Wheaton College Summer Institute Courses
Summer 2026 Courses
(This page is still being updated. New courses are being approved with our Curriculum Committee and will be added before the application opens on December 1st.)
Instructor: Christine Colon | English Literature
“It is a truth universally acknowledged…” that Pride and Prejudice holds a unique place within English literature. Not only is it a novel that literary scholars return to repeatedly as they work to interpret what Jane Austen accomplishes through her artistry, but it is also a story that continues to engage popular audiences through its many film, television, and literary adaptations. In this course, we will, first, look closely at the novel, placing it within its historical context and investigating what Austen is revealing through her unique style and characterization. Then, we will turn to various adaptations, exploring not only how they help us reflect back on the novel in new ways but also how they engage with the cultures from which they were created. (2 credits, ENGL)
Student Testimonial
"I really appreciated having daily class discussions where we were free to share our thoughts with one another and I also appreciated the faith aspect of the curriculum."
-WCSI Student, Summer 2024
Instructor: Ray Phinney or Corbin Renken | Psychology / Neuroscience
This course explores how neuroscientists study the human brain and the contemporary issues that arise. Lectures and lab experiences will focus on the tools used to study and understand the brain and their impact on understanding human thought, behavior, and emotion. Morning sessions will include lectures and seminar discussions that examine how the central nervous system is understood and related cultural/philosophical issues. Afternoon sessions will involve work with neural specimens, tissue, and other neuroscience lab techniques. (2 credits, NEUR)
Student Testimonials
"I enjoyed my stay at Wheaton, everything from the intriguing discussions in neuroscience, to the wonderful chapel messages, to the incredibly welcoming community. I was blessed to be a part of the program and I encourage people to take it."
-Samuel, Summer 2022
"The Brain class has already come in handy to me as a student, and I really enjoyed the content!"
-Lucy, Summer 2024
Instructor: Robert O’Connor | Philosophy
This course explores the field of medical ethics, which looks very closely at some of the moral issues that currently confront medical practitioners. It is taught in the philosophy department because, first, philosophers carefully explore the question, what does it mean to be a human being and what makes a human so valuable? This is absolutely critical to decide in order to know how humans ought to be treated. But this raises the second fundamental question: how can we decide what policies and procedures are morally appropriate for treating human beings? As Christians, we’ll strive for answers that reflect Biblical standards. We’ll do so, however, according to those fundamental moral principles that underwrite biblical guidelines. Some of the specific topics we’ll wrestle with include euthanasia and end-of-life care, fertility and genetic engineering, the role of race and gender in a just treatment, and the merits of human and animal experimentation. (2 credits, PHIL)
Student Testimonial
"Taking Ethical Dilemmas in Medical Care was one of the most interesting classes I have ever taken. I really enjoyed learning about different philosophical theories. The professor was so insightful and the whole experience was exceptional."
-Laurel, Summer 2022
Instructors: Dan Burden & Lisa Burden | Chemistry
Big things happen in tiny spaces! Themes of nanoscience and nanotechnology span the news cycle, the natural sciences, and other applied areas of STEM, all to the glory of God! This course provides an interdisciplinary introduction to the field by engaging students in hands-on laboratory learning, while making specific connection to foundational ideas in biology, chemistry, and physics. Classroom learning sessions include, “What is Nanoscience and Nanotechnology?,” “Nanoscale Biology,” “Nanoscale Chemistry,” and “Nanoscale Physics,” as well as “Philosophical and Ethical Issues within Nanoscience.” Laboratory sessions will allow students to investigate the brilliant nanoscale features of butterfly wings, unveil size-dependent phenomena in Qdots, and participate in the latest government-sponsored research concerning biologically inspired nanovalves. Successful completion of a high school chemistry, biology, or physics course is recommended prior to taking this course. (2 credits, CHEM)
Student Testimonial
"Nanoscience has been the most rewarding class that I've ever taken. The professors and TAs helped me to achieve a new level of understanding, and through this class, I've learned much more about God's incredible creation through the little things He has made."
-Tim, Summer 2023
Instructor: Enoch Hill | Business & Economics
In this course, we will study some of the fundamentals of economics, including concepts such as ownership, prices, opportunity cost, supply and demand, and money (just economics). We will then build on our foundational understanding to reflect on normative questions (Just Economics). What should the objective of society be? How do we evaluate whether one outcome is better than another? And how does our faith influence our decisions? Along the way, we will enrich our exploration using real-world examples. How do we allocate limited vaccines? How do I determine what college to attend? How should we determine who gets into a particular class? Who can live in my neighborhood…or my country? (2 credits, ECON)
Student Testimonial
"I always knew God revealed Himself through the sciences but my experience at the Wheaton Summer Institute showed how God is revealed through economics as well."
-Connor, Summer 2022
Instructor: George Kalantzis | Biblical and Theological Studies
“Who do you say I am?” (Mt 16:15) continues to be the central question of the Christian faith with unique implications on salvation, redemption, and restoration. In this course we will explore how the New Testament and early Christians tried to identify and articulate a new "grammar of faith" that could both affirm the divinity of Christ (and the Holy Spirit) whilst at the same time confess God as one-in-three Persons without falling into polytheism. (2 credits, BITH)
Student Testimonial
"Taking the Person of Christ class with Dr Kalantzis was getting one of the world's greatest theological minds at your fingertips. The knowledge he shared was incredibly insightful and opened my mind to new ways of thinking. To someone who is considering this class, I will say that if you want to know more about Jesus and the Trinity, there is no other class for you!"
-Ezekiel, Summer 2025
Instructor: Greg Anderson | Graduate School Chaplain
Wheaton College has prepared people for ministry since its founding. This course will help young people to consider and explore a calling to a full-time ministry or how to make their marketplace or professional career a ministry. There will be lectures from and discussions with Wheaton professors, Billy Graham Scholars from around the world, pastors, and representatives from mission agencies and para-church organizations. There will be exercises to help the students know and share their faith and to develop a pastoral and world Christian perspective. Students will put those ministry skills into practice on each other in the context of a comfortable but challenging classroom community. (2 credits, CFM)
Student Testimonial
"I grew so much in confidence during my time at Wheaton. The Christ-centered encouragement I received from my professor and from my new friends really brought me out of my shell! By the end of two weeks, I was asking questions and offering thoughts in class, meeting new people every day, and even speaking in chapel!"
-Sarah, Summer 2022
Instructor: Brian Hunt | Applied Health Science
This course explores how the human body responds to exercise. Lectures and lab experiences will focus on basic cardiovascular, respiratory, and muscular responses. Morning sessions will include lectures and seminar discussions while afternoon sessions will primarily involve laboratory experiences where students will serve as their own study subjects! These labs will allow students to get a better sense of their own cardiovascular, respiratory and muscular health. (2 credits, BHS)
Student Testimonial
"I really enjoyed the course and professor Hunt. He made it extremely fun and interactive, and because of this class I am interested in pursuing the medical field."
-Will, Summer 2023
Instructors: Kim Sasser & Sarah Borden | English Literature / Philosophy
The Harry Potter series has been a global phenomenon, read by children and adults worldwide. Its success is easy to understand, given Rowling’s masterful storytelling. Under the surface of the entertaining stories is, however, substantive engagement with a variety of literary forms and long-standing symbolic traditions. This course will look at some of the literary features of the series, looking particularly at how the series may interact with Christian theological conversations such as the problem of evil, the nature of faith, visions of conversion and coming into life with Christ, and the virtue of hope. (2 credits, ENGL)
Student Testimonial
"It was an unbelievable experience and unlocked so many new things for me about my favorite series! Both the professors were so kind and thoughtful, and I learned new things about both Philosophy and English, while also doing a deep dive into Harry Potter!"
-Lucy, Summer 2025
Instructors: Susan Dunn-Hensley & Ben Weber | English Literature & Kailey Bell | Communication
In this course, English and Arena Theater faculty will guide students through two of Shakespeare’s greatest plays, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Macbeth, as they become better readers and actors of Shakespeare’s works. As students analyze Shakespeare’s sonnets and plays in the morning sessions, they will ask together: Who was Shakespeare? How can we better understand Shakespeare’s language? How did the historical and cultural events of the Renaissance and the Reformation influence Shakespeare and his work? How does Shakespeare’s work help us ask and answer questions of faith and theology? In the afternoon sessions, students will learn how to speak Shakespeare’s verse effectively and make interpretive choices as actors. This course will give students a Shakespearience like no other. (2 credits, ENGL)
Student Testimonial
"After my two weeks at Wheaton, I know without a doubt that this is my dream school. The Shakespearience was absolutely the course for me! From the beautiful campus to the beyond incredible Theater department (woot woot!), I would 100% recommend the Summer Institute."
-Savana, Summer 2022
Instructor: Emily McGowin | Bible & Theology
This course enables students to think more deeply about God, the Bible, and their life of discipleship. During the first week, students will learn how to read and teach the Bible with clarity and insight. During the second week, students will reflect on important Christian doctrines with the aim growing in love for God and their neighbors. (2 credits, BITH)
Student Testimonial
"I got the opportunity to experience two weeks at Wheaton College, and what an amazing experience it was. From eating my professor's homemade biscuits and discussing the Bible and Theology on the green of Blanchard's lawn to playing sand volleyball outside Fisher Hall, I made memories, met friends, and learned invaluable lessons that I will carry with me for a lifetime."
-Faith, Summer 2022
College Policy
The Wheaton College Summer Institute provides its students with a college education. This comes with certain rules and regulations such as:
(1) You will receive a transcript with a letter grade. You may be required to produce this transcript when applying to colleges.
(2) If you remove yourself from the WCSI during the drop period (first Monday of class), you will be fully dropped from the class (not recorded on a transcript) and receive a full tuition refund.
(3) If you remove yourself from the WCSI after the first day of class and before the withdrawal deadline, you will receive a W (for “withdrawn”) on your transcript and you will not be issued a refund.
(4) If you remove yourself from the program after the withdrawal deadline, you will receive whatever grade you earned, on your transcript and will not be issued a refund. The withdrawal deadline occurs halfway through the WCSI (the first Friday of the program is the final day to withdraw).
Accessible Education
Wheaton College is committed to providing access and inclusion for all persons with disabilities, inside and outside the classroom. Students are encouraged to discuss with the WCSI staff if they foresee any disability-related barriers in a course or other WCSI programs and activities. Students who need accommodations in order to fully access their course’s content or any part of the learning experience are encouraged to connect with Learning & Accessibility Services by emailing las@wheaton.edu. Learning and Accessibility Services (LAS) is available to help facilitate those accommodations or communicate with faculty as needed. LAS is also available to provide resources and information about the accommodations process in the college setting as well as the transition between high school and college.
Experience Living on a College Campus
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