Ursuline Academy Summer SchooL
There are two in person, on campus Summer School sessions. Please check dates carefully, as only two absences are allowed per course:
- Summer I: June 2-23, 2023 (note Friday start date due to holiday June 19)
- Summer II: July 17 - Aug 4, 2023
The summer school booklist is now available.
Current Students: Course requests open February 1-15, 2023
Open Enrollment for Current Students: opens March 1, 2023
New Students: Course requests open April 12-17, 2023
Add/Drop Deadline: May 19, 2023
Summer Programs offered to Ursuline Academy students include:
Ursuline Academy Summer School
½ credit in-person courses in an accelerated format
Computer Science
3621S Programming I
(Sophomore-Senior) This core semester course provides students with an introduction to critical thinking and problem solving through programming in Python, a high-level, general purpose language widely used in universities and industry. Students learn fundamental programming concepts such as variables, function design and control flow with an emphasis on graphics. Best programming practices are emphasized as students design, code, debug, and test algorithms to solve real-world applications. This challenging course moves very fast and requires daily homework. Please carefully consider your available time and the need for consistent attendance before selecting this course.
Summer I: 6/2 - 6/23; 8:40 a.m.-11:40 a.m. or 12:40 p.m.-3:40 p.m.
Summer II: 7/17 - 8/4; 8:40 a.m.-11:40 a.m. or 12:40 p.m.-3:40 p.m.
$475 — ½ credit
3665S Introduction to Robotics
(Sophomore-Senior) This semester long course integrates the fundamentals of robot design, engineering, electronics, and programming. The class will cover construction techniques, various locomotion systems, basic electronics, programming, and sensor-based control systems. Students will gain hands-on experience as they design their robots and participate in engineering challenges.
Summer II: 7/17 - 8/4; 12:40 p.m.-3:40 p.m.
$475 — ½ credit
English
5654S Creative Writing I
(Freshman-Senior) This elective course provides a forum for students seeking an opportunity for written self-expression and an opportunity to develop skills to enhance the power and clarity of that expression. The course will focus on two specific areas of creative writing: poetry and short fiction. Much of the class will employ a workshop format in which activities include modeling, class discussion, and peer review. Essential to the success of the class is the willingness of students to submit their work to the critical response of their peers, as well as their ability to evaluate candidly the work of those same peers.
Summer I: 6/2-6/23; 8:40 a.m.-11:40 a.m.
$475 — ½ credit
Performing Arts
2761S Stage Makeup Design
(Freshman-Senior) This is an introductory course that studies the theory and practice of make-up design and its application for stage. Students will explore basic makeup principles, make-up through the ages, fantasy makeup design, and the creation of some basic special effects. Students will be applying make-up to themselves for the majority of the classes. Students are encouraged to be a part of the makeup crew during the Ursuline main stage production. This course may be repeated one time for credit.
Summer I: 6/2 - 6/23; 8:40 a.m.-11:40 a.m. or 12:40 p.m.-3:40 p.m.
$475 — ½ credit
Physical Education
8132S Wellness
(Freshman-Sophomore) This course is designed to guide students throughout the many dimensions of Wellness (spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, occupational, and social) and provide an atmosphere to discuss and learn about how to live a healthy and stress-free life. Students will develop skills needed to maintain an active lifestyle, learn the importance of nutrition, and discover how to find a healthy balance of all facets of Wellness. Students will also engage in building essential skills needed to maintain optimal health while developing ways to promote healthy lifestyles in our diverse society. This is a required course for all students to complete by the end of their sophomore year, earning 0.5 of the Physical Education credit requirement.
Summer I: 6/2 - 6/23; 8:40 a.m.-11:40 a.m. or 12:40 p.m.-3:40 p.m.
$475 — ½ credit
Social Studies
6680S Shark Tank 101: Fashion Edition
(Freshman) Shark Tank is an introduction to business, allowing students to explore the most popular college major for women. For the summer edition, the class will focus on fashion businesses. Students will work collaboratively to explore real world issues of the industry's business development, marketing, and customer preferences, then apply them to their own entrepreneurial business idea, by designing a logo and ad, developing a marketing plan, and surveying potential customers. Examples of previous student ideas include Couture Concierge, FashionablyLate accessories rentals, Fit4You clothing match app, Get-A-Clue styling app, Global Thrift, SkiChic apparel rental, Step Up Shoe Resale, and Terra Athleisure.
Summer II: 7/17 - 8/4; 12:40 p.m.-3:40 p.m.
$475 — ½ credit
6683S U.S. Women’s History
(Freshman-Senior) This course will provide an introduction to U.S. history centering on the experiences of women. From the colonial era to the present, students will examine turning points in American history and the key role women have played, and continue to play, in shaping the nation. The course will begin with early indigenous and enslaved accounts of life in North America and continue by revisiting major events through women’s eyes. By the end of the term, students will be able to discuss how we might reperiodize U.S. history when placing women at the center of the narrative. This course will include readings from a range of primary and secondary sources, as well as original research.
Summer I: 6/2 - 6/23; 12:40 p.m.-3:40 p.m.
$475 — ½ credit
6425S United States Government
(Sophomore) This course introduces students to the basic structures and functions of government in the United States. Attention is paid particularly to Constitutional principles, the legislative process, cultural factors influencing government, the role of the United States in world affairs, and the cultivation of civil discourse. Students will analyze primary documents, strengthen their writing skills, discuss various philosophies of government, explore issues affecting local politics, and cultivate critical reading, thinking, and debating skills. American Government focuses on the time period from the Declaration of the Independence to the present day.
Prerequisite: World History
Summer I: 6/2 - 6/23; 8:40 a.m.-11:40 a.m. or 12:40 p.m.-3:40 p.m.
$475 — ½ credit
6435S Macroeconomics
(Senior) This course is the study of American society and the free enterprise system. Emphasis is placed upon how society uses its limited resources and produces, distributes and consumes goods and services in order to satisfy the unlimited wants of its members. General principles of economics are presented including theory of supply and demand, money and banking, and monetary and fiscal policies.
Summer I: 6/2 - 6/23; 8:40 a.m.-11:40 a.m.
$475 — ½ credit
Theology
During the school year, Theology students take part in many activities not included in the summer program that help them to grow in faith and spirituality, including daily masses, Advent and Lenten Reconciliation, and sustained reflection upon their journeys of faith. So that each student may experience these, students are limited to one Summer School Theology course per year.
7335S Sacraments: Privileged Encounters with Jesus Christ
(Junior) This course guides students to better understand how Jesus is personally and visibly present in the actions of the sacraments. Students discover how the sacraments fulfill our human need for physical manifestations of the spiritual. The course ultimately aims at instilling the value of sacraments as tools to help us on our journey to heaven and as personal experiences of Christ's grace.
Summer I: 6/2 - 6/23; 8:40 a.m.-11:40 a.m. or 12:40 p.m.-3:40 p.m.
Summer II: 7/17 - 8/4; 8:40 a.m.-11:40 a.m. or 12:40 p.m.-3:40 p.m.
$475 — ½ credit
7440S Catholic Social Justice
(Senior) Formerly known as Living as a Disciple, this course prepares students for living in a just manner beyond graduation. The Christian understanding reveals that God desires a world in which all facets of life are guided by justice and charity. Jesus has called upon us to build his kingdom on earth. The Church, therefore, has been faithful to fostering a just and peaceful world. This course, integrating the learning of the past three years, uses the Gospels and Catholic Social Teaching to help students appreciate the richness of the Church's social mission. Topics to be addressed include the dignity of the human person, poverty, rights and responsibilities of family, workers and community, solidarity and ecology.
Summer I: 6/2 - 6/23; 8:40 a.m.-11:40 a.m.
$475 — ½ credit
7455S Vocation: Discernment and the Heart’s Desire
(Senior) God calls every person to love and serve in many ways: How is He calling you? In this course, students will develop an understanding of what “vocation” means in the Catholic tradition, including the universal call to holiness and the universal vocation of love. The course will also provide students with the time and tools to reflect upon their personal spiritual profile, the various models of spirituality in the Church, and methods of prayerfully discerning God’s call. Through their developing spiritual insights and deeper self-knowledge, students will examine ways of following God’s will in their lives and what it means to live in service to others.
Summer II: 7/17 - 8/4; 8:40 a.m.-11:40 a.m.
$475 — ½ credit
Visual Arts
2550S Ceramic Basics I
(Freshman-Senior) This course is open to any student whether new or with experience in ceramics. In the introductory level, students learn basic hand- building techniques in both additive and subtractive processes using the coil, pinch, and slab method of constructing to create a variety of functional and nonfunctional sculptures, objects, and vessels. Students are also introduced to the potter’s wheel and learn techniques for throwing an assortment of functional and sculptural forms. Through demonstrations and hands-on assignments, students explore various methods of glazing and firing their work while learning the history of this ancient art form. Students with experience in clay will continue at their own level, incorporating more complex forms, sculpture, and wheel work. All work will be glazed and fired.
Summer II: 7/17 - 8/4; 8:40 a.m.-11:40 a.m.
$475 — ½ credit
2569S Digital Media
(Freshman – Senior) This course is designed to educate students on the ever-changing digital world, as well as to provide hands-on experience with industry standard software – Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. The curriculum covers a wide range of areas, so it appeals to a diverse group of students. Topics covered in Digital Media classes include graphic design, fonts, creative content, social media, and more. Students will create a company and market that company through set digital media projects. Students will produce a wide range of content spanning from logos, magazine covers, promotions, and social media content. Students will also analyze media, produce research, and make art using the elements and principles of design.
Summer II: 7/17 - 8/4; 12:40 p.m.-3:40 p.m.
$475 — ½ credit
2549S Fused Glass
(Freshman-Senior) In this class, students explore the ancient art form of fused glass. Students learn the proper process involved in stacking, or layering thin sheets of colored glass, to create their own artistic designs as they develop patterns or simple images. Students may choose to incorporate glass frits and liquid glass to enhance their designs. The stacked glass design is then fused by placing it inside an electric kiln and heating it until the design is fused into one piece. With this process, students may choose to create non-functional works of art or functional plates, bowls, and tiles. Students will investigate the historical context and origin of this art form and discover how various cultures have embraced and defined the art of fused glass.
Summer I: 6/2 - 6/23; 8:40 a.m.-11:40 a.m.
$475 — ½ credit
Summer Student Internship Program (Senior)
Students are matched with a mentor for hands-on, professional work experience
(Senior) This program offers personal development, life-skills mentoring and career awareness through practical experience. These are UA researched and authorized summer internships with Dallas area professionals, many of whom are Ursuline alumnae. Internships are available to rising Seniors and take place between May 30 and August 18, 2023, prior to the senior year. Interested juniors sign up for an individual meeting with the Student Internship Coordinator and are matched with internships in the spring of 2023. To earn acknowledgment on transcripts, interns must complete a minimum of 60 hours of internship service, maintain a journal, write a thank you to the mentor, and complete an online evaluation at the conclusion of the program, no later than August 31, 2023.
Please email for more information.
Prerequisite: Complete one-to-one meeting with Internship Coordinator
Internships: 5/30–8/18; Assignment due by August 31, 2023
$250 (non-refundable) — Non-credit
Online Summer Courses
1 credit courses in an accelerated format offered by One Schoolhouse
Summer courses are intensive for-credit opportunities for ambitious students who are self-motivated, disciplined, and skilled in time management. Students participating in these courses should plan to devote 20-25 hours per week for all eight weeks to their course. Students receive grades and comments in these classes, which are the equivalent of year-long, high-school courses. Because of the pacing and intensity of for-credit summer courses, students must have the ability to login and complete work for their course daily; students must be available and have internet access from June 12 - August 4 – this is nonnegotiable!
Students who enroll in an online course will have an online One Schoolhouse instructor, not an Ursuline instructor. A designated Ursuline administrator acts as the liaison with One Schoolhouse and shadows the progress of the students taking online courses. The Ursuline administrator periodically checks in with the students. The online course credit and grade will be reflected on the Ursuline transcript and included in the Ursuline GPA. Cost for course is $1,715.
- Summer Classes Start – June 12, 2023
- Mid-Term Grading Period Ends – July 7, 2023
- Mid-Term Report Published for Students and Parents/Guardians – July 14, 2023
- Last Day of Session – August 4, 2023
- Final Report Published for Students and Parents/Guardians – August 12, 2023
Computer Science
3641OLSG AP Computer Science Principles Co-ed
(Sophomore-Senior) This course investigates the “big ideas” found in our digital world. Using the Python programming language, students demonstrate fundamental concepts of computer programming that can be applied across a variety of projects and languages. Students explore different means of representing information digitally and how our digital world has evolved. They create computer programs to solve authentic problems or for personal interest, such as unique musical pieces, math calculators and data summations. Students discuss the current state of technology and its role in our everyday lives, discerning the positive and negative influences of innovations concerning computer and network technologies to society, culture and economics. Students develop their skills in computational thinking, logical reasoning, and learn to describe processes through algorithms and abstraction. Finally, students demonstrate their learning by creating a portfolio for submission to the College Board and are prepared for the AP Computer Science Principles exam in May. Students planning to submit their portfolio tasks and sit for the AP exam will maintain access to online support and exam prep materials until the exam in May.
Prerequisite: Director of Research and Educational Innovation Approval (Sbauer@ursulinedallas.org)
June 12 - August 4
$1,715 — 1 credit
Mathematics
3933OLSG Algebra II Co-ed
(Junior) Algebra II enriches algebraic and geometric skills to form the foundation for key concepts in advanced math courses. This course covers a full year of Algebra II in eight weeks by addressing algebraic functions and equations of lines and higher order polynomials; exponents and logarithms; rational expressions; absolute value; piecewise; and step. The course ends with an introduction to trigonometry beyond the right triangle. Students explore concepts directly through their own investigations, make and test conjectures about what they observe, and apply these conjectures to solve problems and create new conjectures. Assessments include tests and quizzes, discussion prompts, and group and individual projects. By the end of the course, students will have gained proficiency in critical thinking, pattern recognition, graphing, transformations, and communication.
Prerequisites: Algebra I and Geometry, Department Chair and Director of Research and Educational Innovation Approval (tyung@ursulinedallas.org, Sbauer@ursulinedallas.org)
June 12 - August 4
$1,715 — 1 credit
3914OLSG Precalculus Co-ed
(Junior-Senior) This course covers a full year of Pre-Calculus in eight weeks by addressing the algebraic and trigonometric concepts that lay the foundation for AP Calculus. Students graph and solve polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions and apply these functions to model the relationship between different quantities in the real world. They explore the unit circle, solve trigonometric equations, and study abstract applications by proving trigonometric identities. Students then examine and apply algebraic representations of matrices, vectors, sequences and series, and conic sections by understanding the patterns and behaviors associated with these concepts. The course concludes with an introduction to calculus through limits. Students preparing for AP Calculus BC also have the option of studying polar coordinates, parametric functions, and derivatives. Students demonstrate mastery through traditional and alternative assessments, discussion prompts, reflection on their learning, group collaboration, and individual projects.
Prerequisites: Algebra II, Departmental and Director of Research and Educational Innovation Approval (tyung@ursulinedallas.org, Sbauer@ursulinedallas.org)
June 12 - August 4
$1,715 — 1 credit
3401S Calculus Co-ed
(Junior-Senior) This single variable calculus course will cover the entire AP® Calculus AB curriculum with specific focus on the “A” content of the AP® Exam. Students practice conceptual reasoning and learn how to present a solution algebraically, geometrically, numerically, and tabularly. Students develop a clear understanding of calculus concepts using AP® Exam multiple-choice and free-response questions as checkpoints and guidelines. By the end of the course, students will be able to read and interpret graphical data accurately, use words to explain their reasoning, and provide context for final answers. Major topics include limits, derivatives, related rates, optimization, integrals, volume, and their applications. This personalized course features discussions, reflections, and projects that will help students master skills in an engaging way. It is designed for the ambitious math student looking to either develop a strong foundation in calculus, preview the AP® Calculus AB curriculum over the summer, or advance to AP® Calculus BC the following school year.
Prerequisites: Precalculus, Departmental and Director of Research and Educational Innovation Approval (tyung@ursulinedallas.org, Sbauer@ursulinedallas.org)
June 12 - August 4
$1,715 — 1 credit
Social Studies
6933OLSG United States History
(Junior) This course is a full year social science credit surveying the history of the United States of America. The course begins with an examination of America before Columbus. Having established an understanding of how Native Americans managed and used the land, the course turns to European conquest and colonial America, including how the stage was set for a plural and diverse modern America. The heart of the course centers around the themes of the American Revolution; the rise of democracy, the Republic, and the Constitution; the Civil War and Reconstruction; and how territorial expansion and industrialization laid the foundation for the movements and conflicts of the 20th and 21st centuries. In order to develop a broad understanding of continuity and change in American history, students build a contextual understanding of the major events within each era while exploring political, social, cultural, economic, and religious trends in the United States. Through critical analysis, research and writing; collaborative activities; creative synthesis applications; and traditional and alternative assessments, students demonstrate understanding of cultural implications and historical context, and develop a chronological and thematic appreciation of American history.