Course Overview
Embark on a transformative experience this summer where you can build your future with the help of generative AI. In this summer institute creativity and technology will come together to design your future passion and career! This program is specially crafted for high school students who have a keen interest in technology, artificial intelligence, and making innovation. Over the course of this one week, participants will dive deep into the intriguing world of Generative AI.
Generative AI is a dynamic field of artificial intelligence that enables machines to generate original content, whether it’s stories, artwork, music, or fresh ideas. The process involves training the AI on a large collection of data. For example, to create an AI capable of producing new music, you would expose it to thousands of existing music. Through this, the AI learns the patterns, notes and frequencies present in the music. After training, it can then generate new music based on the knowledge it has absorbed, allowing it to produce its own unique and innovative tunes.
In this summer institute, through engaging lectures, hands-on workshops, and team-based projects, students will develop a strong grasp of how AI can be utilized to generate content like stories, lyrics, computer programs, websites and much more. This program is designed to prepare talented high school students for college and AI research beyond. This introductory course combines engaging modules with practical projects, leading you into the exciting world of AI, machine learning, and neural networks.
All students who successfully complete the course will receive a Certificate of Completion and have the opportunity to request a Syracuse University noncredit transcript.
Learning Objectives
Through engaging lectures, hands-on workshops, and team-based projects, students will develop a strong grasp of how AI can be utilized to generate content like stories, lyrics, computer programs, websites and much more:
- AI Fundamentals: Learn the core concepts of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and neural networks.
- In-depth Study of Generative Models: Dive into different generative models and large-scale pre-trained models like GPT-3.
- Creative Uses: Discover how Generative AI is applied in the creation of music, website, computer game and software and other forms of creative output.
- Practical Projects: Work on real-world challenges by experimenting with generative algorithms to produce original AI-generated content.
- Ethical Issues: Explore the ethical challenges surrounding Generative AI, with a focus on responsible usage and reducing bias.
- Expert Mentorship: Connect with leading experts and researchers who are trailblazers in the Generative AI space.
Course Information
Course Prefix and Number: TBD
Format: On Campus (at Syracuse University)
Eligibility: Students must be of rising high school junior, or senior status – or a 2025 high school graduate.
Students’ reading comprehension needs to be sufficient to read a textbook or articles used in colleges and high schools. No previous programming experience required. Potentially helpful, but NOT required are critical thinking and analytical thinking skill.
Credit: Noncredit
Grading: Pass/Fail
Cost:
- Residential: $4,295
- Commuter: $3,318
Program rates are subject to change and will be approved by the board of trustees. Discounts and scholarships are also available.
Program Information
Summer College – On Campus: Experience what college is really like: take a college-level course, live in a residence hall, have meals with friends in a dining hall, and participate in activities and events on campus.
Course Dates and Details
| Program | Course Dates | Synchronous Class Time (Eastern Time) | Credit/Noncredit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer College – On Campus | 2-Week Session II: Sunday, July 20 – Friday, Aug. 1, 2025 | MTWThF; 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Noncredit |
To see if this course is ‘open,’ refer to the full course catalog.
Course Requirements
Required Supplies
Please know that any supply purchases are not included in the overall tuition fee. Students will need to budget for additional course supplies, textbooks, supply kits, etc.
Technology & Supply Requirements:
- Reliable internet access
- A space conducive to taking an online class (without distractions)
- Open source software:
- All the software that we will use are either open source (free) or free trials and we will install them in class so no need for students to have anything prepared ahead of time.
- It would be helpful to have MS Office apps like: Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Microsoft Teams
- This course will require you to use your Syracuse University provided Microsoft and Google Accounts. Both accounts are based on your NetId. Your Google account is netid@g.syr.edu and your Microsoft Account is netid@syr.edu . We will use Microsoft Teams for communications, questions, and general asynchronous discussion between students about homework and projects. You will receive an invitation to the join these forums
This course does not have any textbook requirements.
Student Expectations
Students are expected to attend every class session and be engaged during all lectures, guest speakers and team activities. This course will offer the opportunity for academic and experiential learning, and the expectation is that all students come prepared to take full advantage of what is presented. Students are also expected to give each other feedback on in-class virtual presentation, and participate in the final student presentation.
Good behavior in class (no disrespect, no disruptions, no distractions, no extra-curricular computer or cell phone usage, no side conversations, etc.) and adherence to all pertinent conduct standards are expected from all students.
It is the student’s responsibility to inform the instructors if they must miss a class due to health concerns, religious observances, or other obligations.
Typical Day
Tentative Schedule
Each day typically begins with a review of previous covered topics and proceeds with coverage of new topics based on the currently due reading assignment. Then students work in small teams to perform hand-on exercises related to AI tool we will be exploring. Occasionally, students will have guest lecture on emerging and hot topics in generative AI. Note, while this is a sample structure, each day may look different and what will be covered could vary day to day.
When class is over, and on weekends, students can look forward to various Summer College – On Campus activities to meet and connect with other students! Check out our On Campus Experience page for more information!
Faculty Bio
Farzana Rahman
Dr. Farzana Rahman, an associate professor of the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), teaches many core programming and systems courses in the Computer Science major, for example – data structures, object oriented programming, computer systems organization, mobile app development and etc. She has research interest in computer science education, design and development of technology-enhanced learning environments, and measuring the impact of integrating learning science theories in CS courses. Dr. Rahman has been awarded with the College Educator of the Year award by Technology Alliance of Central New York (TACNY) and Meredith Teaching Teaching Recognition Award by Syracuse University.
Dr. Rahman is the director of Research Exposure on Socially Relevant Computing (RESORC) Program, funded by Google Research, to increase both the exposure and visibility of undergraduate research at Syracuse SU. With more than 200 students participating in RESORC over the past 3 years, she has designed and facilitated multiple virtual workshops to help undergraduate students develop computing identity, research skills, practice teaching strategies, and explore research topics in computing and engineering domain.
Dr. Rahman’s research and mentoring initiatives has been funded by many agencies, including the National Science Foundation, Google, NCWIT, Google TensorFlow, and American Association of Colleges and Universities to develop effective pedagogy in undergraduate computer science education. She is the winner of the NCWIT Extension Services (NCWIT ES-UP) award, ABI Systers PIO (Pass-It-On) award, Google ExploreCSR Award, and NCWIT educator award.
In her free time, Dr. Rahman loves to read books on world history and philosophy, write comic with her daughter, and bake!