Course Catalog: 2026 Summer Session 1

Accelerated Summer College students can take up to two of the courses below, each course is worth four credits (unless otherwise specified). Students should be advised that credits earned at Saint Michael’s College are transferable at the discretion of the receiving institution. All courses meet 100% online (asynchronously) for all 6 weeks.

Summer Session 1: May 18 – June 26, 2026

Anthropology & Sociology

ANT 109: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology – Professor Jason Hirsch

An introduction to the principles and processes of cultural anthropology. The course not only provides students with basic insights into facts and theories, but also, most importantly, the anthropological attitude of a commitment to understanding and tolerating other cultural traditions.

CORE: History & Society AND Engaging Diverse Identities

Biology

BI 257 Virology – Professor Dagan Loisel
Despite their tiny size, viruses have a huge impact on life on Earth. In this course, we will explore the different types of viruses, the basic make up and structure of viruses, the ways that they move from one host to another, how they invade and manipulate host cells, and the many potential consequences of viral infection. In addition, we will discuss selected viral diseases, the human immune defenses, and how we can protect ourselves against dangerous viral pathogens.

Prerequisites: (BI-153; Minimum grade C) and (CH-103 or CH-110)

Digital Media & Communications

DMC 209: Introduction to Digital Photography and Visual Storytelling – Professor Jerry Swope

This course introduces students to the art and craft of digital photography as a means for visual storytelling. Students will create thoughtful images using whatever digital camera they have available and learn to edit images using Photoshop. While assignments span a range of genres, emphasis will be placed on documentary photography.

CORE: Literature & The Arts

Environmental Science & Studies

ES 107: Environmental Science – Professor David Heroux

This course is a science-based investigation of the Earth as a system, with application to understanding many issues in contemporary environmental policy. Science is an attempt to discover how nature works. Through careful observation, measurements, experimentation, and modeling, students will explore issues in contemporary environmental science. These include climate change, biodiversity, deforestation, ecosystem structure and function, population, biogeochemical cycling, energy, as well as investigations of environmental problems, their causes, and solutions.

CORE: Scientific Inquiry

Interdisciplinary

ID 498: Internship Practicum – Professor Paul Olsen

This course offers opportunities for supervised work experience. Interns focus on integrating theory and practice while developing skills required for success in a business environment. This course is designed for a student’s first internship experience. Students must have an internship in place by the second week of the semester. They can contact the instructor for guidelines, or the Career Education Office by making an appointment in Handshake.

Prerequisites/Restrictions: 2.0 GPA or higher; Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors only. Not open to students who’ve already completed an academic internship, ID-498. Students who have completed or are currently enrolled in ID-498 should meet with a Career Coach to learn alternatives to receive credit for an additional internship.

Notes: Make an appointment with a Career Coach via Handshake for help securing an internship and to have it approved for academic credit. Completed Handshake forms required after meeting with a Career Coach.

Philosophy

PH 250 Logic: An Introduction– Professor Patrick Standen

PH-250 introduces students to the basic concepts of logic, different kinds of inference structures or arguments, and the various techniques for identifying and evaluating inference structures or arguments, both informal and formal.

CORE: Quantitative Reasoning

Note: PH-250 is not open to students who have taken PH-355.

Statistics

ST 120 Elementary Statistics – Professor Ellyn Ranz

Description of sample data; probability distributions including the Normal distribution; correlation and regression; sampling; hypothesis testing; statistical inference; other topics may include Chi-square tests, multiple regression, and ANOVA.