Sophomore Honors Summer Academy Courses
Completed Sophomore Year Spring 2022
Select two courses from two different subject areas!
Introduction to Engineering II
Professional Studies
Professor Kevin Plumlee. This course is designed to introduce you to electrical, computer and mechanical engineering studies through lectures, problem solving, and an applied lab experiences. You will study the various approaches to engineering using the lab as an illustration of how engineers develop and implement solutions in their fields.
The undergraduate Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering degree programs are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org.
Debate: How to Argue Social Issues from a Christian Perspective without Being a Jerk
Humanities
Dr. Brian Simmons. Christians in today’s American culture often find themselves in situations where they are discussing social issues with people who don’t share a Christian worldview—or with those who do but disagree with you. Too often in such situations, Christians become “jerks” practicing uncivil discourse and damaging the name of Christ. Therefore, this course is designed to equip you with rudimentary argumentation techniques and civil discourse practices.
Fantasy Literature: Heroes in the Making
Humanities
Mr. Chris Rosser. Heroes in the Making explores the hero as a character in myth and story, ancient and modern. From the clay etchings of Gilgamesh to colorful embodiments in graphic novels, hero characters live, move, and have their being among us, so pervasive that we largely take the hero archetype for granted. But what makes a hero? Through select readings and guided engagement with diverse media (including anime, film, comics, storytelling, and song), students analyze, celebrate, and problematize the hero archetype. Lovers of story and aspiring writers will deepen appreciation for heroes in the making: the construction of hero characters we know and love, heroes who inhabit fiction’s other worlds. But fiction has this power: what we learn in story is formative and follows us out, so that we also are (each of us) heroes in the making.
Introduction to Cell Biology
Science
Dr. Eric Phelps. Features lab culturing of HeLa Cells. Explore the significance of how one woman’s cancer and one scientist’s dream revolutionized Cellular Biology. Learn the fundamentals of how normal human cells are transformed into cancer cells; become familiar with laboratory sterile cell culture techniques; be responsible for maintaining proper growth conditions for a plate of human cancer cells.
Intro to Cybersecurity: Cyber Sleuthing
Professional Studies
Dr. Curtis Coleman. This course is designed to introduce high school students to the exciting science of Cybersecurity using an experiential approach to learning Computer Science, with an emphasis on application and teamwork. Students will be introduced to classical cryptography, malware and social engineering attacks, password cracking, and open source intelligence. The final exam for the week long course a practical exam, the Sherlock Holmes Escape Room, where students will work in teams and apply cybersecurity principles and skills to solve a cyber-mystery to escape from Sherlock’s Library.
Introduction to Mathematics
Professional Studies
Mr. Don Leftwich. In this course we will explore interesting concepts related to Mathematics and Philosophy. Students will be exposed to the symmetries and beauty of mathematics in ways that are not always apparent in traditional courses. Students will be challenged to think about and explore areas of mathematics that they will not likely have encountered before.
Introduction to Motion Capture
Humanities
Mr. Skyler Thomas. This course introduces students to reimagine how we tell stories in a digital age through Game Development & Virtual Production (VP). With Epic Games Unreal Engine and motion capture technology, virtual production empowers the world’s leading visual storytellers to deliver deeply immersive experiences that engage audiences like never before.
Introduction to Wise Business Practices
Professional Studies
Dr. Burt Smith. This course explores the world of business, the free enterprise system, and why a career in the business world is not only consistent with God’s will, but offers opportunities for far-reaching service. Students will gain an understanding of what business is, its major functions, and how the business leader is both a steward and a servant. Whether the student chooses business as formal study or not, he or she will learn skills that can be used in any career.
Life-Giving & Life-Saving Chemistry
Science
Dr. Amanda Nichols. A hands-on introduction to the chemistry of life. From biomolecules that make up living beings to synthetic molecules capable of saving lives, the power of the One True God is revealed through the chemistry that makes life possible.