Berkeley

This course will introduce students to 3D CAD design and fast prototyping using a 3D printer that they will make to take home with them. Students will learn how to design products using Autodesk Fusion360 and then build a Creality Ender Pro V2 3D printer. They will also learn how to use the 3D printer for fast prototyping, review, and improvements of their designs. The course will cover the principles of 3D CAD design, including design methodology, geometric modeling, and assembly modeling. Students will also learn the fundamentals of 3D printing, including how to select and maintain a 3D printer, materials, and printing techniques.

Every “thing” around us is getting smarter because of the exploding field of the Internet of Things, also known as IoT. This technology brings people, processes, data and things together to make networked connections to everything. Smart thermostats, doorbells, refrigerators, cars, and more are connecting to the Internet and fueling this fast-growing industry. In this course, students will experience hands-on learning and work with many IoT projects and devices. Students will get an introduction to basic electrical engineering and the various applications and the processes involved with developing products using IoT. They will learn about sensors, wireless communication, scripting, and security. Go beyond the fundamentals of engineering and work on specialized real-world projects in this fascinating field of electrical engineering.

Are you considering a career in architecture or design? Are you working on your college application and portfolio? Or are you simply curious about what it is like to be an architect?
The Summer Springboard architecture course for high school students introduces architectural ideas, design principles, and methods of exploring problems of the built environment in a collaborative studio setting. While working on a design project you will learn about the academic path to an architectural degree, the day-to-day work of an architect, and the career opportunities.

Excursions – Students in this program have had the opportunity to visit some of San Francisco’s top architectural firms including: Studio Sarah Wilmer, Aidlin Darling Design, and Studio O+A. Students have also had the opportunity to explore the concept of mimetic design with a culminating project that was set in the natural beauty of Inspiration Point in the Tilden Regional Park.

Are you interested in medicine, science and technology? Is your goal to create a life saving drug? This is a unique opportunity for high school students to gain real exposure and hands-on experience working in a state-of-the-art science lab utilizing advanced equipment. The goal of this program is to provide students intensive laboratory experience relevant to the biotechnology field, and to understand fundamental chemical processes common in prokaryotic and eukaryotic biology, and classical and molecular genetics with an emphasis on gene expression and genetic engineering. 

Students will learn firsthand from business veterans about starting and running a business. Over the course of the program, they will develop a plan for a new venture and pitch their idea to real world investors. Along the way, meet with leaders from different areas of business and finance.

Excursions – Students in this program have visited the Salesforce Tower, Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, and Bay Area start up businesses such as trustlab, an online safety and compliance solution, and Circuit Launch, a shared electronic and prototype lab for startups. In past years, students have visited Facebook, the Better Business Bureau, The Cheese Board Collective and other businesses.

This program challenges students to think critically and creatively about today’s most pressing technology-related questions. Students will be exposed to the whole cycle of product development from database architecture and APIs to debugging. The curriculum is tailor-made to the skills of each individual student so beginner, intermediate, and advanced students are all welcome.

Excursions – Last year, students got the opportunity to visit technology companies such as Thunkable and Google Geo Education. Thunkable staff members described their scholastic and career journeys and the different responsibilities that they have with the team. Nearly all of the employees are graduate and undergraduate students at MIT and worked on the original MIT App Inventor project. Students also got a behind the scenes tour of Google, where they heard an insightful talk from the Google Earth Education Team.

Engineering is one of the top desired careers in many companies. These businesses are always in need of creative minds that can problem solve on their feet and help the company save money, solve issues, and expand their reach. If you are considering a career in Engineering, this course will help you explore what it takes to be an engineer. We will explore facets of mechanical, structural, civil, and electrical engineering in a hands-on, minds-on approach.

Excursions – Students in this program have visited Circuit Launch, an innovative shared electronic and prototype lab, woodshop and additive manufacturing facility, the Chabot Space Center/NASA Ames Visitor Center, and Intel headquarters.

The Ecology & Environmental Science course integrates knowledge and methodologies from various biophysical and social science disciplines to understand and address complex environmental issues. With the recognition that environmental science is inherently interdisciplinary, the course will draw upon biology, chemistry, physics, and ecology, as well as psychology, communications, education, economics, and policy studies to understand humanity’s impact on the environment and the complexity that goes into developing truly sustainable solutions. This interdisciplinary approach is crucial for comprehensively studying and tackling the intricate web of interconnected environmental challenges, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, which require a holistic understanding that transcends the boundaries of individual scientific fields.

Discover how individuals, businesses, and governments make decisions about the use of scarce resources in a world of unlimited wants and needs, and what implications economic issues can cause, such as tax and inflation, interest rates and wealth, inequality and emerging markets, and energy and the environment. The Economics course will provide the structure required to understand the way our world operates, from the choices we make in our everyday lives to how businesses or governments achieve their desired objectives.

Our summer medical program for high school students gives you a 360 degree view of the medical and healthcare field, as well as immersive learning through hands-on projects and simulations.

Excursions – In past years, students went to the KANBAR Simulation Center, which supports UCSF’s educational mission of teaching, learning, and assessment through simulation recreating routine and complex situations. Additionally, students received a behind the scenes tour of Berkeley Fire Department #3 and met with their EMT staff who shared about career opportunities in emergency response and provided a tour of an ambulance. All of the students also complete the requirements to receive their Red Cross Adult & Child CPR certification.

Students in this course will be introduced to the fundamental mathematical concepts that underpin machine learning. They will learn how to use math to design algorithms and select parameters, as well as the use of data analytics to analyze, visualize and interpret data. Students in this course will not need to have any prior coding experience. Students will learn the necessary Python skills to load in a dataset in csv, plot data and save dataset to disk, and model in Machine Learning using a statistical algorithm.

Through psychology simulations and hands-on neurology workshops, you will explore the relationships between the brain and human behavior. Whether you are interested in the physical aspect of the brain and central nervous system or more intrigued by human behavior and thought processes, connect with professionals that have a background in both psychology and neuroscience. 

Excursions – students will visit the Action & Consciousness Lab and other labs at SFSU. 

Are you considering a future in medicine, but unsure about your specific path? Dive into an engaging program designed to help you explore the diverse options within the medical field. Throughout this course, students will gain firsthand exposure to a range of medical specialties, including cardiology, radiology, orthopedics, and more. You’ll also hear about the intricacies of entering medical school, preparing for entrance exams, planning your medical residency, and the vital role of scientific inquiry and curiosity in your journey to becoming a medical professional. Interact with experienced doctors, medical students, and residents while immersing yourself in the multifaceted world of medicine.

Quantum computing is going to revolutionize the field of technology over the next decade. What is quantum computing? It is a rapidly-emerging technology that harnesses the laws of quantum mechanics to solve problems that are too complex for classical computers. The tools being used in this field were just imagination three decades ago. Superconducting quantum processors are being designed by companies like IBM to build superconducting quantum processors that will supply quantum computing speed and capacity that will change the world. This course will help prepare the next generation of students with the quantum knowledge and skills. This course will introduce key quantum computing concepts, like superposition and entanglement. Students will also explore quantum phenomena and applications. They will learn from curriculum designed by leading experts in academia and the quantum computing industry.

Students in this program will become part of a new company they devise and will work in teams on various aspects of the new business. The program culminates in a Shark Tank-style pitch presentation with industry veterans as their potential mock investors.

This program will introduce students to computer programming and develop foundational coding skills. Students will apply fundamental building blocks of programming languages including, variables/arrays, conditionals, loops, and functions to solve problems and create algorithms.

This program provides middle school students interested in pursuing medicine with real hands-on experience where they can build a set of medical skills at an early age.

Imagine being able to set a splint, stop a bleed, and perform CPR as a middle school student! Students will learn medical techniques through age-appropriate simulations and guided lessons. In addition, they’ll work with small groups to research a patient’s history and symptoms, create a diagnosis based on findings, and develop a treatment plan.

Excursions – All students visit the UCSF KANBAR simulation center for hands-on practice in stitching, suturing, intubation, and BLS skills led by leading medical trainers. In addition to being CPR certified, students in this program have also had either the opportunity to meet the Emergency Response team at Berkeley Fire Dept #3 for an ambulance tour or have access to an Anatomage Table, the most technologically advanced 3D anatomy visualization and virtual dissection tool for anatomy and physiology education.

This program is a jam-packed week for middle school students interested in being introduced to the field of psychology. This program offers students who are interested in pursuing a career in psychology and neuroscience an exploration of how psychologists study and understand how people work. Students will explore social dynamics, emotions, personality, the nature of beliefs and the relationship between the mind, brain and body.