May Term 2024 Catalog

May Term is a unique two-week program which occurs at the conclusion of the spring semester (the last two weeks of May before Memorial Day). It provides students with opportunities to take one in-depth course or to participate in a May Term internship experience. All students will earn 0.5 credits with the successful completion of each May Term course/internship as part of the Academy’s graduation requirements.

All academy students must be enrolled in one May Term experience for 2024. Registration forms must be received by the Academic Affairs office by Friday, March 22, 2024 or you will be assigned a May Term course. When the number of first preferences exceeds the number of spaces available, seats will be filled at random, with priority given to the seniors. Course selections are not processed on a first-come, first-serve basis. There will be no drop or add options for May Term courses. When the capacity of each class is filled, no other students will be permitted into the closed class. Academy attendance policies and procedures apply to May Term courses and activities.

Click here for the Course Catalog

Click here for information on Internships

Registration Procedures

  1. Students should first view the May Term catalog on the Indiana Academy web site.
  2. Students must complete the May Term registration form on the web site and submit it online by the stated deadline of March 22, 2024. This includes those students who plan on completing a May Term Internship.
  3. Students who do not send in the required May Term registration form by the stated deadline of March 22, 2024, will be assigned a May Term Course with no right to change course assignment.
  4. Athletes MUST choose a May Term activity that does not conflict with practices or team events.

May Term Policies

  1. All Indiana Academy students must be enrolled in a May Term course or an approved May Term Internship as part of their Academy graduation requirements. Ball State University summer session courses, other individually arranged summer school courses, or educational events not sponsored by the Academy will not satisfy Indiana Academy May Term graduation requirements.
  2. May Term courses are graded A-B-C-D*.
  3. May Term courses are awarded 0.5 elective credits upon successful completion.
  4. All May Term courses are based upon a standard of curricular excellence consistent with the level of challenge, rigor, and reward of courses taught throughout the school year. May Term courses are designed so that tasks directly related to the course will occupy approximately 60 hours of student time with in-class and out of class work and activities over the two weeks. May Term courses are scheduled to meet a minimum of 3 hours per day. Courses that are primarily activity oriented will have additional hours of in-class meeting time. The meeting times listed in the catalog are approximations. Instructors may hold additional required class meetings outside of the scheduled times. May Term Interns must complete 60 hours of on-site work over the two weeks as arranged with their mentor.

Click here for the May Term Course Selection Form.

Course Descriptions

MT000122 • Appalachia on Film

This course will provide a brief introduction to issues dealing with the Appalachian region, particularly Southern and Central Appalachia. This course will focus primarily on how the region has been perceived in American popular culture through film. Students will acquire an understanding of the important issues of Appalachian history, as well as an understanding of the popular perception of the region.

Note: This course will require parental permission from every enrolled student. Films/books/and classroom discussion may contain adult content in some form, whether it be violence, sex, drugs, language, or all the above. Even if the student is 17 or 18, parental permission will be required. Students will receive permission forms soon after enrollment is approved.

Prerequisite:None
Meeting Time:9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Enrollment:15 students
Grades to be Assigned:A–D*
Fees:None
Instructor:Dr. Mark Myers
Preferred Classroom:TBA
MT000168 • Math & Problem Solving in Popular Strategy Games

This May Term experience will explore the mathematics and problem solving strategies that are incorporated in the playing, and hopefully winning of board games. A variety of problem solving strategies in addition to mathematical concepts will be studied and applied in the board games chosen for this two week adventure. Included among these are optimization strategies, cooperative game strategies, risk vs. reward strategies, deductive reasoning, spatial orientation, and graph theory.

We will meet as a group 3 hours a day; you will independently meet 3 hours per day and keep a log of the time spent playing the games. Each individual will be required to submit a 2-page report on one of his or her favorite games played during the week. In this report, you should include a brief description of the game itself, why you liked playing the game, and explanation of the math and/or problem solving strategies you and others used to try to win the game, and which strategies seemed to be successful and which ones were not.

Prerequisite:None
Meeting Time:8:30–11:30 a.m.
Enrollment:15 students
Grades to be Assigned:A–D*
Fees:None
Instructor:Mr. Joshua Ruark
Preferred Classroom:TBA
MT000214 • May Term Internship

Please see the Indiana Academy website for the requirements and application for a May Term Internship. Follow the directions and remember you still need to submit your Course Request Form along with the May Term Internship application materials. Please direct any questions about May Term Internships to Dr. Joel Olufowote in WA 172 and the completed application forms need to be submitted to Ms. Candace Manship in WA 170.

Prerequisite:None
Meeting Time:All Day
Enrollment:Unlimited
Grades to be Assigned:A–D*
Fees:None
Instructor:Dr. Joel Olufowote (Coordinator)
Preferred Classroom:On-Site Locations
MT000234 • French Film

This course is an introduction to French cinema. We will watch films representing a variety of time-periods, subjects, and genres. Directors may include Cocteau, Godard, Truffaut, Marker, Malle, Palcy, Denis, Berri, Jeunet, Boon, and others. I anticipate that we will watch about 10 films and discuss them. This is a discussion-based class. The students will analyze and compare French films, learn about French culture, present information and arguments, write response papers, and participate in discussions. No previous experience in French is required for the class.

Note: This course will require parental permission from every enrolled student. Films/books/and classroom discussion may contain adult content in some form, whether it be violence, sex, drugs, language, or all the above. Even if the student is 17 or 18, parental permission will be required. Students will receive permission forms soon after enrollment is approved.

Prerequisite:None
Meeting Time:1:00–4:00 p.m.
Enrollment:12 students
Grades to be Assigned:A–D*
Fees:None
Instructor:Dr. Maria Slocum
Preferred Classroom:TBA
MT000255 • Digital Electronics

A basic understanding of the evolution of electronic devices and computer systems is essential in today’s world considering the impact of computers. This course will look at the basics of digital technology and how the electronic technology has shifted from analog systems to digital systems. Although much of the current technology is based on digital electronics, analog electronics have some advantages over analog technologies. The course explores the transformation from analog to digital systems with a focus on the applications of Logic Gates as the building blocks for digital circuits. In addition, students will get a hands-on experience in designing basic electronic circuits using breadboards and electronic components. This will give the students an understanding of how technology has evolved from analog to digital, provide the opportunity to relate digital electronics to real-life experiences, and the opportunity to design an electronic device.

Prerequisite:None
Meeting Time:9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Enrollment:14 students
Grades to be Assigned:A–D*
Fees:None
Instructor:Dr. Godfrey Walwema
Preferred Classroom:TBA
MT000257 • Urban Sketching

How can we better see and understand the world around us? This course proposes to explore, if not answer, this question through onsite sketching and drawing. Students will learn basic sketching techniques to observe and record their impressions of what Ball State campus and Muncie, Indiana look and feel like today. There will be extensive walking most days, as long as the weather is reasonably dry, to find interesting sketching locations on campus and off campus. This is a hands-on participation experience with traditional lecture/content instruction regarding historical content. Students will be exposed to basic techniques in landscape and architectural sketching and drawing. They will explore historical changes in the American landscape, and will imagine both past and future landscapes.

Prerequisite:None
Meeting Time:10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. & 1:00–3:00 p.m.
Enrollment:15 students
Grades to be Assigned:A–D*
Fees:None
Instructor:Dr. Thomas Arnold
Preferred Classroom:TBA
MT000259 • Iconic American Horror Films of the 1970s and 1980s

This course introduces students to several iconic American horror films from the 1970s and 1980s across the world. American directors like Tobe Hooper, Joe Dante, Stanley Kubrick, and John Carpenter will be included, but so will films by Obayashi and Dario Argento. These artists made horror films that quoted liberally from the horror of the 1950s and 1960s and yet established their own uniqueness and power that continue to inform the language of today’s horror films. Students will watch 4-5 horror films from the seventies and 4-5 from the eighties. Through discussion, research, and informal writing, we will dissect the horror on display in these films, see how they hold up and how their visual grammars work, and consider where the form is today.

Note: This course will require parental permission from every enrolled student. Every film shown contains adult content in some form, whether it be violence, sex, drugs, language, or all the above. Even if the student is 17 or 18, parental permission will be required. Students will receive permission forms soon after enrollment is approved.

Prerequisite:Students who have some familiarity and comfort with horror films and can handle watching difficult material.
Meeting Time:1:00–2:30 p.m. & 5:45–8:45 p.m.
Enrollment:15 students
Grades to be Assigned:A–D*
Fees:None
Instructor:Mr. David Haynes
Preferred Classroom:TBA
MT000269 • Becoming a Soccer Pundit

Do you enjoy participating in soccer matches? Do you enjoy following soccer? Do you enjoy debating and discussing soccer matches? Have you ever wished you could play soccer like a global icon but were never given the opportunity? This is your moment to express your opinions. This course aims to teach students, regardless of prior soccer experience, the fundamentals of the game and how to use fundamental statistical concepts to evaluate each game. Together with your peers, you will observe previous soccer matches, collect data, and then debate and evaluate the different variables you have collected data on. You will examine the data collected during each game using straightforward but relevant graphical representations. Less work will be assigned outside of class unless students are unable to finish a particular assignment.

Prerequisite:None
Meeting Time:11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Enrollment:15 students
Grades to be Assigned:A–D*
Fees:None
Instructor:Mr. Joseph Asante
Preferred Classroom:TBA
MT000270 • Latin American Legends, Myths, & Monsters

This course examines the folklore surrounding legendary and mythical creatures throughout Latin America and the cultural and societal roles that they play. As part of this course, students will engage with these monstrous creatures through readings, videos, classroom discussions, as well as reflective, analytical and creative writing. By the end of this course, students will be able to reflect upon myths and legends in tier own cultures and compare and contrast them with those in Latin America. Students will be able to create and write about their own monster and its corresponding legends.

Note: This course will require parental permission from every enrolled student. Films/books/and classroom discussion may contain adult content in some form, whether it be violence, sex, drugs, language, or all the above. Even if the student is 17 or 18, parental permission will be required. Students will receive permission forms soon after enrollment is approved.

Prerequisite:None
Meeting Time:9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Enrollment:15 students
Grades to be Assigned:A–D*
Fees:None
Instructor:Mr. Jason Fetters
Preferred Classroom:TBA
MT000271 • Cosmic Cinema

This course will be an exploration and critique of the scientific essence of science fiction movies. We will be conducting discussions about the science and the realism of the science used in the plot, the world-building, and story mechanics as it pertains to physics and astrophysics.

Note: This course will require parental permission from every enrolled student. Films/books/and classroom discussion may contain adult content in some form, whether it be violence, sex, drugs, language, or all the above. Even if the student is 17 or 18, parental permission will be required. Students will receive permission forms soon after enrollment is approved.

Prerequisite:None
Meeting Time:12:00–4:00 p.m.
Enrollment:15 students
Grades to be Assigned:A–D*
Fees:None
Instructor:Dr. Krista Hook
Preferred Classroom:TBA
MT000272 • Let’s Build a World! – Collaborative Game Setting Construction

World-building is a big deal. For the better part of a century, our culture has been fascinated with imagining, building, writing about and playing fictional universes. Creative industries rely ever more not just on a premise or situation, but a coherent setting for a variety of projects and media modes. Such endeavors require both creativity and collaboration, playfulness and discipline. They also require teamwork, as such endeavors now grow to great scale at great speed.

Over this course of two weeks, this May Term course will provide students with the opportunity to work together to create an original, dynamic game setting drawn from the gathered students’ collective imagination. It will make use of a library of independently developed games – many of which are designed to fashion settings and scenarios for storytelling and other ludic activities – to create, populate, and forge a history for a fictional setting that will, in turn, be used as a basis for student-designed games.

Prerequisite:None
Meeting Time:1:00–4:00 p.m.
Enrollment:16 students
Grades to be Assigned:A–D*
Fees:None
Instructor:Dr. Phillip Lobo
Preferred Classroom:TBA
MT000273 • Playwriting, Directing, & Acting

Immerse yourself in a hands-on, creative experience as you and your fellow students write, direct, produce and act in short plays. Your efforts will result in a performance, or two, of a collection of your short plays for the Academy community. Along the way, you will learn about different genres of plays and their particular demands and challenges to create. No previous experience with any of these things are required – just enthusiasm, a desire to learn and create, and an interest in being a part of a unique, collaborative project.

The class will meet in the mornings the first week, while your homework will be reading a few plays and writing your own script. The second week will be blocking, rehearsing, tech, promotion, performances, and set, prop and costume design/construction. Those will be morning and afternoon, but with little to no homework.

Prerequisite:None
Meeting Time:9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. & 1:00–4:00 p.m.
Enrollment:15 students
Grades to be Assigned:A–D*
Fees:None
Instructor:Mr. John Marsh
Preferred Classroom:TBA
MT000274 • Beyond The Twilight Zone

Education is a journey of sight and sound and of mind – that phrase may sound familiar because it is paraphrased from the opening to one of television’s most famous shows: The Twilight Zone. This genre-defying show utilized elements of fantasy, science-fiction, and horror, to openly confront taboo topics and advocate for social justice. In this class, we will watch and discuss The Twilight Zone’s most famous, and some of its most often overlooked, episodes to learn how this particular television program became a cultural icon. Additionally, we will discover how the show predicted the most topical issues of our times, from crime and consumerism to the building of robots and space exploration, while also giving us imagined glimpses into past histories and future worlds. Coursework will involve watching episodes of the show, participating in class discussion, composing short writings in response to short readings, and lastly creating a visual component of the student’s preference. Overall, students will reflect on how the artistry of popular entertainment like The Twilight Zone, a show whose very name became a common phrase of the English language, can both comfort and confront an audience through immersion in stories.

Prerequisite:None
Meeting Time:9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Enrollment:15 students
Grades to be Assigned:A–D*
Fees:None
Instructor:Dr. Joshua Myers
Preferred Classroom:TBA
MT000275 • Wildfire: An Exploration of Satellite Data

With dramatic fires in Canada, the western U.S., Hawaii, and elsewhere, wildfire has captured the attention of many. Information from satellite imagery and other sources suggests that wildfire activity is also increasing in some parts of the eastern United States. The Wildfire class is a hands-on course and will examine available data on wildfires and prescribed fires that have occurred in the United States in recent decades to address several related research questions. This will entail use of publicly accessible databases and software, data compilation, analysis, and writing. Students should bring a laptop to class each day. It is recommended that each student have an actual laptop computer rather than an iPad or other mobile device.

Prerequisite:None
Meeting Time:1:00–4:00 p.m.
Enrollment:15 students
Grades to be Assigned:A–D*
Fees:None
Instructor:Dr. Donald Winslow
Preferred Classroom:TBA
MT000276 • Adventure Korean Cultural Class

Adventure Korean Cultural Class is designed for students who are interested in Korean culture or Asian culture in general. Since the class is taught in English, all students are welcome. This class provides rich opportunities to experience cultural activities such as K-pop dance, K-food, K-movies, and Korean language (Korean alphabet/Korean for a travel purpose). For example, in a K-pop dance class, students learn and perform K-pop dances. In a K-Food class, they explore the characteristics of Korean food and cook some Korean food. They learn Korean dining etiquette by eating the food they prepare. Every Friday, students enjoy selected Korean movies that reflect Korean society and Korean people. As for the Korean language, students have two options. Those who haven’t learned Korean can learn the Korean alphabet, which is very systematic. They can read everything after a two-week term. Those who have completed Korean Beginning Two (Korean 1B) can learn Korean for travel purposes. Discover the wonders of Korea at the Indiana Academy for a full-immersion cultural experience!

Prerequisite:None
Meeting Time:9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Enrollment:15 students
Grades to be Assigned:A–D*
Fees:None
Instructor:Dr. Jeongsoo Pyo
Preferred Classroom:TBA

Click here for the May Term Course Selection Form.

May Term Internships | May 13-24, 2024

During May Term, the Indiana Academy will be offering academic credit for students who are interested in working at either a site on campus, one at their home communities, or at another location. A minimum of 60 hours must be completed for a May Term Internship. Work hours may include weekend or evening hours. Some job sites may require a background check, drug testing or other types of training before work can begin. Students should plan to complete these requirements before starting their May Term Internship.

Seniors must plan to return to campus by noon on May 24, 2024 to attend the MANDATORY graduation rehearsal.

The May Term Internship program matches students with professionals to allow an exploration experience in the student’s area of interest. The student is expected to complete actual projects. The May Term Internship experience should not be along the lines of errand running or other types of busy work.

In order to arrange an Internship during the May Term, the student must complete the following:

  1. Contact a person, or mentor, in the student’s area of interest and discuss the internship experience. The student is responsible for making the necessary arrangements including housing and transportation.
  2. Complete the internship application and give the hours the student expects to work and the type of experience they would like to have. Be realistic about the expectations of the internship program and the mentor. The student may NOT work under the supervision of relatives or be paid for their services.
  3. Prepare a one- to two-page proposal describing the company or person who will act as the mentor, the reason for pursuing the internship, and what the student would like to gain from the experience. The proposal should be attached to the May Term Internship Application form.
  4. Fill out and return the May Term Internship Program Release form and the Health Information & Delegation of Consent for Treatment form.
  5. An Academy faculty member will contact the mentor to confirm the internship arrangements, follow the progress of the student at work, and to get information for evaluating the student’s performance. For communication purposes, students should plan to maintain an e-mail contact with their Academy faculty member during the May Term internship. It is expected that students will file a daily journal with the faculty supervisor by e-mail giving their hours of work, a description of the work accomplished that day, and reflections about their work experience. The faculty member may also ask for phone numbers (e.g. student’s cell number) for contact purposes.
  6. The May Term Internship Application, the May Term Internship Program Release form, and the Health Information & Delegation of Consent for Treatment form, signed by both the student and the parent, and the one-page Proposal should be submitted to Dr. Joel Olufowote in the Office of Academic Affairs in WA 172 (or in his mailbox) by April 5, 2024. Faculty supervisors will review the proposals and final decisions will be made by April 30, 2024. No proposals will be accepted after April 5, 2024. If you have any additional questions, please see Dr. Joel Olufowote in WA 172.
  7. Note The Academy plans to host an Internship Fair for students interested in pursuing local, Muncie-based internships. The Internship Fair is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, March 19th, 2024 at 1 p.m. in Jeep Lounge.

https://academy.bsu.edu/academics/may-term/may-term-catalog/