Summer Intensives

Join us at CapU Squamish this summer for a transformative learning experience where learning meets adventure.

Summer program intensives at CapU Squamish

Summer intensives are rich learning experiences designed to allow individuals to immerse themselves in specific subjects within a condensed timeframe, useful for those who want to get ahead or upskill quickly.

CapU offers an interactive, place-based approach that allows you to engage with your surroundings, connect with peers and work with world-class instructors.

A unique learning experience:

Live in campus residences, walking distance from class (option);
Enjoy catered meals from CapU's newest eatery (option); and
Immerse yourself in the mountains and breathtaking scenery of Squamish, B.C., the recreation capital of Canada.

Below are detailed course descriptions, dates and program rates. For information about course transfers with CapU credits, see the BC Transfer Guide.

Summer 2025 offerings

COMP 115 – Learn to Code (4 credits)

An introduction to the principles and practices of writing quality code for students with little or no coding experience.

Students learn to apply fundamental principles and strategies for thinking clearly about problems, managing complexity, and designing creative, structured solutions.

Students learn to develop the data structures and algorithms to express their solutions, evaluate and test their designs, and code them in a modern, high-level programming language like Python.

This course is open to current high school students.

Prerequisites: One of the following: Pre-calculus 11, Foundations of Mathematics 11, Workplace Mathematics 11, Computer Science 11, BMTH 044, BMTH 048, Math Placement Test (Precalculus MPT), MATH 097, MATH 123, or COMP 101 (B-)

Dates: July 7 – 18, 2025 (classes are Monday – Friday, with the weekend open)

Check in: July 6, 2025
Check out: July 18, 2025

Application deadline: May 31, 2025

Program fees:

Full program (accommodation, meals, tuition, university fees, and all activities): $3040
Program, with meals (meals, tuition, university fees, and all activities): $1840
Program, with activities (tuition, university fees, and all activities): $1240

Note: Fees listed are for domestic students. A $50 application fee may also apply for new domestic students. For international course fees, please inquire at squamish@capilanou.ca.

Instructor: Jason Madar

Jason Madar bio: An experienced technology professional, Jason Madar has served as chief technology officer for multiple startups, driving technical strategy and product development.

Bridging academia and industry, Jason teaches software development, databases, security and cloud computing, to shape the next generation of technology professionals.

BIOL 120 – Environmental Field Studies (3 credits)

Students are introduced to the exceptional biodiversity in their environment through place-based, experiential learning at a field research station. They will visit diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems to familiarize themselves with ecological monitoring and natural history.

Field projects and seminars will emphasize major environmental topics, including the region's biogeography, principles of ecology, human impacts and conservation.

This course is open to current high school students.

Students will complete a small group project, contributing to scientific knowledge with meaningful discoveries.

Prerequisites: None

Dates: July 21 – August 1, 2025 (classes are Monday – Friday, with the weekend open)

Check in: July 20, 2025
Check out: August 1, 2025

Application deadline: May 31, 2025

Program fees:

Full program (accommodation, meals, tuition, university fees, and all activities): $3110
Program, with meals (meals, tuition, university fees, and all activities): $1910
Program, with activities (tuition, university fees, and all activities): $1310

Note: Fees listed are for domestic students. A $50 application fee may also apply for new domestic students. For international course fees, please inquire at squamish@capilanou.ca.

Instructor: Alana Schick

Alana Schick bio: Alana is a biologist with an extensive background in evolutionary and ecological research, fueled by a deep commitment to teaching and environmental stewardship. Her research involves investigating and modelling how communities adapt to novel environments and exploring the emergence of diversity through ecological specialization.

When not in the classroom or lab, Alana can be found in the mountains doing some combination of ski-mountaineering, climbing, biking, and running. Alana brings a unique blend of technical expertise and hands-on field experience to her teaching, promoting first principles thinking and robust quantitative reasoning.