STEMstart
Get a Jump Start on Your Science Major
Get a sneak peak of what's to come in your first semester and get a jumpstart on success in the sciences.
- Get a glimpse of your first-semester biology, chemistry and mathematics coursework.
- Move in early
- Meet "The Bigs" and other resources and study skills you'll need to succeed.
- Get to know classmates, faculty, and even some STEM alumni.
Solve "CSI Athens"
- Fun field and lab experiences, including a "CSI Athens" case to solve.
- Test clues (and canoe) at nearby Strouds Run State Park.
- Test DNA in OHIO's Genomics Facility.
STEMstart
Aug. 17-23, 2019
Weeklong experience with daily instruction in chemistry, biology and math.
Check-in is Saturday, Aug. 17, at 3 p.m. at Irvine Hall 159 on the West Green.
Science students are invited to come to Ohio University a week before fall classes. This science quick start program is designed to help students transition from high school into college-level biology, chemistry and math courses.
Join faculty members and get immersed in your textbook, classroom lectures, lab experiments, and field trips. Get to know peer mentors who've been there and know how to navigate that first year of math, chem and bio successfully. Tour campus resources that can help as you wade through the expectations and challenges that make college different from high school.
How to Apply
Fill out the STEMStart Application.
Application Deadlines: The final application deadline is July 15.
Eligibility: All science majors, including undecided science majors, who are first-year (freshmen) entering in Fall 2019.
Cost and Payment Deadline: $1,000 includes housing and meals, academic sessions, and field trips. Students will be billed after being accepted to the program, and the priority payment deadline is July 30. No refunds will be made after July 30.
Scholarships are available for students with need in the Appalachian Region, thanks to a generous donor.
Residence Hall: Living Learning Center or other
Contact Us
For more information, contact us:
Corey Beck, Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Erik Boczko, Lecturer in Mathematics and Coordinator of MATH 1300
Stephanie Miller, Lecturer in Biological Sciences
Program Details
STEMstart introduces incoming first-year students (freshmen) to the expectations of college-level science and math courses—and provides a road map to resources and study skills that will help students succeed as a science major.
The academic content in STEMstart is drawn from first-semester courses in biology, chemistry and math. Texts and resources will be available online.
Academic Sessions and Field Trips
- "CSI Athens"—Apply forensic chemistry and biology to solve a crime.
- Math Circles—Find out the secret math handshake, and learn how to solve fun problems
- Aquatic Biology—You'll get your feet wet on this field trip!
- Genetics at OHIO Genomics Facility
- Study skills and academic advising
Activities
- Alden Library and Baker Center resources
- Movies
- Campus Resources Hunt
- Canoeing, outdoor activities with mentors
- Lunch with "The Bigs" and other peer mentors
Faculty for STEMstart
Contact Person (for questions)
Stephanie Miller, Assistant Professor of Instruction in Biological Sciences, 740-597-2515, millers7@ohio.edu
Program Directors
Corey Beck, Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Stephanie Miller, Biological Sciences
Faculty Presenters
Bob Klein, Math Circles
Scott Moody, Forensic Biological Sciences
Soichi Tanda, Biological Sciences
What to Bring
You'll be moving into the residence halls a week early, so bring what you'll need for your first semester at OHIO. Plus, field trips will include wading in streams and hiking at The Ridges, so bring a pair of sturdy shoes and sunscreen. For more on what to bring and moving in, visit the Residence Halls site.