A welcoming view from Clarkson's sandstone main entrance

Project Challenge

Clarkson University offers academic "Challenge" to North Country High School students. Project Challenge, a popular winter months program offered by Clarkson University, provides area students an opportunity to participate in classes they cannot normally find at their high school. Five-week courses are taught by Clarkson University faculty and administrators on Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. until noon, beginning in mid January. The program is administered by The Clarkson School, the University's early entrance program for talented high school students who have completed eleventh grade and are ready to begin college studies.


Project Challenge 2010 Course Offerings:

(Saturday mornings 9:00 - 12:00 (noon) January 16, 23, 30; February 6 and 13 with a snow date of February 20)


For more information, call the Clarkson School at 315-268-4425 or e-mail the Program Director, Brenda Kozsan, at kozsanbd@clarkson.edu.


Project Challenge 2010 Course Descriptions:


Creativity & Imagination - Joseph Duemer

This course will provide exercises and experiences to develop and educate the creative imagination. It will be taught by poet Joseph Duemer with assistance from visual artists Carole Mathey and Amy Hauber. Though the emphasis would be on writing, especially poetry and personal journal writing, students would also get practice exercising their aesthetic sense through presentations and hands-on activities in the visual arts. All the projects described will be done in the students’ journal / notebook, which they will make themselves on the first day. (Limited to 15 students) Location: TBD
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Cryptography Through the Ages - Christino Tamon

Cryptography is the science of designing and breaking secret codes. This course will describe the progress of cryptography through the ages, from the time of the Roman empire, through the modern day techniques of the digital revolution, and to the future ideas based on quantum physics. The course will focus on the basic underlying ideas of cryptography and their simple implementations using computer programs. A fair amount of the course material will involve computer programming in a suitable programming language. Some basic knowledge of mathematics and programming would be helpful but is not necessary. (Limited to 22 students) Location: TBD
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Digital Creativity - Julie Davis

This course is intended to teach beginning techniques and theories of producing 2-D computer generated art and design. This is accomplished by an introduction to various software packages and lectures. Students will complete a variety of creative projects focusing on the principles of good graphic design, color theory and visual communication. (Limited to 22 students) Location: TBD
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Hands-On Computing: Making Your Home Computer Work for You! - Jeanna Matthews

Do you have a computer at home? Are you ready to make it work for you? Would you like to learn about how attackers can break into your system and how you can stop them? Do you want to learn more about how it really works? In this course, you will do a set of hands-on computing labs that allow you to pop the hood on your computer systems. You'll see what kind of data goes over the network when you surf the web or use AIM as well as look at traces of common attacks like viruses or worms. You'll write your own web page and read and run simple computer programs. You will learn to install an operating system from Windows to free operating systems like Linux. You'll even take apart a computer, learn to recognize its parts and then put it back together again. (Limited to 25 students) Location: TBD
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Do It Yourself Marketing - Brenda Kozsan

This course will not only introduce you to the field of marketing and careers but will also include how to market yourself to colleges, to employers and in everyday situations. How do you send messages to market yourself now? Topics will include an in-depth self-assessment, preparing resumes for internships/jobs, developing a personal marketing strategy and discussion on careers in marketing. In- class exercises, role-playing and class discussions will be emphasized. (Limited to 25 students) Location: TBD
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Know Your Surroundings: An Ecological Close-up of the Adirondack Region - Tiffany Basara

At 6 million acres, larger than Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Great Smoky and Everglades National Parks combined, the Adirondack Park and Forest Preserve is the largest park in the nation outside of Alaska. It also happens to be right in our backyard. But how much do we know about it? This is a field intensive course that combines biology, ecology and environmental studies in order to get a better understanding of the inner workings of a “forever wild” area. Discussion topics will include the effects of regionalized extinction, predator-prey relationships, population genetics, and land use planning. Field work will include winter identification of trees, and interactive simulations of learned concepts. The final focus will be on current problems affecting the Adirondack region, and ways to become active in community and environmental causes. (Note: Students will be required to do field work in winter weather and MUST come prepared with proper clothing and footwear.) (Limited to 18 students) Location: TBD
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Saturdays with Grey’s Anatomy - Dana Olzenak and CU Physical Therapy Graduate Students

Have you ever wondered what goes on inside a joint when you sprain your ankle? What structures are involved? How could you make your ankle stronger and prevent future injuries? This class will explore the ankle, knee, shoulder, spine, and the brain with regards to the anatomical make-up, how it functions, common injuries, what happens during injury, and how healing and rehabilitation occur in these different areas of the body. Participants will be involved in a variety of activities to enhance learning through: cadaver lab and models, computer interactive simulation for anatomy and radiology concepts, clinical evaluation and treatment techniques, brain teasers and memory tests, balance activities, and role play. Students will learn the role of each body area in everyday activity, the rationale for exercise at the ankle, knee, shoulder, spine, and our minds, and how to prevent injury of these structures. Participants will interact with our current physical therapy students while learning anatomy and injury diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Each session consists of an anatomy lab component and ‘hands-on’ activities and/or exercises for the focused area. (Limited to 18 students) Location: Center for Health Sciences (Clarkson Hall)
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The First Amendment in American Democracy - Christopher Robinson

Students will read a series of U.S. Supreme Court cases and through discussion and mock trials consider the relation of the liberties guaranteed by the First Amendment to the quality of democracy we know in America today. The course will focus on cases on freedom of speech, religious freedom, and freedom of the press. Of particular concern is the effect of the war and national security on these freedoms. Students will read actual court cases and engage in a series of debates and mock trials that concern First Amendment questions. (Limited to 18 students) Location: TBD
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World Religions - William Vitek

Around the world today, and in nearly every culture identified and studied by anthropologists, religion plays a central role in the lives of individuals, families, societies, and even governments. This course will explore a number of world religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, and Islam. Students will come to understand the basic history, terms, rituals, and customs of these religions. We will consider where these religious traditions overlap and where they diverge. And we will explore the social and cultural effects these religions have had on the people and regions where they have thrived, including contemporary moral issues. (Limited to 20 students) Location: TBD
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