If you are a high school junior, senior, or sophomore thinking of a career in the social sciences, social science summer programs for high school students can be a great first step
Social science summer programs for high school students allow you to explore how people, societies, and systems interact—covering fields like psychology, sociology, political science, anthropology, and economics. Whether you’re curious about human behavior, cultural studies, or global issues, these summer programs offer a chance to dive deeper into the subjects that shape the world around us.
You will be exposed to complex case studies and challenges, network with like-minded peers, mentors, and professionals, and be exposed to college-level coursework, teaching styles, and academic rigor. In this blog, we’ve compiled 15 social science summer programs for high school students.
15 Social Science Summer Programs for High School Students
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program – Social Science Track
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type
Dates: Summer: June – August, fall: September – December, winter: December – February, spring: March – June
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The Summer Cohort I regular admission deadline is April 13
Eligibility: Currently enrolled in high school | Must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a remote research opportunity that allows you to work one-on-one with a Ph.D. mentor. You’ll explore fields like political science, economics, and psychology while developing a research project and building skills in academic writing, data analysis, and critical thinking. By the end, you’ll complete a research paper and may have chances to present your work. Past social science research from Lumiere students has explored topics like urban disaster management and Mumbai’s informal economy, as well as the impact of social movements on political change and public attitudes. You can find the application form here.
2. Horizon Academic Research Program – Social Science Track
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type
Dates: The cohort starts June 16. Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply at least 4 weeks in advance
Application Deadline: Priority: March 23; Regular I: April 20; Regular II: May 18
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, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and more. It is one of the very few research programs for high school students that offers a choice between quantitative and qualitative research! 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. You can apply here!
3. Yale Young Global Scholars: Politics, Law, and Economics
Location: Yale University campus
Cost/Stipend: $6,500, need-based financial aid available | None
Dates: Session I: June 22 – July 4 | Session II: July 6 – 18 | Session III: July 20 – August 1
Application Deadline: January 10
Eligibility: At least 16 years old | Current sophomore or junior (or any international equivalent) | First-time participant
This interdisciplinary program focuses on political theory, legal systems, and economic modeling. You’ll analyze governance structures, market regulation, and international frameworks through seminars and case studies. Sessions emphasize skills in policy analysis, comparative politics, legal reasoning, and interpreting economic data. Expect to work with primary legal documents, explore models of institutional design, and debate contemporary policy issues like transnational crime, protest movements, and state surveillance. The program also involves breakout sessions, social activities, a capstone project, seminars, and interaction with Yale professors and students. It is ideal if you want to build technical fluency in how systems of law, policy, and economics interact – and where they break down.
4. Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS)
Location: Cornell University, University of Maryland, and University of Michigan
Cost/Stipend: None | None
Dates: June 22 – July 26
Application Deadline: December 3
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors | At least age 15 and no older than age 18 at the start of the program
TASS is a six-week residential program in critical humanities, focused on race, power, and social structures. You’ll be part of daily seminar-style courses led by university faculty, with readings across literature, history, philosophy, and cultural theory. The curriculum is reading and writing-intensive building textual analysis, argumentation, and academic writing skills. You will engage with primary and secondary texts—ranging from political treatises to art criticism—and produce multiple essays with structured feedback. The program also emphasizes democratic self-governance; outside the classroom, you’ll help manage logistics, lead community events, and shape your cohort’s collective learning environment. Black and Indigenous students, other students of color, and/or students who have experienced economic hardship are encouraged to apply.
5. University of Southern California’s Annenberg Youth Academy (AYA) for Media and Civic Engagement
Location: University of Southern California campus
Cost/Stipend: None |
Dates: June 16 – July 3
Application Deadline: April 14
Eligibility: Reside and attend high school in Los Angeles County
AYA is a four-week pre-college program focused on media, sociology, and civic discourse. You’ll study how journalism and communication shape public perception and civic life, drawing from case studies on race, gender, and social movements. Core assignments include media analysis, ethnographic research, and op-ed writing, with structured feedback from the Annenberg faculty. You will develop skills such as critical media literacy, public speaking, multimedia production, and qualitative research methods of interviewing and field observation. You’ll also gain direct exposure to careers in journalism and communication and analyze how identity and power influence media narratives. For a deep dive into this program, check out this blog!
6. Stanford Summer Humanities Institute
Location: Stanford University campus
Cost/Stipend: $8,575 (Need-based financial aid available) | None
Dates: Session One: June 22 – July 11 | Session Two: July 13 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 3
Eligibility: Students in grades 10-11 at the time of application submission | Should be below 18 years of age during the program
This three-week academic program offers a focused introduction to humanities research with a sociological lens. You will be part of seminars like Racial Identity in the American Imagination and analyze race and identity in the U.S. through legal documents, literature, and film, examining how these categories are socially constructed and contested over time. The final week centers on an independent research project, where you’ll work with Stanford faculty and grad student mentors to develop an argument-driven paper. Skills emphasized include close reading, qualitative analysis, textual interpretation, and academic writing in the humanities. The program is best suited for students looking to build foundational research skills in race studies, history, and sociology.
7. Penn Arts and Sciences Social Justice Research Academy
Location: University of Pennsylvania campus
Cost/Stipend: $9,949 (Scholarship available for select Philadelphia students) | None
Dates: July 5 – 26
Application Deadline: April 27
Eligibility: Current 9th – 11th grade students
This three-week program explores contemporary and historical issues through the lens of sociology, political theory, and cultural studies. You will explore topics like immigration, civil rights, environmental justice, and systemic inequality using interdisciplinary frameworks across the social sciences and humanities. The capstone project emphasizes original inquiry—you will formulate a research question, gather evidence, and present findings in either academic or creative formats. Previous projects have tackled themes such as redlining, racialized gun violence, and media representation. The program is ideal for students interested in policy, activism, or sociocultural research. Core skill-building includes textual analysis, discussion-based argumentation, and independent research.
8. Leadership Institute – Brown University
Location: Residential (Brown University Campus) | Online (through Canvas, Brown’s Learning Management System)
Cost/Stipend: Residential program: $5,534; Online program: $5,314 (Financial waivers and scholarships available) | None
Dates: On-Campus I: June 29 – July 11; On-Campus II: July 13 – 25 | Online: June 23 – July 18
Application Deadline: May 9
Eligibility: Students completing grades 10 to 12 | Ages 14 to 18 by June 15
This program combines sociological theory with applied leadership practices where you will select a course topic such as social movements, global health, or gender and leadership and engage in seminar-style discussions focused on power, identity, and systems of inequality. You’ll analyze real-world case studies, apply frameworks like intersectionality and systems thinking, and develop an ‘Action Plan’ tackling a specific issue in your community. The program emphasizes public speaking, ethical leadership, and collaborative problem-solving. Some of the past ‘Action Plans’ can be viewed here. The program is a strong fit for students interested in civic engagement, policy, or social entrepreneurship.
9. Texas Tech University’s Anson L. Clark Scholar Program
Location: Residential, Texas Tech University campus
Cost/Stipend: None, but a $25 application fee applies | $750 tax-free stipend upon completion of a successful research project
Dates: June 22 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 24
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors | Must be at least 17 years of age by the program start date | U.S. citizens or permanent residents | Graduating this year or next
This seven-week research-intensive program allows high school juniors and seniors to conduct independent research under the guidance of a faculty mentor. You can explore social themes through disciplines like history, political science, economics, or psychology. You’ll engage in activities including academic writing workshops, peer discussions, and seminars on research ethics and presentation. Past student projects have analyzed policy impact, media representation, and historical inequalities—offering opportunities to apply sociological methods and theory to interdisciplinary topics. The program also incorporates field trips and structured social activities, creating opportunities to connect with like-minded peers. At the end of the program, you’ll submit a formal research report.
10. Syracuse University Summer College: Sociology Track
Location: Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Cost/Stipend: Residential program: $4,895; Commuter program: $3,919 (Scholarships and financial assistance available) | None
Dates: July 6 – 18
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors or recent high school graduates
This two-week, credit-bearing course introduces high school students to foundational sociological theories and research methods. The focus is on how social structures such as class, race, gender, and disability shape inequality across institutions. You will engage in close reading of sociological texts, practice academic writing, and apply qualitative and quantitative methods to real-world issues. You will examine the social structures of differences, processes, individual behaviors, roles, and relationships that translate differences into social inequality. The course emphasizes analytical thinking and gives you firsthand experience in how sociologists examine and interpret structural disparities.
11. UChicago’s DSI Summer Lab
Location: John Crerar Library at the University of Chicago, Hyde Park campus, IL
Cost/Stipend: None | $5,600 stipend
Dates: June 16 – August 8
Application Deadline: January 12
Eligibility: High school seniors from the Chicago area starting college in the fall
This 10-week paid research program places high school and undergraduate students on interdisciplinary teams tackling projects in areas like computer science, social science, and public policy. As a research assistant, you’ll apply data science tools such as Python, R, and statistical modeling to real datasets. You’ll participate in workshops on version control, research ethics, and technical communication, and conclude with a video presentation of your findings at a symposium. The program emphasizes reproducible research and collaborative problem-solving. You’ll also attend sessions by researchers who will share their career paths and how they use data to solve real-world problems.
12. YLAC’s The Young Researchers for Social Impact (YRSI) Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Approximately $400 | None
Dates: June 21 – July 20
Application Deadline: May 4
Eligibility: Current 10th, 11th, and 12th-grade students | Not more than 18 years old at the start of the program
YLAC’s fellowship places high school students on live policy and advocacy projects with partners—the World Resources Institute, Teach for India, Breakthrough, Sangath, Haiyya, Lung Care Foundation, and Indian School of Democracy for a month. You’ll assist YLAC partners with specific research questions and gain hands-on experience in projects on gender equity, education policy, public health, and environmental governance. You will apply qualitative and quantitative research methods like survey design, field interviews, stakeholder mapping, and policy analysis to examine real-world issues. You will develop applied skills in ethnographic research, data analysis, and social impact evaluation through structured mentorship and collaborative casework.
13. UC Santa Barbara’s Research Mentorship Program – Sociology Track
Location: Residential, UC Santa Barbara
Cost/Stipend: Commuter: $5,175; Residential: $12,474 (Limited scholarships available) | None
Dates: June 16 – August 1
Application Deadline: March 17
Eligibility: High school students all over the world who are in 10th and 11th grade | Minimum GPA of 3.8
The Research Mentorship Program offers high school students a chance to conduct university-level research alongside UCSB faculty, postdocs, or graduate students. In the sociology track, you’ll focus on social structures, behavior, and institutions using both qualitative and quantitative methods. You’ll gain experience in survey design, interview techniques, data analysis (often using tools like SPSS or R), and academic writing. A unique feature of the program is the ‘GRIT Talks,’ which features lectures from some of UC Santa Barbara’s research community’s best minds presenting groundbreaking research and innovative technology. The program culminates in a formal symposium where students present their research findings.
14. UPenn’s Teen Research and Education in Environmental Science (TREES) Program
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost/Stipend: None | None
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Completed grades 9, 10, or 11 by the summer | Minimum GPA of 3.0
TREES is a hands-on summer research program where high school students conduct independent projects in environmental science. You will work one-on-one with mentors on projects you choose and design. After two weeks of foundational lab and research training, you’ll develop your own research question, design experiments, and collect and analyze data under the mentorship of Penn scientists. You’ll gain experience in environmental sampling, statistical analysis, and scientific writing. The program concludes with a formal research paper and a public presentation of your findings. Students from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.
15. New York Historical Society’s Student Historian Internship Program
Location: New York Historical Society, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: None | $700 paid in three installments during the internship
Dates: July 8 – August 14
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in April
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10, 11, or 12 | Must live in and attend school in the New York City metro area (includes the five boroughs of New York City, as well as areas of New York State, Connecticut, and New Jersey)
This program trains high school students in historical research, digital humanities, and public history through hands-on work with museum and library resources. You will explore topics like “Our Composite Nation: Frederick Douglass’ America” and create digital projects that synthesize historical research and media tools. You’ll learn about museum operations and interpretation and deepen your understanding of American history and the digital humanities. Weekly seminars with professionals in the field build your understanding of history, civic engagement, and digital scholarship. For the final project, you will work in groups to share your scholarship by creating blog posts that will feature on the New York Historical’s Teen Blog.
Image source – New York Historical Society