CTY’s mathematics, science, and computer science courses are dedicated to Dr. Richard P. Longaker, Provost of Johns Hopkins University from 1979 to 1987, in recognition of his advocacy and guidance through CTY’s initial years. In CTY science courses, students have the opportunity to delve into a topic that is not generally part of the standard middle or high school curriculum. Our courses are designed to encourage problem solving and pursuing open-ended inquiry. Because of our schedule and small class size, our instructors are able to use student interest to deviate from or adjust a planned lesson so the students can pursue topics that are of particular interest to them. All of our courses focus on inquiry-based learning and each course does hands-on work every day. Students not only gain unique content, but they also learn science techniques and processes that they otherwise might not learn until college. In a CTY science course, students are able to do the investigations themselves, on their own or in pairs. In addition, they learn to technically document their findings and discuss them with their peers. This includes writing concluding lab reports on the experiments they have carried out. Students work collaboratively to further their understanding, whether on experimental phenomena or on research they have done. Different from our enrichment courses, CTY’s fast-paced high school sciences are designed to give students the general content of a year-long science course in one three-week session. The courses move very quickly to cover the content of a high school course and may serve to accelerate a student in their school's science curriculum. They are in the lab every day and take a comprehensive exam at the end of the course to demonstrate their mastery of the material. In all of CTY’s science courses, unless noted, students spend at least two hours a day doing lab and/or field work. Students gather and interpret data, master important scientific concepts, and recognize relationships among physical phenomena. In addition to lectures and reading assignments, science courses include oral presentations and writing assignments, particularly lab reports. Please refer to our Eligibility web page for minimum test score requirements for science courses. Sample syllabi for all courses are also available. Note: Selected biological science courses may include virtual or traditional dissection.
Introduction to Biomedical Sciences This course is an introduction to human biology and the science of medicine. Drawing upon basic biological and chemical concepts, students explore the intricate anatomical and physiological mechanisms underlying normal human function. Students then examine the abnormal functions which occur in selected diseases. In learning about diabetes, for example, students gain an in-depth understanding of the endocrine system, the pancreas, the metabolism of sugar, and the biochemical effects of glucose. Lab work covers techniques in histology, anatomy and physiology (including dissections), biochemistry, and molecular biology. Additionally, students learn to read critically and respond to articles in scientific journals and the popular media. Note: This course is designed for students who have completed only grades 7 or 8. Students who, by this summer, will have completed grade 9 or higher are not eligible Sample text: The Human Body in Health and Disease, Thibodeau and Patton. Lab Fee: $65 Session 1: Carlisle, Lancaster, Los Angeles
Session 2: Carlisle, Lancaster, Los Angeles Top
The History of Disease
Prerequisite: Eligibility for both science and humanities CTY courses. Throughout history, humans have been burdened with countless infectious diseases. Some of these, due to their lethality, their insidious spread, or their terrifying course, have become legendary. In this course, students examine the societal impact of, and science’s response to, history’s most significant diseases, including plague, leprosy, influenza, tuberculosis, smallpox, polio, cholera, malaria, syphilis, and AIDS. Through reading, writing, and problem-based learning, students explore the effects of each disease on two levels: the biological (micro-biology, pharmacology, and immunology) and the societal (epidemiology, psychology, and sociology). Students attempt to understand the biology of each disease while also learning its historical framework. A wide variety of sources, such as medical literature, ancient Greek texts, religious writings, opera and theater, and articles from the modern media, places each scourge in the context of the society it traumatized. The ethics of infectious disease monitoring and control, including quarantines, mandatory health department notification, and the use of experimental drugs, are the focus of classroom debates. Reviewing the attempts to cure each disease, from primitive superstitions to cutting-edge designer drugs, provides an introduction to pharmacology. Students critically analyze the never-ending war between humans and microbes, contrasting modern perceptions of our victory over “germs” with the growing reality of microbial resistance. Sample texts: Man and Microbes, Karlen; A Brief History of Disease, Science, and Medicine, Kennedy. Lab Fee: None; not a lab course. Session 1: Lancaster
Session 2: Lancaster Top
Fast-Paced High School Biology
This course covers the material ordinarily included in a year-long introductory course in high school biology (the usual prerequisite for honors or AP Biology). Students begin with the smallest unit, the atom, and build towards the final discussions of ecology and the environment. Along the way they sample biochemistry, move through genetics and cellular processes, and then integrate these concepts in their studies of evolution, systems of living things, and reproduction. Through readings, lectures, and lab work (including dissections), students finish the course with a sound foundation in biological concepts. On the first and last days of class, students take a comprehensive test in biology to help assess their learning. Note: Students just completing 7th grade are urged to take CTY’s Introduction to the Biomedical Sciences before taking this course. This course is intended for students who have completed 8th grade or above and who plan to continue on to honors or AP Biology or to other advanced work in biology such as CTY’s Genetics or Neuroscience. Sample text: Biology, Campbell and Reece. Lab Fee: $65 Session 1: Baltimore, Carlisle, Lancaster, Los Angeles, Saratoga Springs
Session 2: Baltimore, Carlisle, Lancaster, Los Angeles, Saratoga Springs Top
Neuroscience
Prerequisite: Successful completion of CTYOnline’s Honors Biology, CTY’s Summer Programs Fast-Paced High School Biology, or at least a “B” in first-year high school biology. Where do memories get stored, and why do Alzheimer’s patients have difficulties making new ones? What causes our inner clock to slow down as we are about to have an automobile accident? Why was Phineas Gage able to talk, walk, and be free of pain just minutes after a three-foot-long metal rod pierced through his head, destroying most of the left front side of his brain? Neuroscientists use an inter-disciplinary approach, drawing on biology, chemistry, physics, and psychology to unlock the answers to these and other questions about that most complex of all systems, the human brain. In this course, students investigate the development, evolution, and structure of the brain and nervous system. They approach neuroanatomy from the gross and microscopic levels and learn how neurons communicate with each other biochemically. They explore the functional integration of areas of the brain and neuroplasticity, neuropharmacology, diseases and disorders of the nervous system, and the nature of consciousness. Students also examine the neuronal basis of perception, learning and memory, sleep and dreaming, and language acquisition and use. In addition to lecture and discussion sessions, students participate in dissection, model building, and laboratory activities that use principles from various scientific disciplines. Sample text: Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain, Bear and Connors. Lab Fee: $65 Session 1: Baltimore, Carlisle
Session 2: Baltimore, Carlisle Top
Genetics
Prerequisite: Successful completion of CTYOnline’s Honors Biology, CTY’s Summer Programs Fast-Paced High School Biology, or at least a “B” in first-year high school biology. If there were a blood test that could tell you every disease in your future, would you take it? Such a test may seem like science fiction, but modern geneticists are decoding new genes every day, and simple blood tests already exist for some diseases. In this course, students build on their knowledge of biology to investigate the principles and methods used to study the genetic qualities and traits of humans. This course covers concepts ordinarily taught in a one-semester college course. Topics span the biologic spectrum, from molecules of DNA to the evolution of populations, and include mitosis, meiosis, Mendelian inheritance, pedigree analysis, chromosomes and chromosomal aberrations, prenatal diagnosis, genes and cancer, inborn errors of metabolism, population genetics, genetic screening, and genetic counseling. In the laboratory, students are introduced to the basic techniques of genetics, including the process which revolutionized modern genetics, E. coli transformation. Exercises also include electrophoresis and DNA fingerprinting. By the end of the course, students debate the most difficult bioethical questions facing the discipline: eugenics, cloning, and the consequences of biotechnology. Sample text: Principles of Genetics, Snustad and Simmons. Lab Fee: $65 Session 1: Baltimore, Carlisle
Session 2: Baltimore, Carlisle Top
Genomics
Prerequisite: CTY’s Genetics. The mapping of the human genome—hailed by some as the first scientific milestone in the twenty-first century—gave rise to the new field of genomics. Where genetics has traditionally examined single genes, genome science considers all of the genetic information in an organism as a dynamic system: the genes, the function and organization of the genes, and regulatory elements. Building on knowledge they acquired in CTY’s Genetics, students in this course begin with an historical look at the field of genomics, including the first two approaches to the Human Genome Project, shotgun and contigs. They move on to study comparative genomics; the genetics of complex traits; genetic epidemiology; the genetics of common diseases (e.g., cancer); modern chromosomal analysis; and computational genomics. In addition, students are introduced to the HapMap and ENCODE projects. Genomics relies heavily upon data analysis and computer technologies; the use of online databases and resources, both in the laboratory and research projects, is a central feature of the course. In addition to their classroom studies, students are introduced to the Johns Hopkins Center of Excellence in Genome Sciences (CEGS), which focuses on the new area of epigenetics, the study of inheritance other than the DNA sequence itself. Students visit the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), participate in a lab tour and demonstration offered by CEGS faculty, and attend a CEGS faculty lecture focusing on epigenetics and human disease. Sample text: Discovering Genomics, Proteomics & Bioinformatics, Campbell and Heyer. Lab & Field Trip Fee: $95 Session 1: Not offered
Session 2: Baltimore Top
Fast-Paced High School Chemistry
Prerequisite: Algebra I. This course covers material ordinarily included in a year-long introductory course in high school chemistry (the usual prerequisite for honors or AP Chemistry). Topics covered include the periodic table, the atom, chemical bonding, nomenclature, the mole concept, stoichiometry, acids and bases, organic chemistry, thermodynamics, kinetics, and equilibrium. On the first and last days of class, students take a comprehensive test in chemistry to help assess their learning. Note: Students just completing 7th grade are urged to take CTY’s Introduction to the Biomedical Sciences before taking this course. This course is for students planning to continue on to honors or AP Chemistry or to other advanced work in chemistry. Sample texts: Prentice Hall Chemistry, Wilbraham; an accompanying lab manual. Lab Fee: $65 Session 1: Baltimore, Carlisle, Lancaster, Los Angeles, Saratoga Springs
Session 2: Baltimore, Carlisle, Lancaster, Los Angeles, Saratoga Springs Top
Electrical Engineering
Prerequisite: Algebra I. The impact of electrical engineering can be seen all around us. As electronic components continue to shrink in size, the future promises even more astounding progress in fields such as robotics, satellite communications, energy conservation, factory automation, oil and gas exploration, and electrical power generation and distribution. This course offers students an introduction to the field of electrical engineering. Students learn the basic physical science behind circuits and electronics, including electrical current, voltage, resistance, conductivity, work, energy, power, and magnetism. They apply these concepts to draw simple schematic series and parallel circuits, and they analyze the circuits using mathematical tools such as Kirchoff’s laws. In laboratory exercises, students build their own circuits using power supplies, resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, and transistors. They then measure the circuits’ properties to test their mathematical predictions. Sample text: Materials compiled by the instructor. Lab Fee: $65 Session 1: Carlisle, Los Angeles, Saratoga Springs
Session 2: Carlisle, Los Angeles, Saratoga Springs Top
Fast-Paced High School Physics
Prerequisites: Algebra II (Geometry recommended). This course covers material ordinarily included in a year-long, algebra-based introductory course in high school physics (the usual prerequisite for honors or AP Physics). Class lectures and demonstrations include Newtonian mechanics, thermal behavior of gases, wave motion, geometric and wave optics, electromagnetism and DC circuits, and elementary modern physics. In labs, students learn to measure and analyze error; determine gravitational acceleration; and experiment with refraction and diffraction of light, waves, simple circuit analysis, and the magnetic deflection of electrons. On the first and last days of class, students take a comprehensive test in physics to help assess their learning. Sample text: Physics: Principles and Problems, Zitzewitz. Lab Fee: $65 Session 1: Carlisle, Lancaster, Los Angeles, Saratoga Springs
Session 2: Carlisle, Lancaster, Los Angeles, Saratoga Springs Top
Investigations in Engineering
Prerequisite: Pre-calculus. Engineering is an art that requires ingenuity, the ability to understand the components of a problem, facility in design, and the capacity to find creative solutions. This course exposes students to the excitement and challenges of scientific investigation. This class asks students to do more than calculate the solutions to well-posed, simplified problems. Rather, they are asked to translate problems often encountered by engineers (with no obvious solutions) into ones which can be tackled and resolved. These open-ended assignments require hands-on exploration. Some of the exploration uses a virtual environment with a set of laboratory experiments developed in HTML and Java. These exercises require students to develop a broad understanding of how to solve engineering problems. The virtual laboratory includes exercises such as drilling for oil, remote measurement, electronic circuit design, logical circuit design, and building a robotic arm. Investigations in Engineering is a first-year college course developed by Professor Michael Karweit, a faculty member of the Whiting School of Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. It can be taken as a credit or non-credit course. Credit costs an additional $300 and must be arranged with JHU directly (not CTY). For more information, please visit: www.cty.jhu.edu/summer/ieng.html Note: Returning CTY students report that this course is particularly intense. We do not recommend it as a student’s first experience at CTY. Sample texts: Engineering and the Mind’s Eye, Ferguson. Lab Fee: $65
Session 1: Baltimore
Session 2: Baltimore Top
Astronomy
Prerequisite: Algebra I. Not since the seventeenth century, when Galileo first looked through lenses into the skies, has there been such an explosion of discovery and understanding of the universe as in the past fifty years. In this course, students are exposed to the physics and mathematical concepts which are part of the science of astronomy, including such topics as planetary science; solar physics; stellar evolution; general relativity; and exotic objects such as quasars, pulsars, and black holes. Students also investigate the history of this ancient discipline, from Stonehenge to the Spitzer Space Telescope. Students tackle many hands-on activities and labs: analyzing emission spectra, examining telescopic optics, plotting sunspots, determining Hubble’s constant, and calculating the distance and magnitude of stars. They have opportunities to visit local observatories, planetariums, or science centers. In class discussions, students use their new foundation in astronomy to consider its role in our lives on Earth, cosmology, and the search for extraterrestrial life. Sample text: Horizons: Exploring the Universe, Seeds. Lab & Field Trip Fee: $95 Session 1: Baltimore, Lancaster
Session 2: Baltimore, Lancaster Top
Paleobiology
Scientists estimate from the fossil record that life on Earth began over three and a half billion years ago. What types of life forms have existed throughout history? How have mass extinction events shaped our planet? Paleobiologists combine elements of paleontology, geology, and biology as they answer these and other questions by using snapshots of the past to uncover the narrative of Earth's living history. Students begin this course by examining the many modes of fossilization, investigating key geological concepts, and classifying the major phyla of animal and plant life in ancient and modern form. Grounded with this basic understanding, students turn more fully to the fossil record by examining specimens they collect in the field alongside preexisting collections. Students learn how keen observation skills and critical thinking allow scientists to formulate working hypotheses about topics ranging from why dinosaurs became extinct to how human life came into existence. They dissect and identify adaptations of present-day organisms in order to make comparisons with extinct life forms to explain changes that have occurred over time. Along the way, students explore a range of topics including evolutionary theory, historical geology, and paleoecology as they acquaint themselves with the history of life on Earth. Sample text: Earth System History, Stanley. Lab & Field Trip Fee: $95 Session 1: Lancaster, Los Angeles
Session 2: Lancaster Top
Oceanography: The Hawaiian Pacific
In this course, modeled on first-year college oceanography courses, students explore the physical, chemical, geological, and biological features of the waters of the Hawaiian Islands. Students learn the structure, formation, and features of the Pacific Ocean basin, and examine currents, tides, and waves. What, for example, accounts for the nearly mythical nalu that draws surfers from around the world to Hawaii’s shores? Students investigate the biochemical cycles that affect seawater, and discover the ocean-atmosphere interactions that account for Hawaii’s great variety of climates. They also explore the unique marine life and marine ecosystems of Hawaii, from the shorelines to the coral reefs to the deep ocean. Students consider the ocean as a natural resource, and learn how local people struggle to balance economic and environmental concerns. Field trips include the use of the Research Vessel Kaholo and visits to coral reefs on Hawaii’s famed North Shore to complement daily reading, lectures, and lab work. Note: Students will snorkel while in the field; the ability to swim and a comfort with ocean water deeper than six feet, but not previous snorkeling experience, are required. While the level of this course is advanced, students from Hawaii may have covered at least some of the material in school. Please seek guidance from your science department in determining whether this course will be appropriate, given your knowledge and experience in this subject area. Note: This course is part of our CAA 7th Grade and Above program, but because of its unique nature, may be of special interest to students who are also eligible for CTY 7th Grade and Above courses. A separate CAA program application is not needed. Sample text: Oceanography: An Introduction to Marine Science, Garrison. Session 1: Kaneohe
Session 2: Kaneohe Top
Volcanoes: Hawaii
Few things in nature are as awe inspiring as an erupting volcano. Students in this course focus on the volcanoes that continue to shape the Hawaiian Islands, examining their geological history and cultural impact. The course begins with a brief introduction to earth science, including a discussion of the geological layers of the earth, convection currents, and plate tectonics. Students then turn to the particulars of a volcan mantle plumes, magma flow, volcano pluming, and eruption. Throughout the course, students link the geological characteristics of volcanoes to the particular environmental and cultural context of Hawaii. For instance, students might explore the flora and fauna of Hawaii as well as the foundation myth of Pele, the goddess of volcanoes, and her role in the creation of the Hawaiian Islands. The course culminates in a trip to the Big Island where students visit Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park—home to two of the world’s most active volcanoes: Mauna Loa and Kilauea. Through hands-on work, research, and time in the field, students leave the course with a greater understanding of the forces that created the Hawaiian Islands. Note: Students will visit Halema`uma`u Crater, Sulphur Banks, and other areas where volcanic fumes are present. Before enrolling, students with heart or breathing problems should seek advice from a physician about the suitability of visiting such locations. Note: This course is part of our CAA 7th Grade and Above program, and is open to both humanities/writing and math/science qualifiers. Because of its unique nature, this course may be of special interest to students who are also eligible for CTY 7th Grade and Above courses. A separate CAA program application is not needed. Sample texts: Materials compiled by the instructor. Session 1: Kaneohe
Session 2: Kaneohe Top | 
