Inaugural Summer Academy for High School Students Coming to Saint Mary’s College this June

Beginning this summer, Saint Mary’s College of California will be offering high school seniors and juniors the opportunity to take college classes for academic credit on campus during the summer session. The inaugural 2024 Saint Mary’s College Summer Academy for high school students will offer students a taste of college life on campus and in the classroom. This is the first time a program like this has been offered, bringing together some of the most popular core courses at SMC.

The College’s Summer Academy is designed to assist students in honing their knowledge and skills while making valuable social and academic connections at the university level. Six courses designed to prepare students for college that are also fun, enlightening, and very popular—spanning a range of subjects in math, science, language, the arts, and more—will be held June 10–28. Each course will be held daily, Monday through Friday, and enrollment is expected to be capped at 18 students per class.

Steve Miller, who serves as Dean of the Core at Saint Mary’s College and has been a faculty member in the Department of Kinesiology since 1997, worked to develop the much anticipated 2024 Summer Academy. “We are thrilled to offer this new summer program to high school seniors and juniors who are planning ahead for colleges,” Miller says. “This program is ideal for those who are trying to get a jumpstart on transferable college classes or just get a flavor of the college experience.” Miller has also served as chair of the Core Curriculum Committee. And, he says, “As students begin to think about which college they want to go to, this is an ideal opportunity for them to work closely with stellar faculty, and immerse themselves in the campus experience.” 

The 2024 Summer Academy course offerings include: 

• Programming I (Computer Science 100)
• Introduction to Ethnic Studies (Ethnic Studies 101)
• Introduction to Kinesiology (Kinesiology 100)
• Calculus I (Math 137)
• Intermediate Spanish (Spanish 201)
• Acting I (Theatre 120)—also open to high school sophomores

A single flat rate of $2,450 per student covers tuition, lunch, campus activities, college application preparation, and amenities at the Joseph L. Alioto Recreation Center—a 60,000-square-foot facility with state-of-the-art fitness equipment, multiple gymnasiums, training room, spin room, climbing wall, NCAA-certified swimming pool, hydrotherapy spa, and more. Students can also receive assistance with college application preparation, and they will have ample time to meet with Saint Mary’s distinguished faculty members to discuss their courses. 

Students attending Summer Academy will receive a Saint Mary’s transcript after completion that will be transferable to other higher education institutions. All four-year universities will accept it, including all University of California and California State University locations. 

INTERESTED IN APPLYING? Register for the 2024 Summer Academy here. 

LEARN MORE: Visit the Saint Mary’s 2024 Summer Academy page on the College’s website for additional information. Students interested in more info may also contact Steve Miller, SMC’s Dean of the Core, at scmiller@stmarys-ca.edu or by calling (925) 631-4970.