Are you curious about how people think and feel? Psychology programs for high school students give you the chance to explore the human mind. You’ll develop skills like understanding behavior, mental health, and analyzing psychological data.
What’s even better is that these programs can be joined from the comfort of your home. With virtual lectures, workshops, and case studies, you’ll dive into topics like cognitive development and therapy techniques. Whether you’re planning a career in psychology or just want to learn more about yourself and others, these programs are a great way to start.
10 Online Psychology Programs for High School Students
1. Horizon’s Academic Research Program (HARP) — Psychology track
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students in a wide range of subjects, including data science, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and more. After selecting your subject and research focus, you’ll be paired with a mentor — a professor or Ph.D. scholar from a top university — who will guide you throughout the program.
Throughout the program, you’ll work on developing a 20-page, university-level research paper, which can be submitted to prestigious journals for potential publication. For students interested in psychology, Horizon provides access to 72 subtopics, spanning areas like clinical, social, developmental, and cognitive psychology. Apply here!
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.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program provides high school students the opportunity to conduct independent research under the guidance of Ph.D. mentors in a range of subjects, including psychology, physics, economics, and data science.
After choosing a research topic, you'll collaborate with a mentor and a writing coach for 12 weeks. During this time, you'll conduct in-depth research, engage in workshops, and refine your work step-by-step. By the end, you'll have a completed research paper and hands-on experience in research methods, critical thinking, and academic writing.More details about the application are here!
Subject Areas: Multidisciplinary - biology, psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, gender studies, and more!
Location: Remote - you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Starts at $2,800. Financial aid is available!
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The Winter Cohort II application deadline is December 29, 2024!
Program Dates: Summer: June - August, Fall: September - December, Winter: December - February, Spring: March - June.
Eligibility: Must be currently enrolled in high school, and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (Note: Students must have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4).
The University of Texas Southwestern Inspiring Careers in Mental Health Internship is a two-week virtual program for rising 10th–12th graders and incoming college freshmen. Over two weeks, this virtual program connects you with professionals like social workers, psychiatrists, neuropsychologists, and physician assistants.
You'll take part in interactive discussions, complete readings, and dive into areas like psychotherapy, neuroscience, and community psychiatry. If psychology excites you, this internship gives you a chance to see how it's applied in real-world mental health settings and helps you explore career paths in the field.
Subject areas: Mental health, psychology, psychotherapy, neuroscience, social work, and more
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application deadline: Typically close in early February
Dates: Typically 2 weeks in June
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors can apply.
Stanford’s SHTEM Summer Internship lets you dive into research on topics like psychology and neuroscience. You will work closely with mentors from the Stanford Compression Forum. Most of your research will be done remotely, communicating regularly with your team. You can explore topics across different fields like biology, computer science, and more. The program involves 30-40 hours per week. At the end, your group will present your research findings.
Subject Areas: Science of information and communication, engineering, arts, linguistics, psychology, biology, neuroscience, computer science, technology, philosophy, and design.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: No cost. This is an unpaid internship, but need-based financial assistance may be available in some cases.
Application Deadline: March 1, 2024; TBA for 2025
Dates: June 17–August 9, 2024, TBA for 2025
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors who are at least 14 years old and community college students who are aged less than 21 can apply.
In the “Cognitive Psychology” course, you’ll explore the field’s evolution from philosophy to its current applications in areas like robotics. The course covers how positive thinking affects task performance and examines brain regions involved in functions such as speech, perception, attention, and facial recognition.
You’ll also create a brain diagram highlighting areas related to memory and decision-making, and study the frontal lobe’s role in emotions and reasoning. The course includes 20–30 hours of instruction, multimedia, simulations, and guided assignments. You’ll receive mentor support and finish with a final project that earns you a Certificate of Completion from William & Mary.
Subject Areas: Cognitive psychology
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,495
Application Deadline: The upcoming deadlines are as follows:
- 4-week session: November 3, 2024
- 2-week session: December 15, 2024
Dates: Multi-length courses are available throughout the year. The upcoming sessions include
- 4-week session: November 10 - December 8, 2024
- 2-week session: December 22, 2024 - January 5, 2025
Eligibility: Students aged 13 years and above can apply
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The UCLA Neuroscience High School Scholars Program offers high school juniors and seniors the chance to explore neuroscience, with a focus on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia (ADRD). The program offers a flexible experience with a six-week in-person summer session and a virtual option, both aimed at introducing you to neuroscience research and public health.
In the virtual summer program, you’ll participate in seminars on various neuroscience topics, learn how to establish an Alzheimer’s Awareness Club at your school, and connect with faculty and staff. You can also opt to engage in a research project, gaining hands-on experience.
Subject Areas: Neuroscience, oncology, neuropsychology
Location: UCLA campus, Los Angeles, CA (in-person); or virtually
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: March 3, 2025
Dates: 6 weeks for the in-person program (three days a week); and the virtual program. Virtual seminars held monthly on the last Wednesday of the month.
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (16–18 years old), particularly from underrepresented communities or those interested in working with underrepresented populations. Applicants must be motivated and interested in neuroscience.
The Bethel College Summer Science Institute (BCSSI) is a one-week program in early June that gives you the chance to dive into research, including psychology. The program is available both in-person and online, making it accessible wherever you are.
You can join projects in various fields and choose the Psychology of Film group led by Assistant Professor Navanté Peacock. In this group, you’ll explore psychological ideas through films, analyzing movies from a psychological perspective. At the end of the program, you’ll receive a certificate of completion and may even earn one hour of college credit.
Subject Areas: Psychology
Location: Bethel College, North Newton, KS (in-person and online options available).
Cost: $50 registration fee. Fee waivers are available for students needing financial assistance.
Application deadline: April 15, 2024. TBA for 2025.
Dates: July 7 - 12, 2024 (for the online program). TBA for 2025.
Eligibility: Open to students entering grades 10 - 12 and recent high school graduates.
Carnegie Mellon University’s Introduction to Psychology course, offered through the Open Learning Initiative, gives you a detailed look into human behavior and mental processes. It’s a self-paced course perfect for high school students or anyone curious about psychology.
The course is broken into 16 units and covers topics like brain function, cognition, motivation, and psychological disorders. You’ll learn through engaging videos, animations, interactive exercises, and self-assessments. It also focuses on scientific methods and research design, giving you a strong foundation in psychology.
Subject Areas: Psychology
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application deadline: Rolling
Dates: Self-paced
Eligibility: No specific eligibility requirements
The JHIBS program at Johns Hopkins gives you the chance to collaborate with experts in the field of brain science. You'll engage in research under the Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, gaining valuable insights into the workings of the brain. You can choose between two formats for this internship: an 8-week in-person program or a 5-week virtual option. The program is available to high school juniors and seniors across the United States.
In the virtual program, you'll receive educational presentations, professional development training, and learn basic laboratory techniques. Mentorship will guide you as you explore the connections between brain function, behavior, cognition, and mental health.
Subject areas: Neurological sciences
Location: Virtual or in-person at the Johns Hopkins Department of Neurology, east Baltimore Campus, Baltimore, MD
Cost: Free. The in-person program includes an hourly stipend and covers transportation (housing excluded). The virtual program provides a $500 education scholarship.
Application deadline: Applications for 2025 will open on Dec 1, 2024.
Dates: The virtual program runs for 5 weeks from June–August.
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (in the US for the virtual program and in Baltimore City, MD for the in-person program) from underrepresented backgrounds can apply.
The Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X) at Stanford University offers an introduction to psychology, psychiatry, and neuroscience. This 2-week program provides you with the opportunity to explore the range of research in the Stanford Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. You’ll attend seminars with faculty and researchers, gain insights into professional career paths, and learn strategies for self-care.
A key component of the program is the capstone research project, where you’ll collaborate in groups of 8–10 to develop innovative solutions in psychology, psychiatry, or neuroscience. At the end of the program, you’ll present your project at the final capstone event. Previous topics have included eating disorders, neuroimaging, mindfulness, trauma, addiction, autism, and more.
Subject Areas: Psychology, clinical neuropsychiatry, neuroscience research, psychiatric epidemiology, behavioral and social sciences, and more.
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA or Virtual
Cost: $1,495 (virtual) | $2,795 (in-person). Scholarships are available for qualified applicants and you can request financial assistance in your application.
Application Deadline: Applications usually close in early March.
Dates: Virtual session from June 17–June 28, 2024. TBD for 2025.
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors can apply.
David Wilkinson is a freelance writer for Horizon and currently resides in the United States.