Courses
Summer Institute (SI) fellows receive advanced academic preparation in courses designed to enhance their graduate experience and relate to the participants’ specific research interests. Fellows should select the SI academic option that is most relevant to the academic discipline in which they plan to do research. For the most part, these courses take place during the U-M Summer Half Term.
- Directed Research for Program in Biomedical Sciences (PIBS)
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Fellows in the Program in Biomedical Sciences (PIBS) are required to engage in full-time research in the laboratory of a faculty member from any one of the 14 doctoral degree programs within PIBS. The lab is selected by mutual arrangement between the student and faculty. Included in the PIBS research experience are directed readings in the specific field of research and background areas, as well as mentoring from both the faculty member and advanced graduate students. This lab experience will qualify as one of the required research rotations in PIBS.
- Students who are doing directed research in any discipline are required to participate in the Science and Values seminars (see description below) and must schedule their research time around the seminar schedule and communicate this to their faculty mentor.
- Non-credit bearing.
- Directed Research in Other Disciplines (This option is available to all disciplines.)
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Fellows in disciplines (other than PIBS) may elect to engage in full-time research with a faculty member in their department. SI fellows must find a faculty member in their department who will work with them during the dates of the SI. For information about possible faculty members to work with, please visit your department’s website and review the faculty members’ research areas and projects. Fellows should contact potential faculty members directly (via e-mail) to inquire about working with them over the summer through the SI program. The directed research project is selected by mutual agreement between the student and faculty member and should be entered in the SI online registration forms.
- Students who are doing directed research in any discipline are required to participate in the Science and Values seminars (see description below) and must schedule their research time around the seminar schedule and communicate this to their faculty mentor.
- Non-credit bearing.
- Science and Values Seminars (Required for all students doing Directed Research)
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The goal of these seminars is to explore the ethical, social, institutional, and personal components of careers in science and engineering. “Science” is defined broadly and includes the basic biological, physical and social sciences as well as engineering. Seminars are devoted primarily to discussion. Weekly readings will include book sections and articles that give broad overviews of the day-to-day realities and challenges of scientific research. The readings plus the experiences that students are having as they adjust to the University of Michigan provide the basic material for discussion. The main course requirements are weekly responses to the readings, active participation and a final project related to the students’ research during the summer.
- This course meets Monday and Wednesday, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
- Non-credit bearing.
- Mathematical and Research Skills for Engineering and the Physical Sciences
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This course requires interested students to complete and return a placement exam. The exam will be available for download from the course selection site by April 27, 2012.
This course provides a comprehensive study of many key mathematical concepts and tools essential to engineering and the physical sciences, including complex variables, linear algebra through eigenvalues and eigenvectors, and differential equations. These are explored through exciting applications suitable to each student’s individual research interests. This course will prepare fellows for the expectations and pace of the University of Michigan’s doctoral programs in physical sciences and engineering.
Students taking the math course are strongly encouraged to also work with a faculty mentor/advisor on a research project for 10 hours/week. For information about possible faculty members to work with, please visit your department’s website and review faculty members’ research areas and projects. Fellows should contact potential faculty members directly (via e-mail) to inquire about working with them for 10 hours/week over the summer through the SI program. In addition, students taking the math course are strongly encouraged to attend the Science and Values seminars.
- This course meets Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
- Non-credit bearing course.
- Statistics for Social and Behavioral Sciences
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Through the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) Fellows may enroll in courses, ranging from basic to advanced statistics, which focus on the methodologies and technologies of social science research. ICPSR faculty members emphasize the integration of methodological strategies with the theoretical and practical concerns that arise in research on substantive social issues.
- ICPSR courses run from June 18 to August 10, 2012.
- Non-credit bearing courses, unless program petitions Summer Institute.
- Click here for ICPSR course descriptions and schedules. (Note: SI fellows do not register online through the ICPSR registration site, but instead register through the SI online registration site.)
- Theory, Method and Research in the Humanities
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This innovative course, developed specifically for the Summer Institute, provides fellows with the opportunity for a broad exploration of research in the humanities that is rarely afforded to students in these fields. Topics include a survey of contemporary social and cultural theory, the range of approaches used in humanities research (including the new tools available in the digital age), the conceptual and institutional structure of academic disciplines, and the vital challenge of interdisciplinarity. Portions of the course design have been left open so that material relevant to the enrolled students’ fields may be added.
- This course meets Monday and Wednesday, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
- Summer Language Institute
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Fellows may take a language course offered through the Summer Language Institute (SLI) if the course meets departmental requirements or is necessary for future research. Departmental or faculty documentation will be required. Enrollment in these courses cannot be guaranteed. Fellows must indicate an alternate course offered through the SI in case SLI courses are full.
- SLI courses that are open to SI participants are offered from June 27 to August 14, 2012. Additional registration materials are required by the SLI, so contact the SI staff as soon as possible if you are interested in registering for SLI courses. (Note: Special permission may be given for 10-week courses but must be approved prior to the SI registration deadline.)
- Non-credit bearing courses, unless program petitions Summer Institute.
- Click here for Summer Language Institute course descriptions and schedules.