, continuous in-class dialogue, demonstrations, and interactive presentations. The course features real-world applications of data analytics across industries and challenges students to think in terms of the business value of data and machine learning.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
• Instructor: Elena Dubova
  Info
• Instructor: Orthi Rabbane
  Info
• Instructor: Rajeev Nair
  Info
• Instructor: Orthi Rabbane
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• Instructor: Rajeev Nair
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• 0 points

Understanding Blockchain, AI, and Machin

UNDERSTANDING BLOCKCHAIN

This course provides an overview of the world of blockchain, AI, and machine learning. We explore artificial intelligence and machine learning and seek to understand the philosophical and ethical issues, relationship with consciousness and self-awareness, the categories and applications of the different families of AI algorithms, and what challenges and opportunities lie in the future. We then open the hood and look inside blockchain to see what it is, how it has evolved, and where it is headed, including Bitcoin and cryptocurrency. We examine how these technologies will impact the future of work. Students are encouraged to think about the impact of these technologies on society and how they might become leaders and shapers in these fields.

Participants acquire an understanding and appreciation of these technologies so they can explore further on their own. The course is taught through a mix of instruction, discussion, and guest speakers.

Please note: This course is not a computer programming course and requires no prior knowledge or experience, but rather looks at these emerging technologies more broadly from business, social, political, and cultural perspectives.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Samson Williams
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• 0 points

Cell and Molecular Biology of Medicine

THE CELL AND MOLECULAR BI

At the core of most modern medical treatments is an understanding of how cells and biological molecules work. In this course we examine the functioning of medications such as antibiotics, antiviral drugs, chemotherapy, and psychiatric drugs. We also look at the molecular biology and treatment of conditions such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and auto-immune disorders such as lupus.

Class time is devoted to interactive lectures and in-class assignments designed to help students understand the connections between science and medical treatments. Outside of class, participants are expected to write a number of short essays exploring how various modern medical treatments work on a cellular and molecular level.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Frank A Ciulla
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• Instructor: Bovey Y Rao
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Cyber-Threat Intelligence

CYBER-THREAT INTELLIGENCE

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Michael J Gibbons
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• 0 points

Comedy Writing Intensive

Comedy Intensive

In this course students are introduced to the key tenets of writing and performing comedy. With the guidance of professional New York City performers and writers, they learn how to generate writing through improvisational comedy. Budding comedians and comedy writers learn how to make people laugh both on and off the page, a skill that can take practitioners down a variety of career paths on stage and in film and television. Participants hone their comedic sensibilities with a wide variety of exercises and readings, and build confidence by learning the art of Yes, and! Subject areas include sketch comedy, improvisational comedy, and stand-up. The course features frequent guest speakers.

Courses in creative writing are offered in conjunction with the Writing Program at Columbia University’s School of the Arts. Overseen by Chair of Creative Writing Timothy Donnelly, Professor Alan Ziegler, and Director of Creative Writing for Pre-College Programs Christina Rumpf, the creative writing courses are designed to challenge and engage students interested in literary creation, providing them with a substantial foundation for further exploration of their creative work.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Paulina M Pinsky
  Info
• 0 points

Core Skills for College & Beyond: Close

Core Skills Reading & Thi

Intended for students who are already strong academically, this curricular option enables participants to hone the core skills necessary to thrive not only at top-caliber American universities but also in any intellectually demanding profession and in personal life. Classroom environments are intimate and collaborative, and students learn by actively engaging with the subject matter, the instructors, and their peers. The emphasis throughout is on using reading, writing, and research as tools for thinking clearly and critically.
Close Reading and Critical Thinking
Students learn to identify and critically evaluate the intellectual content, both explicit and implied, of what they read and see. We read sophisticated texts and read into them, identifying rhetorical strategies, unstated assumptions, and hidden subtexts. We examine a variety of literary genres such as essays, fiction, poetry, journalism, and speeches and, time permitting, branch out into visual forms such as painting, graphic novels, and film. Participants become not only more insightful readers but also more nuanced thinkers. Class time is largely spent examining and discussing the material as a group. Course participants also deliver oral presentations to the class, thereby honing public speaking and presentation skills.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
• Instructor: Deborah T Aschkenes
  CULPA: 1 Info
• Instructor: Barbara Morris
  CULPA: 5 Info
• 0 points

COMEDY WRITING INTENSIVE

Writing Elective: Comedy

In this course students are introduced to the key tenets of writing and performing comedy. With the guidance of professional New York City performers and writers, they learn how to generate writing through improvisational comedy. Budding comedians and comedy writers learn how to make people laugh both on and off the page, a skill that can take practitioners down a variety of career paths on stage and in film and television. Participants hone their comedic sensibilities with a wide variety of exercises and readings, and build confidence by learning the art of Yes, and! Subject areas may include sketch comedy, improvisational comedy, and stand-up. The course includes asynchronous work, which students are expected to complete between class sessions. Courses in creative writing are offered in conjunction with the Writing Program at Columbia University’s School of the Arts. Overseen by Chair of Creative Writing Lis Harris, Professor Alan Ziegler, and Director of Creative Writing for Pre-College Programs Christina Rumpf, the creative writing courses are designed to challenge and engage students interested in literary creation, providing them with a substantial foundation for further exploration of their creative work.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 2 p.m.-3 p.m.
• Instructor: Paulina M Pinsky
  Info
• 0 points

COMEDY WRITING INTENSIVE

Writing Elective: Comedy

In this course students are introduced to the key tenets of writing and performing comedy. With the guidance of professional New York City performers and writers, they learn how to generate writing through improvisational comedy. Budding comedians and comedy writers learn how to make people laugh both on and off the page, a skill that can take practitioners down a variety of career paths on stage and in film and television. Participants hone their comedic sensibilities with a wide variety of exercises and readings, and build confidence by learning the art of Yes, and! Subject areas may include sketch comedy, improvisational comedy, and stand-up. The course includes asynchronous work, which students are expected to complete between class sessions. Courses in creative writing are offered in conjunction with the Writing Program at Columbia University’s School of the Arts. Overseen by Chair of Creative Writing Lis Harris, Professor Alan Ziegler, and Director of Creative Writing for Pre-College Programs Christina Rumpf, the creative writing courses are designed to challenge and engage students interested in literary creation, providing them with a substantial foundation for further exploration of their creative work.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 2 p.m.-3 p.m.
• Instructor: Paulina M Pinsky
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• 0 points

Contemporary Debates in American Law and

Debates in Amer Law & Soc

In this course, students gain essential skills in critical thinking and written and oral argument by studying several prominent controversies in American law and society. In recent summers these have included free speech and hate speech, immigration and open borders, religious freedom and anti-discrimination law, and abolishing/defunding the police. In considering each issue, we study texts including legal cases and works in political theory so as to evaluate the meaning and relevance of key concepts such as freedom, equality, justice, autonomy, and individuality. Course materials also include book excerpts, newspaper and magazine articles, and film clips. Guest speakers from the fields of law, government, and non-profit advocacy join us to provide insights from the “front lines” of the issues under consideration. Students are encouraged to engage in serious dialogue with and pose challenging questions to these guests. Numerous public speaking exercises also help students to become more confident, trained, and effective speakers.

The morning session is generally devoted to helping students achieve a firm grasp of the theoretical and factual arguments found in the readings, through a combination of presentations by the instructor and class discussion. The afternoon session allows participants to put these theories and facts to work in written and oral form, working both individually and in teams to construct powerful and nuanced arguments. At the end of each unit, students make arguments on various sides of each issue in structured in-class debates and other activities, marshaling ideas from the various sources so as to justify and defend their positions.

By the end of the three weeks, participants are equipped with not only deeper knowledge of the legal and political debates surrounding various key issues but also with the tools to make, understand, critically evaluate, and communicate claims of all kinds—tools which should serve them well both in their studies and as future citizens and leaders. They come away with more developed reasoning and analytical abilities, and with improved public speaking skills.

Note: While the class focuses on issues within the United States, students from other countries should feel free to apply, as most of the arguments under consideration will also be relevant to contemporary debates in other nations.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
• 0 points

Medicine as a Career Choice: Thinking Li

THINKING LIKE A DOCTOR

Becoming a physician—mastering the intricacies of the human body and working to heal when illness occurs—has long been considered a noble pursuit, but it’s not all guts and glory. It takes a particular kind of mind; one that can focus on the smallest details while keeping the big picture in sight. A doctor must see the forest and the trees.

This course is an investigation into how a physician thinks. This unique world is dissected through brain games, interactive lectures, thought experiments, and group projects. Discussion also covers what it takes to get into medical school, what it’s like to go through medical school and residency, and what it means to be a doctor in today’s society.

Potential topics to be discussed include the following:

Logic and reasoning
Evidence-based medicine
Human psychology and its influence
The crossroads of media, myth, and medicine
Ethics
Malpractice
Medicine's history and future
Participants gain a deeper knowledge of the medical world as well as what it takes to think like a doctor—and acquire mental tools that can be utilized in any aspect of life.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Prashant Vaishnava
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• Instructor: Shibrah Jamil
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• Instructor: Pamela Eliach
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• Instructor: Mayra Rodriguez
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• Instructor: Jessica Simkins
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• 0 points

Dream Writing

Studio arts courses are offered in conjunction with Columbia University's School of the Arts.

This week-long class focuses on preparing the drawing portion of a fine art portfolio application for college submissions. As the week progresses, each student receives an in-depth critique from the instructor of their current work and of their plan for their portfolio. The course is focused on completing several large projects so as to showcase observational drawing skills, ranging from still life to architectural space to self-portraiture, as well as conceptual skills.

The course combines video demonstrations of drawing techniques, individual conferences with the instructor as well as online group critiques, and virtual studio visits with professional artists. Critical issues in art are addressed once a week through group writing prompts and online discussion, so as to generate meaningful debates as a context for studio work. An online demonstration of how to professionally document and edit work in Photoshop for a digital application concludes the week.

Participants are encouraged to contextualize their creative process through language and writing, with assigned creative writing prompts, short presentations, and an ongoing sketchbook practice. A final blog houses a virtual exhibit and work is shared regularly within the community on a social media platform.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Loren S Goodman
  Wikipedia Info
• 0 points

Economics, Entrepreneurship, and Social

ECON, ENTREP, SOCIAL JUST

Can economic growth be reconciled with sustainability? Can social entrepreneurs find solutions to climate adaptation challenges? How do we incentivize fishermen to conserve the world’s fisheries? Can microfinance loans to the entrepreneurial poor reduce global poverty? What practices can businesses adopt to align their bottom lines with sustainability? How can we do well while doing good – and while embracing principles of equity, access, participation, and human rights?

In the context of policies, course participants are introduced to key concepts and skills associated with social entrepreneurship, finance, and economics and are consequently enabled to think proactively about solving some of the world’s biggest problems – while also probing how profitability and social justice might intersect and at times come into conflict.

Students are introduced to economic concepts such as supply and demand, utility, macro- and microeconomics, the time value of money, and the use of indicators. They also engage with key concepts relating to business formation and management, raising funds using debt or equity, and financial accounting.

Participants begin to see some of the largest social problems we face today as essentially economic challenges – and are then asked, through a mix of projects, debates and case studies, to come up with potential solutions, their work culminating with a social enterprise pitch competition.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
• Instructor: Isabelle Marie F Delalex
  Info
• 0 points

Economics, Entrepreneurship, and Social

ECON, ENTREP, SOCIAL JUST

Can economic growth be reconciled with sustainability? Can social entrepreneurs find solutions to climate adaptation challenges? How do we incentivize fishermen to conserve the world’s fisheries? Can microfinance loans to the entrepreneurial poor reduce global poverty? What practices can businesses adopt to align their bottom lines with sustainability? How can we do well while doing good – and while embracing principles of equity, access, participation, and human rights?

In the context of policies, course participants are introduced to key concepts and skills associated with social entrepreneurship, finance, and economics and are consequently enabled to think proactively about solving some of the world’s biggest problems – while also probing how profitability and social justice might intersect and at times come into conflict.

Students are introduced to economic concepts such as supply and demand, utility, macro- and microeconomics, the time value of money, and the use of indicators. They also engage with key concepts relating to business formation and management, raising funds using debt or equity, and financial accounting.

Participants begin to see some of the largest social problems we face today as essentially economic challenges – and are then asked, through a mix of projects, debates and case studies, to come up with potential solutions, their work culminating with a social enterprise pitch competition.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
• Instructor: Isabelle Marie F Delalex
  Info
• 0 points

Entrepreneurship: From Idea to Early Des

ENTREPRENEURSHP:IDEA TO DESIGN

This intensive ten-session course takes an applied, practical approach to the development, testing, and validation of customer or community-driven product solutions. By learning and applying contemporary design-thinking concepts and tools, students generate innovative solutions to important customer or community problems. During the program, students identify and define a major problem to be solved, work with real customers to better understand the problem from their perspective, generate multiple solutions, then choose a solution to test with real customers. Students acquire practical knowledge and tools focusing on the development, testing, and validation of new products that solve real customer problems and needs, from idea to early product development.

Students can expect to learn how to:

identify and articulate customer problems in an accurate way, reflecting how individuals truly experience the problem and its challenges
create effective customer surveys to help validate your assumptions on customer problems (pain points), solutions, and benefits (expected outcomes)
assess current solutions provided in the marketplace in order to build on best practices as well as identify gap areas
develop a minimal viable product in order to gain additional feedback on specific solution features
measure and validate customer needs fulfillment or social impact assumptions
develop a solution (business or social enterprise) model to test your assumptions about customer interests, acceptance, and use

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Jack McGourty
  CULPA: 67 Info
• 0 points

Entrepreneurship: From Idea to Early Des

ENTREPRENEURSHP:IDEA TO D

This intensive ten-session course takes an applied, practical approach to the development, testing, and validation of customer or community-driven product solutions. By learning and applying contemporary design-thinking concepts and tools, students generate innovative solutions to important customer or community problems. During the program, students identify and define a major problem to be solved, work with real customers to better understand the problem from their perspective, generate multiple solutions, then choose a solution to test with real customers. Students acquire practical knowledge and tools focusing on the development, testing, and validation of new products that solve real customer problems and needs, from idea to early product development.

Students can expect to learn how to:

identify and articulate customer problems in an accurate way, reflecting how individuals truly experience the problem and its challenges
create effective customer surveys to help validate your assumptions on customer problems (pain points), solutions, and benefits (expected outcomes)
assess current solutions provided in the marketplace in order to build on best practices as well as identify gap areas
develop a minimal viable product in order to gain additional feedback on specific solution features
measure and validate customer needs fulfillment or social impact assumptions
develop a solution (business or social enterprise) model to test your assumptions about customer interests, acceptance, and use

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Michelle Greenwald
  Info
• 0 points

Law at the Cutting Edge of Technology

Law: Cutting Edge of Tech

This class explores the application of legal principles to advancements in technology, including social media, drones, video games, cryptocurrency, and smartphone apps. In learning about these particular topics, students gain a more general understanding of some of the most important concepts underlying much of U.S. law.

We analyze the law of nuisance and trespass through the lens of Pokemon Go, and we look at the legal concept of negligence by examining product liability issues arising from injuries related to autonomous vehicles and SnapChat filters. The class then explores how the right to privacy is impacted in the physical world by drone technology, and how privacy interests are impacted in the digital world by data gathering platforms such as Facebook. We look at legal issues having to do with the future of money, gaining a basic understanding of blockchain and its role in cryptocurrency and fractional asset ownership through tokenization. Finally, through a study of “influencer” marketing, we explore advertising, marketing, and contract law through a case study of the infamous Fyre Festival.

Students learn through a combination of lecture, discussion, debate, and group work. Content and learning examples are presented in various forms, including PowerPoints, short videos, images, in-class demonstrations, and a guest speaker. Students complete a culminating project involving an oral small group presentation.

Through this immersive learning experience, participants gain a broad understanding of the law as well as enhanced analytical and problem-solving skills. They learn how to approach complex, dynamic legal problems and methodically analyze all relevant factors so as to arrive at logical, evidence-based results. Further, they practice collaborative co-creation and public speaking as they work in small groups on their culminating oral presentations.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Hilary Silvia
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• 0 points

Fundamentals of Neuroscience

FUNDAMENTALS OF NEUROSCIE

This course is designed to introduce students to foundational concepts in neuroscience through an immersive approach blending traditional lectures, weekly in-class projects, and hands-on work.

We begin with an applied introduction to cellular biology focusing on the structure of the brain and spinal cord, from individual neurons to the entire central nervous system. We then study how this biological organization enables some remarkable features of living systems - sensation, perception, and action - and how these features have changed over the course of evolution. Using this knowledge, we turn our focus to big questions in modern neuroscientific research, including theories of attention, memory, and consciousness. We wrap up the course with a discussion of the societal contributions - and ethical implications - of neuroscience.

Participants gain a rigorous introduction to key ideas in the field of neuroscience and a foundation with which to pursue further studies.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
• Instructor: Dena S Goldblatt
  Info
• 0 points

Fundamentals of Neuroscience

FUNDAMENTALS OF NEUROSCIE

This course is designed to introduce students to foundational concepts in neuroscience through an immersive approach blending traditional lectures, weekly in-class projects, and hands-on work.

We begin with an applied introduction to cellular biology focusing on the structure of the brain and spinal cord, from individual neurons to the entire central nervous system. We then study how this biological organization enables some remarkable features of living systems - sensation, perception, and action - and how these features have changed over the course of evolution. Using this knowledge, we turn our focus to big questions in modern neuroscientific research, including theories of attention, memory, and consciousness. We wrap up the course with a discussion of the societal contributions - and ethical implications - of neuroscience.

Participants gain a rigorous introduction to key ideas in the field of neuroscience and a foundation with which to pursue further studies.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
• Instructor: Dena S Goldblatt
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• Instructor: Carolina Fernandes Henriques
  Info
• 0 points

Fundamentals of Neuroscience

FUNDAMENTALS OF NEUROSCIE

This course is designed to introduce students to foundational concepts in neuroscience through an immersive approach blending traditional lectures, weekly in-class projects, and hands-on work.

We begin with an applied introduction to cellular biology focusing on the structure of the brain and spinal cord, from individual neurons to the entire central nervous system. We then study how this biological organization enables some remarkable features of living systems - sensation, perception, and action - and how these features have changed over the course of evolution. Using this knowledge, we turn our focus to big questions in modern neuroscientific research, including theories of attention, memory, and consciousness. We wrap up the course with a discussion of the societal contributions - and ethical implications - of neuroscience.

Participants gain a rigorous introduction to key ideas in the field of neuroscience and a foundation with which to pursue further studies.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
• Instructor: Carolina Fernandes Henriques
  Info
• 0 points

HSP Special Lecture

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 5 p.m.-6:15 p.m.
• 0 points

HSP Special Lecture

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 5 p.m.-6:15 p.m.
• MTWRF 1 p.m.-2 p.m.
• 0 points

Human Rights in the 21st Century: Challe

Are human rights still relevant in promoting social justice and freedom in the 21st Century? Human rights law and advocacy have been central to international politics since the end of World War II. However, recent rises in authoritarianism and anti-liberal regimes have raised new questions on whether the human rights framework is still capable of addressing injustices in the modern world. This course introduces students to the law and practice of human rights as well as the challenges of enforcing rights in an international environment that has grown increasingly hostile to principles of human dignity and personal freedom.

In the first part of the course, students review the philosophical foundations of human rights and then examine human rights from two perspectives. First, the legal perspective introduces them to basic principles and rules of international law and the main international organizations and mechanisms designed for promoting and enforcing human rights. Second, they adopt the role of social scientist. We debate evidence on the effectiveness of human rights law and discuss challenges of enforcing rights in an international system in which states are not accountable to a higher authority.

In the second part of the course, students apply their new knowledge to the problems facing human rights today. Topics include cultural relativist critiques of human rights as a Western, neo-colonialist institution, challenges from new technologies in state surveillance and autonomous weapons, and existential threats to human populations through climate change and environmental damage.

Each day participants are required to read college-level academic literature on the law and practice of human rights and engage with new ideas through group discussion and activities. The primary assignment for this course is participation in an international moot court activity, which challenges students to research and give oral arguments on a fictitious human rights case.

The course also introduces students to several different perspectives through a variety of guest lecturers.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
• 0 points

Human Rights in the 21st Century: Challe

Are human rights still relevant in promoting social justice and freedom in the 21st Century? Human rights law and advocacy have been central to international politics since the end of World War II. However, recent rises in authoritarianism and anti-liberal regimes have raised new questions on whether the human rights framework is still capable of addressing injustices in the modern world. This course introduces students to the law and practice of human rights as well as the challenges of enforcing rights in an international environment that has grown increasingly hostile to principles of human dignity and personal freedom.

In the first part of the course, students review the philosophical foundations of human rights and then examine human rights from two perspectives. First, the legal perspective introduces them to basic principles and rules of international law and the main international organizations and mechanisms designed for promoting and enforcing human rights. Second, they adopt the role of social scientist. We debate evidence on the effectiveness of human rights law and discuss challenges of enforcing rights in an international system in which states are not accountable to a higher authority.

In the second part of the course, students apply their new knowledge to the problems facing human rights today. Topics include cultural relativist critiques of human rights as a Western, neo-colonialist institution, challenges from new technologies in state surveillance and autonomous weapons, and existential threats to human populations through climate change and environmental damage.

Each day participants are required to read college-level academic literature on the law and practice of human rights and engage with new ideas through group discussion and activities. The primary assignment for this course is participation in an international moot court activity, which challenges students to research and give oral arguments on a fictitious human rights case.

The course also introduces students to several different perspectives through a variety of guest lecturers.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
• Instructor: Alexander D de la Paz
  CULPA: 2 Info
• 0 points

Introduction to Entrepreneurship & Innov

ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNO

This course is intended for students interested in learning the fundamentals of the innovation and development process that gives rise to ventures in both the commercial and social worlds. Through a combination of real-world examples and hands-on exercises, participants experience the entrepreneurial journey that has given rise to many of today’s venture success stories.

Blending theory and practice through interactive lectures, case studies, group work, and visits from experienced entrepreneurs, the course gives students as close to a real life venture creation experience as possible. We cover all the essential aspects to building a successful venture, including creating a business model, customer discovery, product-market validation, in-depth industry and market analysis, product or service innovation, go-to-market strategy, financing, and finally pitching “shark tank” style in front of a group of experts.

Working together in teams, participants work through the modules of the venture creation process. For each of the components, they follow a scientific approach whereby they create hypotheses which are then proven or pivoted using experiments and feedback from the instructor, visiting experts, and peers. They learn research methods for formulating well-supported hypotheses, acquire decision-making tools, and develop a deep understanding of how each planning activity fits into formal venture creation. They also practice their articulation skills at regular intervals so that they are ready to present their ventures in the capstone pitch sessions.

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will have created fully realizable business models. They will have also honed key professional skills including creative problem-solving, communication and negotiation, project management, financial analysis, and collaborative leadership.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
• Instructor: Michelle Greenwald
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• Instructor: Stephane Goldsand
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• 0 points

Introduction to Finance & Investment Man

INTRODUCTION TO FINANCE A

Participants learn the principles of finance - how stocks and bonds are valued, why investments make money, and why investment strategies work. They also gain a solid understanding of portfolio management - how investments are structured and balanced for different objectives.

We explore the structure of the financial system - what firms such as investment banks, asset managers, and hedge funds do, both for clients and for the economy. The course connects foundations of economics, both micro and macro, to the foundations of finance and to selecting investments. What is the role of risk in investment? How does the environment of the market and broader world drive the returns on investments? Why have some investments done so well in memorable history? Why have others not done well? How are the winners and losers of past investments explained by the theories? What is the role of traditional investments, such as mutual funds, and of alternative investments, like hedge funds?

As the final objective of the course, students generate their own investment strategies and portfolios.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Jiaqi Cui
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• Instructor: Matthew S Cantwell
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• Instructor: Angela M Paulk
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• Instructor: Thomas W Leach
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• Instructor: Rajeev Nair
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• Instructor: Carl Wernicke
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• 0 points

Filmmaking with iPhone & iPad

Film Making with Iphone

As smartphones and tablets continue to offer increasingly sophisticated capabilities, filmmakers have begun to turn to their mobile devices for both small and feature-scale projects. From Sean Baker’s Sundance feature film, Tangerine, to the Oscar-winning feature documentary, Searching for Sugar Man, mobile filmmaking has proven to be an exciting and innovative method of filmmaking.

Students in this intensive course use their iPhones or iPads to create strong, visually-driven short films with an emphasis on narrative storytelling. In the process, they learn a wide range of elementary film production techniques and build a technical and aesthetic foundation structured around film grammar, story development, script writing, sound, and editing.

In the first few days, participants learn the basic principles of mobile cinematography and gain hands-on experience as they progress from equipment assembly to on-set production protocol. They learn how to unlock the filmmaking potential of their mobile phones/tablets while taking on various key roles in the different projects - directing, cinematography, editing, and/or sound – so that each student experiences different facets of film crewing.

In the second half of the class, students work together through the stages of production: initial concept, synopsis, treatment, script, storyboards, final shooting, and editing. The instructor provides guidance throughout the process, emphasizing the students’ responsibility for carrying the project from inception to completion. In addition to film production guidance, the instructor provides practical information regarding the film industry and film schools/career paths

On the last day of the class, participants screen their completed films for review. These films can potentially be used for submission to short film festivals and as portfolio pieces for film or art school applications..

Students should arrive on the first day of class with short film ideas ready to pitch; the films are made collaboratively as group projects, so we will be able to use only some of the ideas.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Yu Cheng
  CULPA: 1 h-index: 3 Info
• 0 points

Introduction to Global Economics and Pub

GLOBAL ECON

This project-based curricular option explores the intersections of economics, policy, and international relations. The goal of the course is to provide students with an introduction to the methods and to significant content areas of global economic policy.

We examine how today's world is defined by the power of state governments, non-state actors, and networks of communication, politics, and economic exchange. We also investigate core issues facing the global community, such as growth and inequality, development, the role of corporations, sustainability, and environmental change.

The course is designed to introduce core economic concepts through experiential case studies and simulations. We explore the dynamics of corporate board meetings, international negotiations, marketing campaigns, consultancy pitches, and policy-making. Students work in teams to hone their social scientific research, writing, and presentation skills in the creation of original corporate strategy and public policy proposals.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
• Instructor: Carl Wernicke
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• Instructor: Katharine Jackson
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• 0 points

Introduction to Digital Filmmaking

DIGITAL FILMMAKING, INTRO

In this beginner-level course, participants use their personal cameras (either iPhones, iPads, or DSLR’s) to create strong, visually-driven short films and video exercises with an emphasis on the foundations of narrative storytelling. They learn a wide range of elementary film production techniques and build a technical and aesthetic foundation structured around film grammar, story development, script writing, sound, and editing.

Students begin by learning the elements of digital filmmaking with video exercises that start off simply at first, adding a new element of filmmaking with each new assignment until they advance to a final film project.

For the final film, students work sequentially through the stages of production: initial concept, synopsis, treatment, script, storyboards, and final shooting and editing. During pre-production they learn how to plan for and realize a short film from concept to shooting script. During production, they coordinate and shoot their script. In post-production, they edit and polish their projects collaboratively, sharing feedback on scripts and cuts.

Classes include both lectures and workshops, in which students thoughtfully critique and learn from each other’s work. Course instructors provide, in addition to guidance on film production, practical information regarding the film industry, film schools, and career paths.

The completed films can potentially be used for submission to short film festivals and as portfolio pieces for film or art school applications.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
• Instructor: Yu Cheng
  CULPA: 1 h-index: 3 Info
• 0 points

Investment Portfolio Management

Investment Portfolio Mgmt

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
• Instructor: Gary Tsarsis
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• Instructor: Phillip E Toth
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• Instructor: Angela M Paulk
  Info
• 0 points

Introduction to Programming with Python

INTRODUCTION TO PYTHON

This course, intended for students with little or no programming experience, provides an intensive introduction to Python, one of the most popular and user-friendly programming languages, and to programming in general.

Participants become familiar with fundamental computer science concepts and are challenged through the use of logic games, programming problems, and hands-on assignments to develop logical reasoning and problem-solving skills. Class time alternates between instruction in new concepts and practical exercises in applying these concepts, allowing students ample opportunities to work with algorithms and code.

By the end of this course, students should have a solid understanding of variables and user interaction, control flow statements, and using library functions. This knowledge will support them in future ventures in computer science and engineering.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Leighanne C Hsu
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• Instructor: Abhinav Gupta
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• 0 points

Computer Programming for Beginners: Codi

CODING WITH JAVA

An introductory course designed to develop logical reasoning and computer programming skills through immersion in the fundamentals of Java. Programming projects involving mathematical problems and logic games challenge students to develop their logical reasoning, systematic thinking, and problem-solving skills. Students become familiar with fundamental object-oriented programming concepts, algorithms, and techniques. This course covers an overview of introductory material through hands-on labs and individual and collaborative projects. Labs are carried out in the cross-platform Java environment, which will be set up on students' personal computers.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
• Instructor: Tanweer Haroon
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• Instructor: Shaheer Haroon
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• 0 points

Computer Programming for Beginners: Codi

CODING WITH JAVA

An introductory course designed to develop logical reasoning and computer programming skills through immersion in the fundamentals of Java. Programming projects involving mathematical problems and logic games challenge students to develop their logical reasoning, systematic thinking, and problem-solving skills. Students become familiar with fundamental object-oriented programming concepts, algorithms, and techniques. This course covers an overview of introductory material through hands-on labs and individual and collaborative projects. Labs are carried out in the cross-platform Java environment, which will be set up on students' personal computers.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
• 0 points

Computer Programming for Beginners: Codi

CODING WITH JAVA

An introductory course designed to develop logical reasoning and computer programming skills through immersion in the fundamentals of Java. Programming projects involving mathematical problems and logic games challenge students to develop their logical reasoning, systematic thinking, and problem-solving skills. Students become familiar with fundamental object-oriented programming concepts, algorithms, and techniques. This course covers an overview of introductory material through hands-on labs and individual and collaborative projects. Labs are carried out in the cross-platform Java environment, which will be set up on students' personal computers.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
• Instructor: Tanweer Haroon
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• Instructor: Shaheer Haroon
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• 0 points

Creative Journalism

CREATIVE JOURNALISM

What creative possibilities do true stories hold? How can truth telling and storytelling work together? This class helps students build interviewing and reporting skills while learning about journalistic ethics and exploring forms such as feature writing, profiles, op-eds, and audio pieces. Participants read a wide variety of articles and compose a new story draft every night. Through in-class workshops, students develop their skills in ways that allow them to serve as editors and peer readers for each other and for classmates and publications at their home schools.

Courses in creative writing are offered in conjunction with the Writing Program at Columbia University’s School of the Arts. Overseen by Chair of Creative Writing Lis Harris, Professor Alan Ziegler, and Director of Creative Writing for Pre-College Programs Christina Rumpf, the creative writing courses are designed to challenge and engage students interested in literary creation, providing them with a substantial foundation for further exploration of their creative work.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Elizabeth P Walters
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• Instructor: Kristen M Martin
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• Instructor: Laura J Palmer
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• 0 points

Knowledge, Reality, and Truth

Is it possible that how things “really” or “truly” are is very different from how they appear to us? Could it be, for example, that the “real world” in which we believe ourselves to live is actually a computer program, á la The Matrix? If not, then how can we know that this is not the case – what is our evidence or justification for ruling out, with certainty, such a scenario? What, if any, are the implications of skeptical scenarios for more ordinary knowledge – what, if anything, can we, as believers aiming at knowledge, learn from such apparently fantastic and improbable hypotheses? And would it make any ethical difference – would our lives be better or worse off, and in what ways – if we actually are living in the Matrix?

In attempting to answer these questions, we read selections from philosophical classics such as Plato’s Republic and René Descartes’ Meditations, as well as articles by contemporary philosophers David Mitsuo Nixon and Jim Pryor.

This course has three aims: 1) to introduce students to key themes in philosophy, particularly metaphysics and epistemology, and in so doing to show how an apparently abstruse discipline is of surprising relevance to our lives; 2) to provide students with essential tools for understanding the nature of logical reasoning and evaluating arguments; 3) to sharpen students’ abilities to express themselves clearly and cogently, in writing and especially in speaking.

Beyond thoughtful reading and active participation, students are expected to complete several short and informal writing exercises, in part as a warm-up for a longer concluding reflection on key course themes.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Alexander C Rigas
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• 0 points

Law as a Tool for Social Justice

LAW AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

Knowledge of law and legal process can be used as a tool to address issues of social justice. Whether a lawyer or a layperson, there is opportunity for individuals to engage in advocacy, whether on behalf of a single battered woman or in support of displaced refugees. In this course, which focuses primarily on the legal system in the United States, we:

Survey the fundamentals of substantive law, such as criminal law, constitutional law, property law, contract law, and torts.
Explore legal procedure as a means to enhance – or frustrate – justice.
Look closely at successful litigation and political movements as means of bringing about social change.
Meet legal practitioners in a variety of advocacy areas who share how they use the law to achieve the ends of justice.
Case studies are drawn from areas such as civil rights, environmental protection, criminal justice, immigration policy, disabilities law, international human rights, family law, and animal rights.

Participants should be willing to dedicate several hours per week on case law readings, drafting of briefs, and related debate and mock trial/moot court related tasks.

At the conclusion of the course, students, working in groups, produce strategic advocacy projects for addressing issues of interest to them from among the subjects addressed in the course.

Familiarity with the fundamentals of American government is recommended.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
• Instructor: James O'Brien
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• 0 points

Thinking and Problem Solving: Math in th

MATH IN THE REAL WORLD

In this course intended for students who enjoy mathematics and logical reasoning, participants explore innovative ways in which math is used in the real world, in fields such as economics, computer science, media, and the physical sciences. By engaging with challenging practical problems, students hone their independent thinking and problem-solving skills.

Areas covered include the following:

Graph theory, a topic heavily developed by both mathematicians and computer scientists. We explore algorithmic ways to compute, for example, the optimal path between two points on a map (minimizing cost, time, or another parameter). Another application is minimizing the cost of an electrical network which has to provide power to all residents in a new neighborhood.
Probability and its numerous applications. We look at how probabilities are applied in economics and in popular media, and examine how they can sometimes be counter-intuitive or even deceptive.
Various counting methods, combinatorics, and examples of Nash equilibria. We study applications of these techniques in economics (the prisoner's dilemma), computer science (assessing the complexity of an algorithm), finance (loans and investments), and biology (population growth).
Students work individually and in groups to find creative solutions to given problems. Each student also works on a project of his or her own choosing, on a topic about which he or she is passionate.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
• Instructor: Evan Toler
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• Instructor: Luke Peilen
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• 0 points

The Media and Politics in Global Perspec

THE MEDIA AND POLITICS: G

The combination of globalization and new communication technologies has had a dramatic impact on the relationship between media and politics. In this course we explore the centrality of the media as a force challenging and, in some cases, altering relations of power within and between societies. Starting from the premise that freedom of expression is a fundamental requirement for any truly democratic system, particular attention is given to how approaches to media and politics vary globally, and how these differences impact the way politicians, journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens operate within the broader political process.

We critically examine the impact of political communication on policy-making, elections, and political movements, with the goal of developing a deeper understanding of the relationship between citizens, media, and governments in a rapidly changing, increasingly interconnected world. In so doing, we investigate the connection between media and current political trends and conflicts around the world, including, but not limited to, the United States, Europe, Russia, the Middle East, and Asia.

Students engage with the course material through a combination of lectures, daily discussions, short essays, group research projects, and guest speakers from the worlds of journalism and politics. Participants also work in teams to create media campaigns designed to generate greater public awareness and support for a hypothetical non-governmental organization (NGO), developing their own mission statements, messaging strategies, and targeted media plans.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
• Instructor: Timothy Novak
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Global Migration & Personal Identity

GLOBAL MIGRATION

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Hayet Sellami
  CULPA: 3 Info
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Natural Resources, Global Markets, and

NTRL RSRCES,GLBL MKTS,IMP

How has the US–China trade war affected the growth of world economies? Why has Latin America, a region rich in natural resources, not been able to attain economic growth levels similar to those in Asia? What implications does a potential global water crisis pose to how nations interact with one another? How has the mix of traditional and renewable energy sources made an impact on the United States? Is it unethical to apply economic principles to natural resources?

This course examines these type of questions as it dives into the fundamentals of natural resources, their pivotal role in the development of OECD (Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development) and non-OECD economies, and the monetization impact from Wall Street to the end consumer on Main Street.

Through case study analyses of current events, students develop an understanding of global reserves and yields of natural resources, identify world consumers and producers – i.e. export (supply/origin) and import (demand/destination) hubs – along with transportation channels, and conduct deep dive analyses in group settings on the financial life of these resources and their contribution to the pace of global growth.

Complementary to these topics, participants debate the basis for responsible business procurement of natural resources – including those that are sustainable – and their effect in the global landscape.

Students gain an understanding of – and think critically about – various natural resources (agricultural, energy, mineral, and livestock) and the key challenges of international trade in an interconnected world. They also learn about the social impact of exploration and production of these raw materials. Topics explored include the relevance of geopolitical analysis, how shipping markets and freight rates/chartering are crucial to world trade, and the growing presence of private capital in shoring up global imbalances.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• 0 points

Novel-Writing Intensive

This intensive, one-week course is designed to teach students the ins-and-outs of novel writing, from conception to outlining to the writing itself. Whether interests lie in literary fiction, young adult, fantasy, or any other genre, we focus on how to structure and plot a successful novel. We also touch on establishing conflict, world-building, character work, pacing, and how to create an effective scene.

Course participants share their writing in a workshop setting and receive in-depth feedback from both their peers and the instructor. By the end of the week, students will have completed an original outline and at least one full chapter of their novel. Not only does this course impart a greater understanding of what it means to craft a long-form work of fiction, it will also help students become stronger and more confident in their overall writing skills.

Courses in creative writing are offered in conjunction with the Writing Program at Columbia University’s School of the Arts. Overseen by Chair of Creative Writing Lis Harris, Professor Alan Ziegler, and Director of Creative Writing for Pre-College Programs Christina Rumpf, the creative writing courses are designed to challenge and engage students interested in literary creation, providing them with a substantial foundation for further exploration of their creative work.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Rachel E Carter
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• Instructor: Hilary J Leichter
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• Instructor: Anya C Yurchyshyn
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Crafting the Novel

CRAFTING THE NOVEL

Whether you are interested in writing literary fiction, young adult, fantasy, sci-fi, or mystery, certain truths about crafting a novel hold true across genres. This course is designed to teach students the ins-and-outs of novel writing, from conception to outlining to the writing itself. We focus on how to structure a novel as well as establishing conflict, world-building, character work, pacing, and how to create an effective scene.

Course participants share their writing in a workshop setting and receive in-depth feedback from both their peers and the instructor. By the end of the three weeks, they will have completed an original outline and the first three chapters of their novel. They leave with a greater understanding of what it means to craft a long-form work of fiction—and having become stronger and more confident in their overall writing skills.

Applicants must submit one or two writing samples, 5-10 pages total (longer submissions are acceptable), and one paragraph summarizing an original novel idea (this can be a new concept or something you have already been working on).

Courses in creative writing are offered in conjunction with the Writing Program at Columbia University’s School of the Arts. Overseen by Chair of Creative Writing Lis Harris, Professor Alan Ziegler, and Director of Creative Writing for Pre-College Programs Christina Rumpf, the creative writing courses are designed to challenge and engage students interested in literary creation, providing them with a substantial foundation for further exploration of their creative work.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
• Instructor: Hilary J Leichter
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• Instructor: Rachel E Carter
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• Instructor: Anya C Yurchyshyn
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Introduction to Neuroscience: Understand

INTRO TO NEUROSCIENCE

This course is designed for students interested in the science of the brain, including its evolutionary origins, early development, and role in generating behavior. We explore theories of the brain as the seat of the self from ancient Greece to modern times, and investigate systems that make up the brain from the individual neuron to the entire central nervous system. We also look into how sensation, perception, and decision making work at the physiological level. The course blends historical trends in neuroscience with modern experiments and findings, and touches on major areas of research including animal studies, recording and imaging techniques, computational neuroscience, and neuropharmacology.

In-class small-group exercises, in addition to lectures, allow students to tangibly explore the ideas presented in class. Participants construct various models of the brain, critique professional neuroscientific papers as “peer-reviewers,” and visualize actual neural data with instructor guidance.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
• Instructor: Pamela J Osborn Popp
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• Instructor: Anamaria Alexandrescu
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• Instructor: Stephen Keeley
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• Instructor: Anamaria Alexandrescu
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• Instructor: Alexander Goldberg
  h-index: 5 Info
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INTRODUCTION TO THE SCIENCE OF PSYCHOLOG

THE SCIENCE OF PSYCHOLOGY

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 11:10 a.m.-1 p.m.
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INTRODUCTION TO THE SCIENCE OF PSYCHOLOG

THE SCIENCE OF PSYCHOLOGY

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 11:10 a.m.-1 p.m.
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Physics and Technologies of the Future

PHYSICS AND TECHNOLOGIES

In this course, intended for students who have an interest in science and technology but have not yet taken physics, participants are introduced to key concepts in the field and look at how these concepts are changing the world.

Topics covered include electromagnetics, quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, newtonian mechanics, waves, stars and galaxies, nuclear physics, Einstein’s theory of relativity, and string theory. Having gained some understanding of these concepts, students explore new technologies in areas such as brain computer interfaces, artificial intelligence, gene sequence analysis, renewable energy, virtual reality, and biotechnology.

Participants explore virtual experiments so as to understand reflection and refraction, write code for object recognition, and work with MATLAB (a software used by scientists and engineers) to create simulated models. They gain insights into best research practices and learn to peer-review science articles. They also work in groups on projects that they present at the end of the course.

For this course, augmented reality pioneer, Amir Baradaran is working with the instructor to develop an augmented reality application, My DigiLab, which will be accessible to students for the duration of the program. The platform is a multi-user pedagogical software, accessible through Android and iOS smartphones, that immerses students into a digitally created interactive scientific laboratory that simulates hands-on and real-time learning experiments. Students will learn by observing, interacting with, and manipulating virtual objects that are overlaid on top of their physical space. This educational gaming concept allows for students to engage with the existing online curriculum in strikingly different ways.

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
• Instructor: Prachi Patel
  h-index: 3 Info
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INTRODUCTION TO ROBOTICS

• Department: Summer High School Program
• MTWRF 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
• Instructor: Michael D Liebis
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