Philosophy is a powerful discipline that hones critical thinking, argumentation, and ethical reasoning. If you’re a high school student looking to dive into the depths of philosophical thought, these summer programs can help you develop advanced skills while exploring complex topics like ethics, logic, and metaphysics.
Below are 14 philosophy summer programs that you can explore—each offering something unique for high school students with an interest in this intellectually rigorous field. Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.
1. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)—Philosophy track
Location: Virtual
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts.
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! A few tracks require prerequisites, see here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas. It is one of the very few research programs for high school students that offers a choice between quantitative and qualitative research. If you’re interested in philosophy, you can take the courses ‘Philosophy of the Mind’ or ‘Political Theory and Philosophy.’
Once you select a particular subject track and type of research, you’ll be paired with a professor or PhD 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.
This program is a solid opportunity for you to pursue a research program in highly specialized fields under the guidance of a top scholar. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student, as well as detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects and college applications. Apply here!
2. Portland State University Philosophy Summer Camp
Subject Areas: Political philosophy, environmental ethics, philosophy of science, indigenous philosophy, philosophy of art, history of philosophy
Location: Online
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
Application Deadline: July 26
Program Dates: August 5 – 16
Cost: $220 (scholarships available)
The Portland State University Philosophy Summer Camp is an interactive, discussion-based program where students explore a range of philosophical topics, such as political philosophy, environmental ethics, and the philosophy of science. You will work on a project with PSU faculty, developing your critical thinking and academic writing skills. You will also earn 4 college credits for the course Introduction to Philosophy, which can be transferred to other higher education institutions.
3. Lumiere Research Scholar Program—Philosophy track
Subject Areas: Philosophy, STEM, humanities, and social sciences
Location: Remote
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum 3.3 out of 4 GPA
Application Deadline: Summer deadlines are usually in March, April, and May
Program Dates: June to August (summer). Fall, winter, and spring cohorts are also available.
Cost: $2,990 (12 weeks) | $5,900 (16-20 weeks). Financial aid is available
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program, founded by Harvard and Oxford researchers, offers high school students the opportunity to work one-on-one with PhD mentors to develop an independent research project in their subject area. You can choose the program’s philosophy track to produce a college-level research paper with a philosophy PhD scholar. Support from writing coaches will also be provided.
4. Great Books & Big Ideas
Subject Areas: Philosophy, literature, critical thinking
Location: Amherst College, Amherst, MA, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, Haverford College, Haverford, PA, and online
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9-12
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions (early registration recommended)
Program Dates: Several one and multiple-week sessions in June, July, and August
Cost: $450 – $4,020 depending on online or campus and residential or commuter (financial aid is available)
The Great Books & Big Ideas program is designed for high school students eager to engage with classic and contemporary literature through Socratic seminars. The curriculum spans multiple genres and philosophical themes, with texts ranging from Plato and Shakespeare to modern authors like Octavia Butler and Jorge Luis Borges. You will participate in deep discussions while developing critical thinking and analytical skills, which are essential for students interested in philosophy.
5. UMass Amherst Question Everything
Subject Areas: Philosophy
Location: University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors from Springfield and Holyoke, MA
Application Deadline: TBA
Program Dates: July 14 – August 3
Cost: Free (all admitted students receive full scholarships covering room, board, and materials)
The Question Everything program is a residential summer philosophy initiative at UMass Amherst, designed to explore philosophical issues in a collaborative, supportive environment. You will tackle questions about freedom, rights, and justice, exploring topics like free will, moral and legal rights, and the limits of governmental authority. The program combines lectures, group discussions, debates, and role-playing activities, encouraging you to develop your critical thinking and argumentation skills.
6. Tufts Summer Courses—Philosophy
Subject Areas: Philosophy, metaphysics, epistemology
Location: Tufts University, Medford/Somerville, MA
Eligibility: Open to high school juniors and seniors
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Program Dates: July 2 – August 8
Cost: $3,147 for undergraduate credit, $1,300 for non-credit (auditor option)
The Introduction to Philosophy course at Tufts University offers an exploration of major philosophical questions concerning the nature of reality (metaphysics) and knowledge (epistemology). You will read and critically engage with classical and contemporary texts, addressing fundamental questions like the existence of God, the nature of free will, and the limits of human knowledge. The course will help you develop critical thinking and argumentation skills through rigorous textual analysis and discussions.
7. Brown Pre-College Programs—Philosophy
Subject Areas: Philosophy, ethics, Artificial Intelligence, quantum mechanics, and more
Location: Brown University, Providence, RI or online
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9-12
Application Deadline: May 10
Program Dates: Various sessions, typically starting between June and August
Cost: Ranges from $2,816 to $10,074 depending on length of course and online, commuter, or residential (financial aid available)
Brown University’s Pre-College Program offers multiple courses related to philosophy, each designed to introduce students to key philosophical themes and critical thinking techniques. Course offerings explore topics such as happiness, logic and paradox, metaphysics, and more. For instance, ‘Ethical Questions of the Information Age’ will introduce you to major ethical concepts of the 20th and 21st centuries before applying them to the challenges posed by misinformation, AI, big data, hate speech, and other pressing issues of our time. The program also offers interdisciplinary courses, such as the philosophy of quantum physics and the philosophy of AI.
8. Harvard Pre-College Program—Philosophy
Subject Areas: Philosophy, critical race theory, psychology
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who will be at least 16 years old by June 21 and will not turn 19 before July 31
Application Deadline: February 12
Program Dates:
- Session 1: June 22 – July 3
- Session 2: July 6 – 18
- Session 3: July 20 – August 1
Cost: $5,800 + $75 application fee (financial aid available)
The Harvard Pre-College Program offers many courses in philosophy. In the Introduction to Philosophy course, you’ll learn to evaluate thinkers’ arguments and construct your own in clear prose. In Philosophy of Psychology, you’ll explore how psychological phenomena, like falling in love or expecting someone, differ from empirical objects. Other course options include Perspectives on the Meaning of Life, Happiness and the Meaning of Life, and Existentialism.
9. Arizona State University’s The Dialectic: Philosophy Summer Camp
Subject Areas: Philosophy, ethics, metaphysics, epistemology
Location: Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Eligibility: Students who were in grades 9-12 during the academic year, as well as those just graduating 8th grade
Application Deadline: May 30
Program Dates: June 10 – 14
Cost: $375 (need-based scholarships available)
The Dialectic: Philosophy Summer Camp is a one-week, immersive program that invites high school students to engage with philosophical inquiry in a collaborative environment. You will explore questions of ethics, reasoning, and critical thinking while engaging in discussions led by ASU’s philosophy graduate students. The theme of the camp changes every year, and past camps have focused on the nature of the self, the effects of technology, and handling disagreement. You will also have the chance to attend guest lectures by ASU faculty.
10. Philosophy and Critical Thinking (PACT) Summer Camp
Subject Areas: Philosophy, ethics, Artificial Intelligence, science, and faith
Location: Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Eligibility: High school students, including international students
Application Deadline: February 1. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis after this date
Program Dates:
- Session 1: June 10 – 14 (Philosophy and Artificial Intelligence)
- Session 2: June 24 – 28 (Science, Faith, and Reality)
Cost: $350 per session (need-based scholarships available)
The PACT Summer Camp at Ohio State University introduces students to philosophical inquiry through engaging and interactive activities. The program offers two thematic week-long sessions. In the camp on AI, students asked questions like who’s responsible if a self-driving car crashes and whether machine learning can make fairer decisions than humans. The camp focused on science and faith explored whether faith and skepticism can be rational. The camp includes guest lectures from faculty.
11. Butler University’s Philosophy & Critical Thinking Summer Camp
Subject Areas: Philosophy, critical thinking
Location: Butler University, Indianapolis, IN
Eligibility: Rising high school freshmen through seniors (students aged 14-18)
Application Deadline: April 19
Program Dates: June 3 – 7
Cost: $350 (need-based financial aid available)
The Butler University Philosophy and Critical Thinking Summer Camp offers high school students an introduction to philosophical inquiry, focusing on questions of freedom, responsibility, and ethics. Butler University philosophy faculty will help you examine these questions and form your own opinions. Discussion questions include how we affect each other’s freedom and whether we should seek political freedom. Throughout the week, you will work on personal research projects and go on field trips, such as to the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Students who complete the camp are eligible to earn one credit at Butler University upon enrolling in an undergraduate program.
12. Oakland University Philosophy Camp
Subject Areas: Philosophy, nature, technology
Location: Oakland University, Rochester, MI
Eligibility: High school students
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions, but early bird discount ends May 4
Program Dates: July 8 – 12
Cost: $600 for the residential option | $250 for day camp | Scholarships are available
The Oakland University Philosophy Camp offers a weeklong immersive experience for high school students interested in philosophy. The theme was “Nature and Natures,” exploring questions about our relationship with the natural world, technology’s role, and what constitutes “nature.” The camp features a combination of lectures, discussions, and interactive activities, such as tree climbing, campfires, and frisbee games, providing a unique, fun approach to philosophical inquiry. You will also participate in an Ethics Bowl, a friendly debate competition designed to sharpen your reasoning and argumentative skills with the guidance of undergraduate philosophy students.
13. SoCal Philosophy Academy
Subject Areas: Philosophy, political philosophy
Location: California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, CA
Eligibility: High school students
Application Deadline: June 7
Program Dates: June 17 – 21
Cost: $35
The SoCal Philosophy Academy offers a week-long summer institute for high school students. The session focused on political philosophy. This non-partisan program explored how clear thinking about political theory can help improve public discourse and civic engagement. You will engage in philosophical discussions, expand your critical thinking, and develop communication skills through dialogue and text analysis. The program is designed for both beginners and those with some experience in philosophy.
14. Salisbury University Philosophy Camp
Subject Areas: Philosophy, ethical reasoning
Location: Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD
Eligibility: High school students
Application Deadline: June 15
Program Dates: June 24 – 28
Cost: $75
The Philosophy Summer Camp at Salisbury University is designed to help high school students develop critical thinking skills and engage meaningfully in philosophical discussions. With a focus on ethical reasoning and fostering a community of inquiry, the program will help you explore philosophical questions in a rigorous, seminar-like environment. This program is ideal for those looking to prepare for college-level thinking and discussions, as well as students who want to learn how to express their ideas with clarity and confidence.
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