If you are a high school student who wants to learn more about sociology, you should consider enrolling in a fall sociology program.
Fall sociology programs offer you a way to explore the field in a structured format while the school year is still manageable. Without committing to a lengthy summer experience, you have the opportunity to learn about social behavior, cultural patterns, institutions, and the systems that influence people’s lives. Fall programs serve as a gradual introduction, allowing you to pick up the fundamentals while maintaining your daily schedule.
Why Should I Participate in a Fall Program?
Unlike summer programs, fall programs are shorter, easier to schedule, and designed to sit alongside your regular schoolwork. They tend to have smaller class sizes, which gives you more time for questions, guidance, and feedback from instructors.
Since they do not require full-day participation or travel, fall programs are often lighter on your budget and easier to manage. At the same time, they give you something solid to add to your resume or college applications. You walk away with real examples of research work, stronger analytical skills, and a clearer sense of why sociology matters.
To help you get started, here are 15 fall sociology programs for high school students! You can also check out summer sociology programs here.
15 Fall Sociology Programs for High School Students
1. Cornell SCE Pre-College Studies: Fall & Spring Study — Introduction to Sociology
Location: Virtual or in person at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Cost: Tuition is $1,940 per credit hour + non-refundable fees for supplies or course materials
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: August 25 – December 20 (Fall Session) | January 20 – May 16 (Spring Session)
Application Deadline: August 20 (Fall session) | January 21 (Spring Session)
Eligibility: High school students can apply; you can check the additional prerequisites here
Cornell’s School of Continuing Education lets high school students take commuter or online classes for college credit alongside college students. You’ll get access to libraries, campus resources, and more than 100 courses in areas like engineering, sociology, history, business, anthropology, psychology, and political science. When you finish a course, you’ll receive an official Cornell transcript. If you’re interested in sociology, the Introduction to Sociology course will give you a clear overview of the field. You’ll start with the theories and methods that shape the sociological perspective, then look at social stratification and the main forms of social difference. In the second half, you’ll focus on how people interact, how inequality plays out in daily life, and how social structures influence individuals and groups through things like networks, schools, neighborhoods, families, and online communication.
2. Columbia University’s Academic Year Weekend — Social Psychology: Understanding Human Behavior
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,810 per session for a single course ($2,700 for each additional course) + at least $50 for course materials + $80 application fee
Acceptance Rate: High acceptance rate
Dates: September 19 – December 7 (Fall Session) | January 23 – March 29 (Spring Session)
Application Deadline: August 27 (Fall Session) | December 15 (Spring Session)
Eligibility: Domestic and international students enrolled in grades 9–12
Columbia University’s Academic Year Weekend is a 10-week program that lets you take up to four virtual courses. Classes are taught by experienced instructors and professionals and cover topics like marketing, social psychology, economics, academic research, finance, political science, law, and STEM. You can also join online clubs, mentoring sessions, workshops, and seminars. If you’re interested in sociology, the Social Psychology course will give you an introduction to major theories and research on human social behavior. You’ll look at why people help each other and why they sometimes cause harm. The course covers prejudice, empathy, helping, bullying, conformity, compliance, and personality development. You’ll also learn about different methods used to predict and prevent antisocial behavior.
3. Rustic Pathways Climate Leaders Fellowship
Location: Virtual via Zoom; the Summer Climate Leaders Fellowship Summit takes place in person at a different location each year
Cost/Stipend: Students can join the program at no cost and choose to pay what they want once they complete it | Unpaid
Cohort Size: Maximum 200 students per cohort
Dates: October 10 – December 9 (Fall) | February 27 – April 27 (Spring)
Application Deadline: September 21 (Fall) | February 8 (Spring)
Eligibility: High school students aged 14–18
The Rustic Pathways Climate Leaders Fellowship allows students to work on local climate issues. Across 12 weeks, you’ll team up with other Fellows to design and complete community projects that reduce environmental impact. The fellowship is run by Rustic Pathways, the Stanford University Deliberative Democracy Lab, and the Rustic Pathways Foundation. Each week includes a live Zoom session, with some meetings required and others optional, plus 2–3 hours of independent project work. You’ll receive mentorship from facilitators through Zoom, email, and messaging as you shape a project that fits your community’s needs. After finishing your project, you may be invited to a global Summit and will receive a certificate from Rustic Pathways and Stanford for your volunteer hours.
4. NYU Pre-College Program — Introduction to Sociology
Location: Virtual or in person at New York University, New York, NY
Cost: $6,006 (3-credit course) | $8,008 (4-credit course) + $50 application fee; you can check the details here
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: Courses are offered in the spring, summer, and fall; September 2 – December 19 (Fall Session)
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the session; June 17 – August 15 (Fall Session)
Eligibility: Current 11th and 12th graders with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
NYU’s Pre-College Program lets high school students take undergraduate courses taught by NYU faculty, earn credits, and experience college life. You can try out new subjects, explore possible majors, and connect with students from around the world. If you’re interested in sociology, the Introduction to Sociology course looks at society, social groups, and culture, and introduces sociological theory as a way to understand human social behavior. You’ll discuss social structure and stratification, social and cultural change, gender and social roles, social institutions and politics, the family, and social control. The program also offers College 101 workshops and info sessions to help you prepare for college and build the skills you’ll need to succeed. It will broaden your perspective and help you earn credits. For the fall and spring semesters, taking one class worth 2 to 4 credits is recommended.
5. Youth Council Internship at Democracy Maine
Location: Portland, ME
Cost/Stipend: Free | Interns earn $15 per hour
Cohort Size: Each semester, only three to four high school interns are selected from across the state
Dates: Late September – December (Fall Semester)
Application Deadline: September 19 (Fall Semester)
Eligibility: Maine high school students can apply; students who are 15 or younger must get a Maine work permit before starting the internship
Democracy Maine’s Youth Council Internship allows local students to learn what active citizenship looks like. Your work might include planning awareness events, creating newsletters for interns and council members, and making classroom PSAs on topics like Ranked Choice Voting, Automatic Voter Registration, Miranda Rights, and burnout in organizing. You’ll spend around 5 hours a week exploring state laws and building organizing and facilitation skills. You’ll also receive mentorship for national conferences, college recommendations, and potential job paths. Past interns have met with Maine leaders such as the Governor, the Secretary of State, and their local Representatives. This internship can also support your interest in sociology by giving you real experience with the social and political dynamics the field examines.
6. Penn Arts & Sciences Young Scholars High School Program — Introduction to Sociology
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $4,036 per course unit + $390 general fee + $116 tech fee + $100 non-refundable application fee; Philadelphia public or charter high school students may qualify for a Penn Summer Scholarship, which covers the full cost of the program
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: August 25 – December 17 (Fall Semester) | January 14 – May 12 (Spring Semester)
Application Deadline: August 1 (Fall Semester) | December 1 (Spring Semester)
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who have at least a 3.5 unweighted GPA and attend a local high school within commuting distance of the University can apply; you can review any additional prerequisites here
The Young Scholars High School Program lets local high school juniors take college courses during the fall and spring semesters. You can choose from a wide range of undergraduate courses offered by the College of Liberal and Professional Studies in areas like anthropology, sociology, economics, philosophy, psychology, linguistics, and more. Each course is worth one course unit, which equals four college credit hours. You can take up to one course per semester and choose the pass/fail option, though auditing is not allowed. If you’re interested in sociology, the Introduction to Sociology course gives you a fresh way to look at human behavior and social interaction. You’ll learn how sociology studies the groups and societies people live in and examine how social structures and cultures are created, maintained, and changed. You’ll also explore how these forces shape individual lives and what sociological theory and research reveal about the social world.
7. The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights High School Internship
Location: Remote or in person from the Washington, DC-based office
Cost/Stipend: Free | Unpaid
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive
Dates: Year-round internships are available, including in the fall; they last anywhere from two weeks to two months
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors with strong verbal and written communication skills
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights High School Internship allows students to explore civil and human rights work. You’ll get practical policy experience, learn how coalitions function, watch the federal legislative process up close, and improve your understanding of civil rights issues. You’ll also pick up career skills, grow your network, and learn about areas like policy, development, communications, and operations. Your tasks can include joining staff and coalition meetings, supporting grassroots events, helping with historical record-keeping, updating listservs, doing online and offline historical research, and pitching in with general staff work.
You’ll need to be available on Monday afternoons and able to work in the office at least two days a week. This internship can help you understand sociology by providing hands-on experience with core concepts such as social justice, inequality, and activism. You’ll also learn how social problems are addressed in real settings and how communities organize and take action.
8. Cornell SCE Pre-College Studies: Fall & Spring Study — Classical Sociological Theory
Location: Virtual or in person at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Cost: Tuition is $1,940 per credit hour + non-refundable fees for supplies or course materials
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: August 25 – December 20 (Fall Session) | January 20 – May 16 (Spring Session)
Application Deadline: August 20 (Fall session) | January 20 (Spring Session)
Eligibility: High school students can apply; you can check the additional prerequisites here
Cornell’s School of Continuing Education lets high school students take commuter or online classes for college credit alongside college students. You’ll have access to libraries, campus resources, and more than 100 courses in fields like engineering, computer science, history, business, health, and political science. When you finish a course, you’ll get an official Cornell transcript. If you’re into sociology, the Classical Sociological Theory course will give you an introduction to the major thinkers who shaped the field. You’ll read Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, and Georg Simmel, along with works by Adam Smith, Talcott Parsons, Jane Addams, Alexis de Tocqueville, W.E.B. Du Bois, and members of the Chicago School.
9. Miami-Dade State Attorney High School Volunteer Internship Program
Location: Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, Miami, FL
Cost/Stipend: Free | Unpaid
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Minimum three months
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students
The Miami-Dade State Attorney High School Volunteer Internship Program allows students to explore how the criminal justice system works and what the State Attorney’s Office does each day. You’ll help with tasks such as interviewing defendants, handling complaints, attending bond hearings, taking statements from victims and witnesses, answering public inquiries, researching case law, running background checks, assisting with protection orders, and reviewing evidence to determine whether charges should be filed. You can also explore career paths in social work, law, or criminal justice, as well as earn school credit. You’ll work for 16 to 20 hours per week for at least three months each semester. While the work is mostly legal and administrative, observing how victims, witnesses, and the public interact with the system will help you understand key sociological topics such as crime, justice, and social inequality.
10. Georgetown University’s Pre-College Online Program — International Relations: How the World Works
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,895 (Enrichment Course) | $3,995 (College Credit Course)
Acceptance Rate: High acceptance rate
Dates: Courses of different lengths are offered throughout the year, including in the fall
Application Deadline: Each session’s deadline is one week before it begins
Eligibility: Students aged 13 or older
Georgetown University’s International Relations program is for students interested in global affairs, law, politics, economics, or anyone curious about how the world works. You’ll learn the history of international relations, explore key skills, and look at careers in the field. The course covers war, terrorism, cyber attacks, international law, and a nation’s right to defend itself. These topics create a strong foundation for college majors in international relations, sociology, political science, law, history, and the sciences. This program will help you learn about sociology through global affairs and social justice. You’ll examine how social dynamics, history, and development shape international relations, and compare different views on human rights, including discussions of genocide and the evolution of international law. The program ends with a Final Capstone Project and a Certificate of Completion or college credit from Georgetown University.
11. School for Ethics & Global Leadership (SEGL)
Location: SEGL, Washington, DC
Cost: $39,990 per semester + $315 Textbooks and Travel fee + $650 for incidental/personal expenses
Cohort Size: 25 students are accepted in each DC cohort
Dates: August 30 – December 20 (Fall)
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
The School for Ethics & Global Leadership (SEGL) is a semester-long program for high school juniors and seniors interested in building ethical thinking and leadership skills. You’ll take classes taught at the junior-year honors or AP level, including English, history, math, foreign language, and science, along with the required Ethics and Leadership course. Most students take five core classes plus E and L, and usually have around four study hall periods each week. Throughout the semester, you’ll visit sites around DC, meet with many guest experts, attend weekly student-led School Meetings, and take part in Friday night Flex Periods. These sessions often cover topics like race and identity, financial literacy, consent, wellness, and college guidance. Participating in SEGL can also help you learn about sociology by emphasizing ethical thinking, leadership, and the dynamics of group and social issues, all of which are key sociological concepts.
12. UCSD Extended Studies — Introduction to Sociology
Location: Virtual
Cost: $745
Acceptance Rate: High acceptance rate
Dates: 10 weeks during the fall, winter, spring, and summer
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort
Eligibility: High school students can apply; there are no prerequisites to enroll
UC San Diego Extended Studies lets high school students take 10-week college courses for credit in areas like arts and humanities, business, data analysis, digital arts, education, engineering, healthcare, law, social sciences, technology, and more. Courses are offered year-round. If you’re interested in sociology, the Introduction to Sociology course will give you a foundation in how society works. You’ll study social organization, social interaction, institutions, and social change. You’ll examine themes such as the relationship between individuals and society, what drives social inequality, how societies remain stable or shift, and how everyday life is socially constructed. The course is worth 4.50 credit units.
13. The Borgen Project — Youth Ambassador/Advocate
Location: Multiple locations across the U.S., U.K., and Canada
Cost/Stipend: Free | Unpaid
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive
Dates: The program runs for three months; new cohorts start each month
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; to apply, you must email your resume to [email protected]
Eligibility: High school students can apply, including those with limited availability
The Borgen Project Youth Ambassador/Advocate Program is a three-month volunteer role for students interested in addressing global poverty. As a youth ambassador, you’ll attend events, talk to people about the cause, and motivate them to get involved. You’ll spend about four hours a week reaching out to government leaders, organizing fundraisers, and spreading awareness in your community. You’ll also develop your advocacy, communication, and campaign management skills. It’s flexible enough to fit around school and other commitments, and you might be able to earn school credit. This program can help you learn how problems like poverty, gender inequality, and limited access to education shape communities, which ties directly into key areas of sociological study.
14. Ecampus at Oregon State University — Introduction to Sociology
Location: Virtual
Cost: $384 per credit + $30 nonrefundable application fee and additional expenses for books and supplies; you can calculate the total cost here.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: September 10 – December 5 (Fall Super Term) | September 24 – December 12 (Fall Term)
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the session; you can check here
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum 3.0 GPA
Oregon State University’s Ecampus lets high school students take online college courses for credit, giving them an early start on college. You’ll first need to enroll as a nondegree-seeking student and can later switch to a degree program if you choose. With more than 100 courses available, you can study subjects like foreign languages, math, and sciences. Fields of study include business, psychology, sociology, anthropology, communication, ethnic studies, history, English, economics, political science, and more. You’ll take classes alongside Oregon State degree students and other learners. If you’re interested in sociology, the Introduction to Sociology course covers the main theories, concepts, and methods used to study the social forces that shape everyday life. You’ll get to explore topics like social structure, socialization, culture, race, gender, class, sexuality, and inequality.
15. Maryland Center for History and Culture’s Student Research Center for History (SeaRCH)
Location: Maryland Center for History and Culture, Baltimore, MD
Cost: $8–$10 per student, depending on the program
Cohort Size: 7–20 students per session
Dates: Each session runs for about 1–2 hours, with the option to schedule two in a row on the same day
Application Deadline: None
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–12 can apply; some sessions are open to college students
The Student Research Center for History, or SeaRCH, gives you direct access to real historical materials and shows you how primary source research works. You learn from professional researchers and handle manuscripts, images, and artifacts from MCHC’s collections. It also connects to sociology. You study how events and systems shaped society by looking at topics like slavery, the Underground Railroad, and the Civil Rights Movement. These examples help you see how conflict and change develop over time.SeaRCH offers a few clear paths. The Introduction to Research track teaches you how to handle and study archival sources. The Custom SeaRCH Program lets you explore Maryland and U.S. history through original documents. The National History Day option guides you through sources tied to the year’s theme and helps you build solid research and analysis skills.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image source – Oregon State University