Humanities Academic Boot Camp

Overview

The Warrior-Scholar Project humanities academic boot camp is an immersive, week-long program consisting of readings on American democracy, seminars taught by university professors, intensive writing instruction, and structured work time with individualized tutor support. The program also includes a series of discussions on succeeding in college as a student veteran.

Course Structure

Readings consist of texts that encourage deep thought about the tradition of American democracy, challenges which have informed the course of American history, and the relationship between the military and the civilian worlds.

Seminars focus on the assigned readings and are taught by host institution professors who are experts in their field. Seminars replicate the experience of participating in traditional undergraduate liberal arts/humanities lectures.

Writing workshops introduce students to the expectations of college-level writing and teach them how to write effectively about what they have read, cite textual evidence appropriately, and turn their ideas into convincing arguments. WSP’s humanities academic boot camps culminate in a short essay assignment.

Analytical reading and college success workshops introduce students to a variety of skills essential to succeed at a college or university and are taught by student veteran peer mentors. Analytical reading sessions teach students how to efficiently assess, analyze, and annotate difficult and unfamiliar texts. WSP’s college success workshops demonstrate the learning practices of successful college students while covering the topics of college expectations, study skills, the application process, making the transition from military service to higher education, and the community and culture of a college environment.

Study groups led by Warrior-Scholar Project alumni engage students in the process of grappling with complex academic materials in peer-led discussions.

Study halls offer students individualized tutor support and provide an opportunity to practice reading, writing, and study skills. Each evening, students complete reading and writing assignments during study hall, with tutors on hand for support.

Sample Course Schedule

Courses run from Sunday – Friday

7:00 AM – 8:30 AM – Breakfast

8:45 AM – 9:45 AM – Study Group:

Led by WSP fellows, students engage in the process of grappling with complex academic materials in peer-led discussions. Fellows support students in both examining the readings and demonstrating the ways in which peer-based study groups may benefit them in higher education.

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Seminar:

Seminars focus on the assigned readings and replicate the experience of participating in a traditional collegiate lecture. The humanities course curriculum is composed of texts that encourage deep thought about the tradition of American democracy, challenges which have informed the course of American history, and the relationship between the military and the civilian worlds. Warrior-Scholar Project’s academic advisors have chosen these topics because they encourage students to situate their military experiences within broader social, political, and historical contexts. The participants’ military experiences are relevant, yet the topics do not place military experience at the center of the discussion. The curriculum thus enables students to enrich their thinking about topics already familiar to them, while illustrating how these same ideas inform wider academic debates.

12:15 PM – 1:45 PM – Lunch

2:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Writing Workshop:

Writing workshops introduce students to the expectations of college-level writing and teach them how to write effectively about what they have read, cite textual evidence appropriately, and turn their ideas into convincing arguments. During writing workshops and individual work periods, students will complete short writing assignments and one persuasive essay during the week. During the workshops, writing instructors assign original prompts and essay questions and provide feedback on an individual basis.

5:15 PM – 6:45 PM – Dinner

7:00 PM – 8:00 PM – College Success Session:

Warrior-Scholar Project College Success sessions focus on the academic, personal, cultural, and social transitions required to succeed in college. WSP fellows lead presentations and discussions that address the challenges unique to transitioning enlisted veterans. Sessions cover topics such as seminar participation, note-taking, time management, college culture, college expectations, and self-care. The goal of these sessions is to demystify the learning practices of successful college students and prepare student veterans to hit the ground running in their freshman year and beyond.

8:00 PM – 10:00 PM – Writing/Reading Assignments with Tutor Support:

Writing and reading assignments provide students with an opportunity to practice their reading, writing, and study skills, with tutor support. Each evening, students complete reading and writing assignments with tutors on hand who are capable of answering their questions and helping them through whatever difficulties they encounter.

10:00 PM – 11:00 PM – Individual Work Time