Explore Engineering at the High School Honors Institute

Dear Students, Parents, Counselors, and Friends,

Thank you for your interest in the College of Engineering and Applied Science’s High School Honors Institute. After 41 successful years, the College will not offer the Institute for this summer 2009.  We have placed the Institute on a 1-yr hiatus while we conduct a comprehensive program review.  An expected outcome of this review is a restructured Institute with a more comprehensive program that includes an introduction to the College’s new interdisciplinary majors, with new individual and team-oriented activities—and, of course, we will have our students, faculty, staff, and industry sponsors who are excited to guide you through this introduction to our exciting profession.

Prospective students interested in engineering and applied science have opportunities to attend CU Student for a Day Tours this spring, the CU Sampler on July 11, 2009 as well as the Engineering Sampler in the fall of 2009. Information on these events can be found at http://www.colorado.edu/visit/tours/index.html.  Information for other campus programs available this summer can be found at the CU4K12 website http://www.colorado.edu/cu4k12.

For those of you interested in the 2010 High School Honors Institute, please email your name, mailing address, and phone number to hshi@colorado.edu and we will contact you in January of 2010.

Thank you,

Brian Argrow
Associate Dean for Education

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The High School Honors Institute is an intensive and exciting 4-day campus residential program that introduces the creative nature of engineering to students with strong academic records  in math and science and who are interested in cultivating their creativity to solve problems. High school juniors and seniors have an opportunity to experience college life as an engineering student by attending sessions of two engineering majors, participating in curricular and extra-curricular activities, and exploring career opportunities.

Each participant will select and rank order four programs of interest:

Applied Math
Applied Mathematics provides the foundation for most disciplines in the sciences, engineering and business – it is used almost everywhere to analyze, model, optimize, and solve real world problems. Mathematics has burst the boundaries that limited what an engineer could design, a scientist could know, or an executive could manage.

Chemical & Biological Engineering
Chemical engineering explores the chemical transformation of raw materials into products of value to mankind. In this program, you will get hands-on experience in  emerging and exciting areas of chemical engineering: biotechnology, membrane synthesis and analysis, and polymerization. In addition, you will receive an overview of the chemical engineering profession, educational program, and the diverse fields of opportunity open to chemical engineers today and in the future.

Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering
Learn how these engineers are meeting the challenges of pollution, drinking water, energy and transportation needs, urban development, community planning, and construction to enable day-to-day operations of society and improve our standard of living and quality of life.

Computer Science
Get hands-on experience with state-of-the-art hardware as well as new ideas in software. Topics include artificial intelligence, supercomputers, networks, graphics, and computer games.

Electrical and Computer Engineering
Electrical and computer engineers deal with a broad range of topics that are changing our world. These include electronics, control systems, communications, computers, signal processing, and biomedical engineering. You will learn why electrical and computer engineers are at the leading edge of the communications and information technology revolution.

Engineering Physics
Engineering Physics focuses on the physical foundations of modern technology. Core subjects include mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermal physics, and quantum mechanics. This program will explore preparation for research and development of careers in many frontier areas of engineering, including ultra fast lasers, liquid crystals and magnetism.

Environmental Engineering
Environmental engineers play an essential role in maintaining the quality of both human and natural environments. They are involved in monitoring and assessing the health of the natural environment, and in designing and operating systems to prevent, control or remediate air, water and soil pollution. Students will investigate environmental engineer's roles in monitoring natural ecosystems, air and watersheds and in preventing and controlling pollution from transportation, industry and household activity.

Mechanical Engineering
Explore technical challenges spanning design, analysis, and manufacturing of state-of-the-art thermal/fluid, mechanical, environmental, and electronic systems. In this program you will see a sampling of such systems and experience the role that mechanical engineers play.

Industry Representation
The High School Honors Institute is a cooperative and joint effort of volunteer faculty and students in the college and participating industries. We would like to thank the following companies for their involvement in the institute.

HSHI in England (Headstart Course)
The Royal Academy of Engineering sponsors engineering programs that are similar to the college's High School Honors Institute at many university sites throughout England and Wales. Students must apply directly to the Headstart Programs and provide their own transportation. For more information on these programs visit http://www.headstartcourses.org.uk/

Click here for comments from past High School Honor's participants

Sample Schedule
A sample schedule for one day of events can be viewed here.

For information on the program, please contact:
High School Honors Institute
College of Engineering & Applied Science
422 UCB
Boulder, CO 80309-0422
(303) 735-2440
E-mail: hshi@colorado.edu