About

The Foundations in Science and Mathematics (FSM) summer program at Indiana University Bloomington is a two-week virtual academic enrichment initiative. Organized through IU’s College of Arts & Sciences, FSM offers a sequence of focused, non-credit courses in physics, biology, chemistry, mathematics, astronomy, psychology, neuroscience, and computer science. The program is designed to build conceptual understanding and confidence for high school students (grades 9–12) before they advance to more rigorous STEM coursework.

For 2026, the program is conducted entirely online via Zoom. Courses are offered in two identical sessions: Session I (June) and Session II (July). Each class meets for two hours a day, three times a week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) in Eastern Standard Time. Students may register for up to four courses per session to tailor their learning experience.

Instruction is led by Indiana University graduate students who specialize in their respective fields. The small class sizes facilitate individualized attention and interactive discussions, even in a virtual environment. Classes use digital demonstrations and data-driven exercises to connect introductory principles to real-world applications, helping students develop the problem-solving skills necessary for collegiate-level science.

FSM is institutionally rooted in IU Bloomington's mission to bridge the gap between secondary education and university-level inquiry. By providing local and remote students with early access to graduate-level expertise, the program demystifies complex STEM topics and fosters a supportive learning community. However, students should apply with the awareness that learning via only a virtual setting can be its own sort of challenge.