UM’S Pre-College Summer Program Summer Exploration

Experience a transformative live-in experience while exploring all aspects of student life as you engage with world-class faculty, explore iconic landscapes and communities surrounding Missoula, Montana, and build meaningful connections with other high school students and graduating seniors, like yourself.

This program is open to in-state and out-of-state students entering their junior and senior years in the fall of 2024, as well as seniors graduating in the spring of 2024.

Admitted students will be enrolled in one of the four courses below and earn two college credits upon successful completion.

Summer Exploration offers high school students infinite possibilities during a transformative live-in, shared, two-week experience. Admitted students will explore all aspects of student life as they engage with world-class faculty, explore the iconic landscapes and communities surrounding Missoula, Montana, and build meaningful connections with other high school students and graduating high school seniors.

Open to in-state and out-of-state mature and academically motivated students who are entering their junior or senior year in the fall of 2024, as well as seniors graduating in the spring of 2024. Admitted students will need to be present for the entire length of the official program (July 13 in the afternoon through the Final Showcase and Closing Dinner on July 25).

Admitted students will be enrolled in one of the four courses listed below and earn two college credits upon successful completion.

Creating Your Narrative (MART 191)

One of the critical issues facing our students today is sharing meaningful and impactful stories. In this course, students will learn how to create narratives from ideation to implementation. Students will share their stories by creating virtual and augmented reality worlds, building games, creating podcasts, and expressing themselves through therapeutic dance. Students will also critically examine artificial intelligence's role in the world around us and how it can positively and negatively influence the stories that are told. This course will conclude with students sharing their experiences and stories.

CSI Missoula (CJUS 191)

Students in this course will examine all the components of the U.S. criminal justice system by working on a simulated murder investigation from crime scene investigation, to profiling, to mock trial and conviction. Students will understand proper crime scene investigative techniques and how to examine genetic forensic evidence, as well as learn the basics of profiling and interviewing suspects and witnesses. This course will conclude with students conducting a mock trial to try to convict the suspect in the simulated murder case. No real human remains, or photographs will be utilized in this course, although students will be exposed to potentially emotionally distressing themes and concepts.

Environmental Ethics: Climate Change and Sense of Place (ENST 191)

While sleeping under the stars, hiking alpine ridges, and engaging in daily class discussions, students will study the regional effects of climate change and meet people working to address climate and environmental justice. This course is perfect for adventurous students who are eager to learn outside, and who are committed to building a world where human and ecological communities can thrive together. Students in the course will be away from campus for seven days and six nights, camping with a small group of instructors and other students, and backpacking for four days in one of Montana's iconic wilderness areas. During this expedition, students will be away from technology and cell phones. While no prior backpacking or camping experience is required, students must be able to hike 10 miles with a heavy backpack (50 pounds)

Montana Habitats (BIOB 191)

This course explores the living systems of Montana with a focus on understanding common habitats. We highlight geologic and climatological influences on Montana’s remarkable diversity of ecosystems and species. We examine vegetation patterns across Montana and how these patterns influence the distribution of common species of animals. We connect discussions of Montana's habitats with energy dynamics in living systems. The course concludes by examining the human influence on natural systems. Learning in this class includes several field investigations, but does not involve extensive travel or hiking.