If you are curious about how people think, feel, and behave, psychology programs give you a structured way to explore those questions beyond what you learn in class. As a high school student, these programs introduce you to the science behind human behavior, from memory and emotion to perception and decision-making. You get exposure to how psychologists ask questions, design studies, and use data to better understand the mind.
What do a psychology program as a high schooler?
Psychology programs often mirror college-level coursework, which helps you build confidence early. You strengthen your academic writing, learn how to analyze data, and work with research tools like SPSS or Qualtrics. Many programs also introduce ethical questions that are central to psychological research, helping you think critically about real-world applications.
Whether you are interested in clinical psychology, neuroscience, cognitive science, or social psychology, these experiences can help you narrow your interests and build a strong foundation for future study. Below, we have curated 12 psychology programs for high school students. You can also check out our blog on psychology internships for high school students.
12 Psychology Programs for High School Students
1. Child Mind Institute’s Youth Mental Health Academy
Location: Los Angeles, San Diego, and the San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend provided
Dates: 14 months, comprising 2 summers and the academic year
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: California high school students with an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher
YMHA is a free, 14-month program designed to support high school students from underrepresented backgrounds who are interested in mental health careers. The program starts with a five-week summer academy where you’ll participate in project-based learning focused on topics such as stigma, generational trauma, mental-health advocacy, and data analysis. The experience continues throughout the school year with mentorship and culminates in a paid internship within a mental-health setting, which could be in research, clinical practice, or communications. While not a traditional psychology research program, this academy introduces students to key areas of mental health, behavioral science, and community-based project design, providing meaningful real-world exposure to applied psychology.
2. Barrow Neurological Institute Summer High School Internship Program
Location: Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ
Cost: Free
Dates: June 5 – July 9
Application Deadline: February 10
Eligibility: High school students
High school students will participate in a five-week, fully-funded neuroscience research internship. You’ll work in a laboratory at Barrow Neurological Institute on topics such as neuro‐oncology, stroke, neuroimaging, or neurorehabilitation, and participate in weekly seminars, technology boot-camps, and a research symposium. The program builds skills in experimental design, data analysis, scientific communication, and neuro‐technical methods, helping you gain exposure to serious neuro-research ahead of college. While focused on neuroscience rather than psychology, this program offers research experience that overlaps significantly with cognitive and behavioral science.
3. UC Berkeley Pre-College Scholars Summer Program—Psychology Track
Location: UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA and Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies by format; some scholarships available
Dates: May – August (multiple sessions available)
Application Deadline: March 10 (Residential) | June 2 (Commuter/Virtual)
Eligibility: Students who have completed 10th or 11th grade and are 16 years of age with a minimum 3.0 GPA
This program lets you enroll in college-level psychology or neuroscience courses at UC Berkeley, either on campus or online. You’ll choose from lower-division undergraduate courses (e.g., PSYCH 1 General Psychology, PSYCH 3 How the Brain Works) and engage with Berkeley faculty and peers. Through the residential track, you’ll also experience campus life, join workshops on college readiness, and take part in extracurriculars and excursions. The focus will be on academic rigor, independent thinking, and early exposure to university learning in psychological science, which can make it a strong addition to your profile if you’re seriously interested in psychology or behavioral science.
4. NIH Summer Internship Program (SIP)
Location: Various National Institutes of Health (NIH) campuses, including Bethesda, MD
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend provided (amount varies based on location and education level)
Dates: 8 – 10 weeks, typically starting in June
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents aged 18+ who are high school seniors, college students, or incoming college/graduate students
NIH SIP is a prestigious, fully-funded summer research internship placing high-school and undergraduate students into real biomedical and behavioral science labs at NIH. You’ll work under a senior scientist mentor, engage in data analysis, experimental methods, and scientific communication, attend seminars and a poster day, all while immersed in a major research institution. While not limited to psychology, this internship includes opportunities in behavioral and cognitive sciences, allowing students to engage in research that complements psychology-related interests.
5. Johns Hopkins University – Psychology and Brain Sciences Summer Programs
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by course
Dates: Self-paced and summer session options available
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum 3.0 GPA; specific course requirements may apply
Johns Hopkins offers fast-paced, psychology and brain science-focused pre-college courses. These programs allow students to explore subjects like cognition, neurobiology, psychopathology, and behavioral research. Over the span of two weeks, you will engage with university-level coursework, typically involving online modules and live discussions, to delve into topics such as research methods, psychological profiling, human-behavior modelling, and the neurobiology of systems. If you’re interested in psychology or neuroscience and want a recognized college-level credential and exposure, these courses offer a strong option.
6. Harvard Secondary School Program – Psychology Courses
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA or Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $4,180 – $15,735 (depending on length and type) + $75 application fee
Dates: 4-Week: July 12 – August 8 | 7-Week: June 20 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 12
Eligibility: High school students aged 16–18; includes rising juniors, seniors, and recent graduates.
This 4- or 7-week program at Harvard lets you take real college-level psychology and neuroscience courses before college. You can choose from classes like Introduction to Psychology, The Psychology of Eating, Neuroinvesting, or The Neuroscience of Learning. You’ll engage in classroom discussions, assignments, and possibly a research component, gaining exposure to experimental methods, cognitive theory, and brain-behavior links. Completing this program can give you both academic credentials and a strong signal for selective college admissions.
7. Wake Forest University Psychology Institute
Location: Wake Forest University Reynolda Campus, Winston-Salem, NC
Cost: $3,500; Need-based scholarships available
Dates: July 12 – 17 | July 19 – 24
Application Deadline: Opens November 1; Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
Wake Forest’s Psychology Institute is a one-week residential program that gives high schoolers a hands-on introduction to psychological science and neuroscience. You’ll engage in activities such as a sheep-brain dissection, sensory-perception labs, and an observational research project that explores how illusions, biases, and emotions shape human behavior. The program emphasizes experimental design, data-driven inquiry, and presentation of findings, which makes it a strong option if you’re curious about a psychology major or behavioral science research path.
8. University of Chicago Summer Immersion – Psychology Courses
Location: The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL or Virtual
Cost: ~$8,900 for the 3-week psychology course; cost can vary based on medium
Dates: Varies depending on course and session
Application Deadline: January 22 (Priority) | March 5 (Regular)
Eligibility: High school students in 9th, 10th, or 11th grade who are at least 14 years old
This rigorous three-week summer immersion at UChicago lets you explore psychology and neuroscience through coursework and research-style activities. The curriculum includes a course such as Fundamentals of Psychology: Theory & Research. In this course, you will explore topics like memory, emotions, sensation and perception, and psychological disorders. The program emphasizes practical experience, allowing you to conduct hands-on labs and design your own minor experiment. If you enjoy intense academic work, want to tackle field-level concepts and methods before college, and are comfortable with a high-expectation environment, this program offers strong exposure to psychological science.
9. Brown University Summer@Brown – Psychology Courses
Location: Brown University, Providence, RI or Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $3,096 – $10,858, depending on format and length
Dates: Varies depending on format and length
Application Deadline: May 8
Eligibility: Students completing grades 9-12 (ages 14-18)
Summer@Brown offers you the flexibility to take psychology or social-science courses in an online or on-campus format, rooted in Brown’s open curriculum philosophy. You’ll explore topics such as abnormal adolescent psychology, neuroscience of behavior, or psychology & health across 1- to 6-week formats. This experience is designed to offer a taste of college-level intellectual engagement in psychology, focusing on self-directed learning, critical thinking, and academic writing.
10. Carnegie Mellon Open Learning Initiative – Introduction to Psychology
Location: Virtual
Cost: None
Dates: 14 weeks; self-paced
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
This online course from CMU’s OLI provides an interactive introduction to core psychology topics. You’ll explore subject areas such as research methods, perception, memory, motivation, personality, social behavior, and psychological disorders, using interactive modules, videos, and self-assessments. The course emphasises scientific thinking and experimental design, allowing you to strengthen your analytical skills in psychological science before college. While this is a self-paced online course rather than a structured program, it provides an accessible and academically sound introduction to psychological science.
11. Gettysburg College Camp Psych
Location: Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA
Cost: $1,395
Dates: July 13 – 18
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Camp Psych is a one-week residential program that gives you an immersive introduction to psychological science. You’ll live on the Gettysburg College campus and attend small-group classes led by faculty and psychology-major resident advisors. You will gain proficiency in research methods, data interpretation, and scientific communication by participating in practical activities like designing small experiments, examining behavioral data, and presenting your results. Additionally, living in a dormitory and interacting with fellow students offers a preview of the college atmosphere within a university environment.
12. University of Cambridge: Introduction to Cognitive Psychology and Neuropsychology
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free to audit; fee applies for certificate
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Eligibility: Any learner (no prior expertise required) interested in cognitive psychology and neuropsychology
This is a fully online, short-form course from Cambridge that introduces how psychologists and neuropsychologists study the mind and brain. You’ll explore cognitive functions (attention, memory, language, perception) and learn about research methods, including behavioral experiments and neuroimaging techniques. You will build a foundation in key areas of psychology and neuroscience, including experimental design, data interpretation, and critical thinking, with instruction provided by a world-class university. Although it’s not a residential program, it offers credible academic content that can add depth to your application if you’re interested in psychology, cognitive science, or neuroscience.
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!