Coursework and Daily Schedule

Get a jump start on college, meet new people, and learn what campus life is all about!
A picture of the Public Speaking and the Career Pathway course.
Live and Learn at Ithaca College this Summer

Choose a course in communications, environmental sciences, health, or writing. You will finish the program with new friends, memorable experiences, and three undergraduate credits!

The program runs from Sunday, July 12 through Friday, July 31, 2026.

Submit an Interest Form Now (Applications will open on January 1, 2026)

2026 Course Offerings

Enroll in ONE course, learn how to work with college faculty, and earn three undergraduate credits.
Course NameFacultyDescription
The Media and Me: An Introduction to Critical Media LiteracyMarcy Sutherland & Mickey HuffThis course addresses aspects of contemporary critical media literacy, including media ownership, the production and distribution of media, and how power structures and culture shape our own use of media. Students will develop the ability to think critically about what they read and watch, and will gain the tools and perspectives to become more empowered and autonomous media users. The course will cover topics like storytelling, building logical arguments, recognizing false claims, and surveillance and digital gatekeeping with the goal of facilitating critical thinking and social media use. This course is for anyone interested in becoming a journalist, an educator, a digital influencer, or any professional path where communication and media literacy are key!
Course NameFacultyDescription
Wildlife Tracking and Nature ObservationJason HamiltonThis is an experiential field class that gives you the opportunity for hands-on learning to develop the skills of an ecological field scientist and naturalist. You will learn fundamental tree identification, mammal behavior and identification, the use of motion-activated trail cameras, and how to move through natural landscapes without creating disturbance. Nature observation skills can be applied wherever you find yourself, from big cities to wild areas. You will become a detective, practicing tracking skills to become familiar with the details of the lives of local wildlife including coyotes, deer, foxes, raccoons, opossums, weasels, mice, and bobcats. Once we understand the lives of our non-human neighbors, we will be positioned to explore wildlife conservation, and the role of humans in today's ecosystems. This course is for anyone interested in careers in environmental sustainability, field biology/ecology, natural resource management, conservation science, or wildlife biology.
Course NameFacultyDescription
Foundations of Health, Human Performance, and Wellness
 		Eber Beck

This course offers an engaging orientation to health, human performance, and wellness at the individual, group, and population levels. Together we will explore structures and functions of the human body and the influence of contemporary biopsychosocial factors such as cultural background and socioeconomic status. During the course, students will participate in hands-on learning in a variety of campus-based labs and clinics, as well as off-campus field visits. The course also introduces students to the diversity of health, human performance, and wellness professions, as well as the foundations of effectively working on interprofessional health care teams. This course is for anyone interested in health, human performance, and wellness. It would also benefit students considering a major in health studies (e.g., exercise science, kinesiology, nutrition, psychology) and/or a career as a physician, physician assistant, athletic trainer, occupational therapist, physical therapist, etc.

Course NameFacultyDescription
Imaginative WritingKatharyn MachanImaginative Writing will prepare students for college-level creative writing. In a safe, exploratory climate, students will be guided through the basic techniques of crafting personal essays, short stories, and poems, as well as flash fiction and other fantasy fiction. Because good writers are also hungry readers, we’ll look closely at the works of diverse authors for inspiration and learning. Peer workshops will play a large role in this interactive course alongside in-class exercises and homework writing prompts. Work culminates in a reflective final portfolio consisting of 1) at least one personal essay, 2) at least one short story, and 3) at least three poems or hybrid works.

“I really enjoyed bonfire nights, movie nights, and a lot of the activities that just encouraged everyone to hangout on the quad or lawn together. There were no activities that weren't enjoyable.”

2022 participant

Daily Schedule

Classes are held Monday through Friday. Students engage with faculty and one another regularly during the week, and during social activities after scheduled class periods, in the evenings, and on weekends. Over the weekend, students will enjoy more opportunities to explore Ithaca — including the Farmers Market and Taughannock Falls State Park — as well as to interact with students participating other pre-college programs operating on campus. 

What follows is a general schedule of day-day activities for participants in this program. A final schedule will be shared with participants and families about one week prior to the program start date.

TimeActivity
08:00 - 09:30Breakfast
09:30 - 11:30Class
11:30 - 01:00Lunch
01:00 - 02:30Class
02:30 - 03:30 Optional meetings with faculty, teaching assistants, or downtime
3:30 - 5:30Campus Activity
5:30 - 7:00Dinner
7:00 - 9:00Homework or Social Activity