If you’re a high school student in Georgia interested in psychology, a summer program in the state can help you build real skills like data collection, behavioral analysis, and writing research summaries. The local programs in the list below go beyond classroom learning and give you hands-on experience with topics like mental health, brain science, and how people think and behave.
Staying local and attending a program in the state you live (in this case, Georgia) has its benefits. You can save money on travel and housing, and you get access to programs run by Georgia’s universities, hospitals, and research centers. These places offer real-world exposure to psychology work that can help you figure out if this field is right for you.
To get started, here’s a list of 15 psychology summer programs for high school students in Georgia! Note that program details and dates may change, but generally follow a similar schedule each year.
15 Psychology Summer Programs for High School Students in Georgia
1. Horizon Academic Research Program – Psychology Track
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs where you choose between quantitative or qualitative methods, a rare option for high school students. After picking your psychology topic and research style, you’re matched with a professor or PhD mentor who guides you through the entire process.
You can explore more than 70 specialized topics in psychology, including clinical, cognitive, developmental, and social psychology. You’ll produce a 20-page research paper that meets university standards and can be submitted for publication. The program also provides detailed feedback and a personalized letter of recommendation to support your future academic and college plans. Apply here!
Location: Virtual
Cost: You can request information on cost here.
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September)
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts. The summer II cohort application deadline is June 22.
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) are eligible to apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a few tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
2. Lumiere Research Scholar Program – Psychology Track
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is an online research opportunity for high school students who want to pursue original work in a subject they choose. You will be paired one-on-one with a PhD mentor from a top university who guides you through the entire research process.
You work closely with your mentor to design and carry out an independent research project, developing skills in academic thinking, research methods, and analysis. If you choose psychology, you can explore topics such as the potential of music training to improve attentional control in children with ADHD or hypotheses about autism spectrum disorder.
By the end of the program, you will have a deep understanding of your chosen topic and experience handling advanced research. Apply now!
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,990 onwards; Financial aid is available
Program Dates: The summer cohort runs from June to August, the Fall cohort from September to December, the Winter cohort from December to February, Spring cohort from March to June
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The deadline for Summer Cohort II is June 23
Eligibility: All high school students can apply!
3. The Neuroscience School at Georgia State University (GSU)
The Center for Behavioral Neuroscience sponsors this summer program, offering short courses on the structure and function of the nervous system. You will learn from Georgia State University professors experienced in neuroscience research and science education.
This program helps you build a solid foundation in neuroscience topics often only briefly covered in high school. It is especially suited for students who have some background in neuroscience and want to explore it further at the university level.
Location: Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, or online
Cost: You can find a breakdown of the course fees here.
Application Deadline: Registration will remain open until classes are full.
Program Dates: Various courses offered from June to July. Access the full schedule here.
Eligibility: You can join their online classes if you’ve completed 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade before the class begins. For in-person classes, you must also be at least 16 years old by the start date due to lab safety requirements.
4. Pre-College Program at Emory University – Psychology Track
The Emory Pre-College Program lets high school sophomores and juniors experience college-level courses during the summer. The program takes place on Emory University’s campus and offers over 100 courses taught by faculty. You can choose from non-credit Pre-College courses or credit-bearing Summer College classes.
If you are interested in psychology, the program offers courses like Adult Psychopathology, Culture, Arts and Social Movements, and Mental Illness: International Perspectives. These courses cover important topics in psychology and give you a chance to study university-level material in a campus environment.
Location: Emory University, DeKalb County, GA
Cost: $5,137 — $10,274. Breakdown of costs here.
Application Deadline: Staggered deadlines. More information here.
Program Dates: Session A: June 15 — June 28 | Session B: June 29 — July 12 | Session C: July 13 — July 26
Eligibility: Open to high school students.
5. CEISMC Summer P.E.A.K.S at Georgia Tech
CEISMC’s Summer P.E.A.K.S at Georgia Tech offers one- to two-week programs for rising 9th to 12th graders. You will learn through hands-on activities on campus. If you are interested in psychology, the Brain & Psychological Science program in Week 3 might suit you.
You will study how the brain functions, how personality affects decisions, and how psychology applies to teamwork and technology. You will take part in lab demonstrations, group projects, and discussions. These activities will help you understand attention, behavior, and decision-making.
Location: Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA
Cost: $440
Application Deadline: June 4
Program Dates: June 16–20
Eligibility: Open to rising 9th- 12th grade students.
6. Augusta University Summer Research Experiences with Georgia’s Cancer Center
If you are interested in psychology and its links to health or biomedical sciences, the Georgia Cancer Center’s summer program at Augusta University is an option. This six-week program lets you work with cancer researchers on projects involving molecular biology, immunology, metabolism, genomics, and health disparities.
Though focused on cancer research, the program gives a wider view of biomedical science. This could help if you want to study neuropsychology, health psychology, or behavioral medicine. You will gain lab experience, learn research methods, and explore careers in science and healthcare.
Location: Augusta University, Augusta, GA
Cost: Fully funded
Application Deadline: January 15
Program Dates: 6 weeks from June — July
Eligibility: Must be at least 16 years old by the program’s start date to participate in bench research projects, while those under 16 can apply for bioinformatics or community-based research. Priority will be given to student applications from Richmond, Columbia, and Aiken Counties.
7. Children’s Healthcare Atlanta VolunTEEN Program
The VolunTEEN Program at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta lets you volunteer in a hospital during the summer. It is open to students ages 15 to 18 and lasts eight weeks in June and July. You need to commit to at least one three-hour shift per week, with a maximum of two absences.
As a volunteer, you will work in different parts of the hospital, such as front desks and patient care areas, helping staff and interacting with patients and families. If you are interested in psychology, this program gives you a chance to see how emotional support and communication work in healthcare.
Location: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, GA
Cost: None
Application Deadline: February 7
Program Dates: June 9 — August 1
Eligibility: For students between the ages of 15–18. You must be 15 by May 31 to be eligible for the program.
8. Georgia State University’s Institute On Neuroscience (ION)
For high school students curious about how the brain works and how research informs psychology, the Institute on Neuroscience (ION) offers a chance to explore these areas through direct lab experience. The program begins with a short course to ground you in key concepts, followed by a nine-week mentored research project tailored to your interests.
You’ll also attend weekly workshops that cover scientific communication, ethics in research, and current topics in neuroscience. The summer ends with a research symposium where you present your findings. Hosted by the Center for Behavioral Neuroscience at Georgia State University, ION is currently funded by the Army Educational Outreach Program to support students who are underrepresented in STEM fields.
Location: Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
Cost: None
Application Deadline: March 21
Program Dates: Early June through August. Full program details here.
Eligibility: Open to high school students.
9. Georgia Teen Institute
If you’re a student interested in psychology, especially youth development and behavioral health, the Georgia Teen Institute (GTI) offers a practical look at prevention and leadership work with peers. Run by Gwinnett United in Drug Education, Inc. (GUIDE), GTI starts with a four-day summer training at a university campus where you and your Youth Action Team can learn about the Strategic Prevention Framework through hands-on workshops and team-based activities.
The experience is grounded in peer-led approaches to tackling issues like substance use and other risk behaviors. Throughout the year, GUIDE continues to support teams with training, technical assistance, and check-ins to help you apply what you’ve learned in your community. GTI emphasizes skill-building, responsible decision-making, and community engagement — key areas for anyone exploring applied psychology.
Location: Reinhardt University, GA
Cost: $550
Application Deadline: April 30
Program Dates: June 9–13
Eligibility: Open to high school students
10. Brain Camp – Auburn University
Location: Auburn University, Auburn, AL (Note: While not in Georgia, it’s nearby)
Cost: $705
Dates: July 14- July 18
Application Deadline: March 19
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th graders
Auburn’s Department of Psychological Sciences offers a hands-on summer camp for high school juniors, seniors, and incoming college freshmen interested in neuroscience. You’ll explore brain science through real lab activities, including Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) and functional MRI.
If eligible, you may even get your brain scanned and mapped using fMRI at the Auburn MRI Research Center. Led by Auburn faculty and a high school psychology teacher, the camp covers core neuroscience tools and research methods. Students live in campus dorms, eat in dining halls, and take part in supervised social activities.
11. EarthCare – 21st Century Leaders
Location: Georgia College & State University, Milledgeville, GA
Cost: Free (fully funded by the Georgia Power Foundation)
Dates: June 8–13
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders residing in Georgia
You can spend a week on campus at Georgia College & State University exploring environmental science, sustainability, and STEM through EarthCare, a free residential summer program. You’ll take part in hands-on workshops, team projects, and roundtable discussions with professionals from Georgia Power and other organizations.
You’ll learn about topics like renewable energy, climate challenges, and sustainable practices, while building leadership skills and connecting with students from across Georgia. If you’re accepted, you’ll also attend an in-person orientation in April to help you get ready for the program.
12. Johns Hopkins University’s Summer Online Pre-College Programs – Psychology and Brain Sciences
Johns Hopkins University offers an Online Pre-College Program that could work well if you’re a high school student in Georgia interested in psychology. If you choose the Neuroscience and Human Behavior course, you’ll study behavioral neuroscience, focusing on how cells and chemicals influence behavior and exploring whether the mind can be seen as an organic computer.
The Psychological Profiling course covers topics in criminology, like profiling serial offenders and terrorists, while also addressing ethical concerns such as racial profiling and debates within the field.
The Psychopathology and Its Development course introduces abnormal psychology, including how psychological disorders develop, how they are diagnosed, and methods for treatment, with an emphasis on evidence-based approaches.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,950 per credit + $85 application fee. Financial assistance is available.
Application Deadline: Unspecified. More details here.
Program Dates: Session One: June 24–July 5 | Session Two: July 8–July 19 | Session Three: July 22–August 2
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–12 with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale can apply.
13. University of Texas Southwestern Inspiring Careers in Mental Health Internship
The University of Texas Southwestern offers a two-week online internship called Inspiring Careers in Mental Health. It is open to students entering grades 10 to 12 and incoming college freshmen. The program introduces you to different roles in mental health through virtual sessions with professionals like psychiatrists, social workers, neuropsychologists, and physician assistants.
You will join discussions, complete assigned readings before sessions, and learn about topics like psychotherapy, neuroscience, and community psychiatry. The program helps you understand various career paths in mental health and the skills needed for each.
Location: Virtual
Cost: None
Application deadline: Typically closes in early February
Program Dates: Typically 2 weeks in June
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
14. The Introduction to Psychology at Carnegie Mellon University’s Open Learning Initiative (OLI)
Carnegie Mellon University offers an Introduction to Psychology course through its Open Learning Initiative. It is self-paced and works well if you’re a high school student wanting to learn more about psychology. The course covers topics like brain function, perception, cognition, motivation, and psychological disorders.
You will work through 16 units using videos, interactive activities, and self-assessments to help you understand key ideas. The course also focuses on research methods and scientific thinking to show how psychological knowledge is created and used. Since it is fully online and self-directed, you can study at your own pace, whether you are new to psychology or want to prepare for college.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application deadline: Rolling
Program Dates: Self-paced
Eligibility: No specific eligibility requirements.
15. MIT OpenCourseware Introduction to Psychology
MIT OpenCourseWare’s ‘Introduction to Psychology’ offers a comprehensive and accessible way to explore the fundamental concepts of psychology. This free course delves into a wide array of topics, including cognition, social interaction, human development, and mental health.
Designed by MIT faculty, it features top-tier lecture notes, readings, and assignments that bring academic rigor to self-paced learning. Whether you’re new to psychology or seeking to deepen your understanding, this course provides a flexible and insightful look into how the human mind functions.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Program Dates: Self-paced
Eligibility: Everyone is eligible to enroll in this course
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