If you want to learn how laws are made, why some issues take center stage, or how global events influence local policies, political science programs offer the tools you need, without the logistical hassles that come with an in-person program!
In this blog, we cover some of the best online political science programs open to high schoolers, including internships, research programs, and pre-college programs.
10 Online Political Science Programs for High School Students
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Spring 2025: February 16, 2025; Summer 2025: February 16 (early), March 23 (priority), April 20 (regular-I), May 18 (regular-II)!
Program Dates: Spring 2025: March 3, 2025; Summer 2025: June 16, 2025! Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance.
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and more! If you’re interested in political science, you could choose courses like International Relations or Political Theory and Philosophy.
Once you select a particular subject track and type of research you’ll be paired with a professor or Ph.D. scholar (from a top university) who will mentor you throughout your research journey. You’ll work to create a 20-page, university-level research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student. Apply here!
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Eligibility: Must be currently enrolled in high school, demonstrate academic achievement (unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4), and no prior knowledge of your field of interest is required.
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June - August), Fall (September - December), Winter (December - February), and Spring (March - June).
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program pairs high-school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more.
Past research has explored the impact of social movements on effective political change and public political attitudes and their effect on democratic backsliding in countries. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Remote, In-person (Philadelphia, PA)
Application Deadlines: Summer Session: Opens February 3, 2025
Program Dates:
- Spring: February–May 2025
- Summer: June–August 2025
- Fall: September–December 2025
Eligibility: High school students authorized to work in the U.S.
Cost: Free; 10 paid internship spots available
The world is more connected than ever, and international relations play a huge part in that connection. The Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) allows high school students to gain hands-on experience in this field. You will get to collaborate with experts to gain specialized skills and strengthen workplace abilities like communication, collaboration, and time management. You will also attend foreign policy seminars and career workshops, engage with FPRI events, and may have opportunities to contribute research for publication.
You can choose from tracks such as research, special events/development, communications, and operations, tailoring your experience to career goals. Whether assisting with research or supporting event logistics, this program provides essential exposure to foreign policy and professional work environments.
Location: Remote
Application Deadline: Rolling
Program Dates: Ongoing (internships available for indefinite periods)
Eligibility: All high school students are eligible.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; unpaid
The Pasquines internship allows high school students to gain hands-on experience in policy, politics, and journalism. As a volunteer-driven, non-profit organization, Pasquines focuses on amplifying the voices of U.S. territories like Puerto Rico, Guam, and American Samoa within national policy discussions.
During this internship, you’ll have the chance to sharpen your writing skills, report on important regional issues, and collaborate with others to understand the political and systemic challenges faced by these territories. With flexible hours and ongoing opportunities, this internship is ideal for students interested in exploring the political landscape of underrepresented communities.
Location: In-person at Brown University (Providence, RI), virtual, or hybrid.
Application Deadline: May 10, 2024 (2025 dates TBD).
Program Dates: 1–5 week sessions between June and July (2025 dates TBD).
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12, aged 14–18 by the program's start date.
Cost: $2,816 to $9,870, depending on course format and duration. Limited financial aid is available.
Brown University’s Pre-College Programs allow high school students to explore political science through courses like Power and the Production of History, The Political Economy of U.S. Cities, and The Racial Politics of Skepticism.
These courses cover key political issues and governance topics. Each program includes three hours of daily classwork and three hours of independent or group study. By the end, you will gain a deeper understanding of political systems and receive a certificate of completion.
Location: Residential (Brown University campus) or online (via Canvas, Brown’s Learning Management System).
Application Deadline: May 12, 2023, at 11:59 PM EST
Program Dates:
- On-Campus Session I: June 29–July 11, 2025
- On-Campus Session II: July 13–July 25, 2025
- Online Session: July 23–July 18, 2025
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12, aged 14–18 by June 15, 2025.
Cost:Residential: $5,788; Online: $5,528
Brown University’s Leadership Institute allows high school students to explore politics, justice, and social movements. You'll work on creating an Action Plan to address community challenges, gaining problem-solving skills along the way.
The program covers topics like law, social movements, global health, and intercultural communication, helping you apply these ideas to real-world situations. Through discussions, group projects, and research, you'll develop the skills needed to create meaningful solutions in politics and beyond.
Location: Hybrid – Virtual and Residential (Princeton University campus)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Application Deadline: February 24, 2025
Program Dates: July 28 – Aug 7
If you’re passionate about political journalism and want to understand how the media shapes public opinion and policy, the Princeton Summer Journalism Program (PSJP) is a great opportunity. This free, year-long program is designed for high-achieving high school juniors from low-income backgrounds. It combines online and in-person learning, with weekly lectures and workshops led by experienced journalists and Princeton professors.
You’ll also have the chance to engage with professionals from top media outlets like The New York Times, Politico, and CNN, gaining valuable insights into politics, current affairs, and journalism. The program accepts up to 40 students through a competitive application process.
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Both free and paid options available
Application Deadline: N/A
Program Dates: N/A - Flexible schedule
If you're interested in understanding the moral foundations of political systems, the Moral Foundations of Politics course on Coursera examines key political theories. It covers ideologies such as Utilitarianism, Marxism, and the social contract tradition, starting with their historical roots and moving to their relevance today. Taught by Ian Shapira, Sterling Professor of Political Science and Global Affairs at Yale University, this course offers both free and paid options, allowing you to explore important political concepts at your own pace.
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Both free and paid options available
Application Deadline: N/A
Program Dates: 8 weeks; self-paced
Offered by the University of Baltimore School of Law, this program features weekly video lectures and discussions with experts such as Gilda Daniels, Garrett Epps, and Ron Weich. It focuses on the relationship between the Supreme Court and elected branches of government, covering key legal issues and their influence on American society. This 8-week, self-paced course offers both free and paid options.
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: December 2, 2024, to February 12, 2025, for Summer 2025
Program Dates: June 21 to August 9, 2025
Eligibility: Open to high school students
Cost: $4,050 for 4 credits, $7,900 for 8 credits; need-based financial aid available
Harvard's SSP Online program provides high school students the chance to take college-level courses, offering 4 to 8 credit hours in subjects like leadership politics, international relations, and economics. As a participant, you will gain a deeper understanding of political science while earning an official Harvard transcript. The program also offers virtual activities, peer engagement, tutoring, and access to Harvard's libraries, along with college prep support.
David Wilkinson is a freelance writer for Horizon and currently resides in the United States.