Summer Start Tracks
Each Summer Start track consists of 2 classes (6 college course credits) and is limited to 24 students.
With more than a dozen to choose from, there is a track for everyone's interest and curiosity. Tracks also look at challenges beyond the classroom, giving you the desired skillsets that employers are seeking. View this table to determine how your proposed track may relate to Pathways to General Education.
Tracks enable you to form close relationships with your classmates and instructors. According to our alum sources, friendships developed in the tracks tend to be the strongest you'll make during Summer Start.
2025 Summer Start Tracks
TRACK 1: Forests, Fish, and Wildlife: Exploring Conservation and Ecology
Are you passionate about nature and environmental conservation? This track introduces students to the science behind forests, fish, and wildlife, providing a foundation for understanding ecosystems and sustainable management. Through these courses, students will explore the connections between forests and global change, as well as the conservation of fish and wildlife species. Perfect for those interested in environmental issues, sustainability, and natural resource management, this track will give you a head start in one of the nation’s top-ranked programs for natural resources and conservation.
Classes:
FREC 2004: Forest Ecosystems, 3 credits
FIW 2114: Principles of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, 3 credits
TRACK 2: Chemical Problem Solving
This track is designed to prepare students to be successful in introductory level chemistry courses. Students will be developed in the following skills upon the completion of this track: understand the language of chemistry; the meaning and use of the mole, atomic theory and structure; the periodic table; chemical bonding, chemical reactions and equations; set up and solve word problems; familiarity with exponents and logarithms
Classes:
CHEM 1014: Calculations in Chemistry, 3 credits
Course 2: Choose any summer course that fits your program of study. Please consult your academic advisor, 3 credits
TRACK 3: Architecture and Design
Are you an aspiring architect, interior designer, landscape architect or industrial designer? If so, this track has been designed specifically for you. The two combined courses provide a total immersion experience into the world of architecture and design.
In this track, you will be introduced to the learning environment and activities characteristic of Foundation Design Lab ARCH 1015. You will also be exposed to ways of perceiving and recording the built and natural environment through travel around the region, as well as transforming your findings in ways that enhance design education.
Classes:
ARCH 1024: Design Thinking: Defying Preconceptions, 3 credits
ARCH 1034: Seeing Design: Transforming Observations, 3 credits
This track is recommended for architecture, interior designer, landscape architect, industrial designer majors, Explore CAUS, and University Studies students desiring to transfer to the architecture degree program.
TRACK 4: Superpowers, Sweatshops, and Sovereign States
The world is as it has always been—a precarious place. Since the end of the Cold War, a new set of challenges, dynamics, and threats have emerged within the international system, transforming it theoretically as well as practically. This track provides an introductory look into contemporary world politics, international relations, global poverty, and human rights.
Classes:
PHIL 2304: Global Ethics, 3 credits
PSCI 2054: Introduction to World Politics, 3 credits
TRACK 5: Interdisciplinary Engineering
This track is open only to students in the College of Engineering. Participants will select the third course in consultation with General Engineering Advisors.
Classes:
ENGE 1215: Engineering Foundations, 2 credits
ENGE 1014: Engineering Success Seminar, 1 credit
And one of these courses:
- CS 1114: Introduction to Software Design, 3 credits
(must have CREDIT for MATH 1225) - Math 1214: Preparations for Calculus, 3 credits*
- Pathways 2, 3, or 6a, 3 credits
*Students must complete ALEKS Placement, Preparation and Learning Assessment. ALEKS helps identify students’ best starting point to ensure their success in math and chemistry.
This track is Canceled for 2025
TRACK 6: Nutrition, Foods, Exercise, and Sport
Our society is continually confronted with the dynamic nature of human health. This track introduces you to the foundational principles of health and wellness. You will also develop an understanding of the exciting fields of nutrition and sport science.
Classes:
HNFE 1004: Foods, Nutrition, and Exercise, 3 credits
HNFE 1804: Fundamentals of Sport Science, 3 credits
This track is recommended for students in Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise. HNFE 1004 is required for all HNFE majors; HNFE 1804 can be used as a controlled elective for HNFE majors who choose the Science of Food, Nutrition and Exercise option and as a free elective for HNFE majors who choose the Dietetics option.
TRACK 7: Business in Society
In this track, you will investigate the forces of business that operate in today’s society. After completing this track, you will understand the basic insights of business information systems, as well as security and software applications.
Classes:
ACIS 1504: Introduction to Business Information Systems, 3 credits*
SOC 1004: Introduction to Sociology, 3 credits **
*Required of all business majors with the exception of FinTech and Big Data Analytics
** Recommended course for business majors.
TRACK 8: Virtual Hokies
This track provides first year Hokies the option to design a personalized track to meet their specific academic needs. In consultation with academic advisors, students will choose courses among existing Summer Session II virtual courses in the Timetable of Classes. For financial aid consideration, students must enroll in a minimum of six credit hours. This track is available to students who do not plan to be in Blacksburg for the in-person Summer Start experience.
This track is Canceled for 2025
TRACK 9: Pamplin College of Business International Transfer Track*
In this track, students will use digital tools to analyze managerial data ranging from productivity data to large scale, organizational databases. Participants will also be exposed to the fundamental concepts of entrepreneurship and the business innovation process, which can be applied and integrated in various arenas.
Classes:
Mgt 3064: Cornerstones of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, 3 credits
Mgt 3604: Managerial Analytics, 3 credits
* This track is reserved for student participants from Xidian University
TRACK 10: Individualized Interdisciplinary Track
In consultation with academic advisors, Track 10 provides first-year and transfer students the option to design a personalized track to meet their specific academic needs. For financial aid consideration, students must enroll in a minimum of six credit hours.