Summer Springboard
Middle School Fundamentals of Engineering
IN BERKELEY
THIS PROGRAM COMBINES ACADEMIC COURSES, INTERACTIVE LABS, AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES TO GIVE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS A SUPPORTIVE, FUN, AND ENRICHING SUMMER EXPERIENCE.
THIS IS A ONE-WEEK PROGRAM WHERE YOU’LL FOCUS ON ONE COURSE FOR THE ENTIRE DURATION.
Middle School Fundamentals of Engineering in Berkeley
- Discover how engineers use creativity, science, and innovation to solve real-world problems through hands-on learning.
- Design, build, test, and redesign your own projects using the engineering design process.
- Explore key fields like civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering through themed challenges and daily activities.
- Transform everyday materials into functional prototypes that demonstrate energy, motion, and structure in action.
- Build essential skills in teamwork, creative thinking, and problem-solving while bringing core STEM concepts to life.
- Gain real-world insight into engineering careers through Q&A sessions with industry professionals and exposure to emerging technologies.
Summer Springboard
Middle School Fundamentals of Engineering
About This Course
This weeklong, hands-on course in Berkeley introduces middle school students to the exciting world of engineering and design through creative, project-based learning. Each day explores a different branch of engineering, such as energy, motion, and structure, while students use the design process to plan, build, test, and redesign prototypes like rubber band–powered vehicles, circuits, and programmable models. Working with everyday materials, students develop problem-solving, teamwork, and creative thinking skills as they bring core STEM concepts to life. The program also includes Q&A sessions with industry professionals, offering real-world insight into engineering careers and emerging technologies. By the end, students gain a strong foundation in engineering and the confidence to see themselves as future innovators.
TOPICS YOU'LL EXPLORE
Hands-on Learning
This course emphasizes learning by doing through exciting, hands-on engineering projects that bring core STEM concepts to life. Each day, students apply scientific principles to design, build, and test their own creations such as rubber band–powered vehicles, functioning circuits, and programmable prototypes. Guided by the engineering design process, students move beyond theory to experiment, problem-solve, and iterate their designs, gaining a deep understanding of how real engineers approach challenges. By the end of the program, students will have built a collection of tangible projects that demonstrate their creativity, teamwork, and technical skills.
RESOURCES
Course Infosheet
Click here to view or download the printable infosheet for this course.
Program Catalog
Click here to request our catalog to learn more about our summer programs and courses.
Campus Page
Click here to view the website page for this campus and learn more.
“It was great here. Almost everything was perfect and I genuinely feel that I gained something from this. I finally know what I want to do in life and want to work hard for it.”
– Malcolm C. | Alumni Student
Summer Springboard
Middle School Fundamentals of Engineering
Meet Your Instructor
Dr. Roya Nasimi is an Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at California State University, East Bay, where she joined the faculty in Fall 2023 as the program’s first appointed civil engineering faculty member. She has since played a central role in developing and teaching the core civil engineering curriculum.
Dr. Nasimi directs the Dynamics and Smart Structures Lab (DSSL), which she founded as a hands-on learning and research environment for students, and has also contributed to upgrading the university’s Surveying Lab. In addition to Civil Engineering, she supports the Construction Management and Industrial Engineering programs through interdisciplinary teaching and curriculum development.
She earned her Ph.D. with distinction in Structural Engineering from the University of New Mexico. Prior to joining CSUEB, Dr. Nasimi was a postdoctoral researcher and instructor at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where she taught both civil and mechanical engineering students. As a lead postdoctoral researcher, she contributed to a U.S. Department of Defense–funded project that received the NATO Innovation Challenge Award in 2022.
Dr. Nasimi’s research focuses on structural health monitoring, computer vision, artificial intelligence, and machine learning for infrastructure assessment. She has extensive experience with full-scale bridge experiments. She is particularly passionate about integrating research, computation, and real-world engineering challenges into student learning experiences.
DR. ROYA NASIMI
“It was a fun experience where I met lots of friends and got a feel for what college will be like.”
-J. Sander | Alumni Student
Summer Springboard
Middle School Fundamentals of Engineering
Dates & Tuition
| 2026 Dates |
|---|
| Session 1: July 5 – July 10, 2026 |
| Session 2: July 12 – July 17, 2026 |
| Session 3: July 19 – July 24, 2026 |
| Session 4: July 26 – July 31, 2026 |
Click here to enroll in this course using our online enrollment form.
| Tuition |
|---|
| Residential Tuition: $2,998 |
| Commuter Tuition: $1,598 |
| Supplement: $250 |
Tuition Protection Plan: Allows for cancellation for any reason up until the day of the program.
| Location |
|---|
| City: Berkeley |
| State: California |
| Campus: Berkeley |
Summer Springboard programs are not run by our campus partners (with the exception of Cal Poly, UW Foster and NYSID which are run in partnership with SSB). Universities and their affiliated departments and partners do not control and are not responsible or liable in any manner for any part of the Summer Springboard program.