Exploring sociology through summer programs allows high school students to delve into social structures, inequalities, and cultural dynamics while gaining college-level research and analytical skills. Mentioned below are 9 programs offering immersive experiences in sociology, combining academic rigor with hands-on learning.
1. Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS)
Location: Cornell University, University of Maryland, University of Michigan
Program Dates: June 25 – August 5
Cost: Free
Eligibility: High school sophomores/juniors (priority to underrepresented groups)
Deadline: Applications typically open mid-November, due January 4
TASS offers two tracks: Critical Black Studies (CBS) and Anti-Oppressive Studies (AOS). Over six weeks, students engage in daily seminars analyzing systemic inequality through texts by scholars like Angela Davis and Kimberlé Crenshaw. Participants also design community projects, such as creating educational resources on housing discrimination or organizing local advocacy campaigns.
The program emphasizes collaborative learning, with small discussion groups and mentorship from college professors. Graduates often credit TASS for shaping their understanding of intersectionality and social justice.
2. Summer@Brown – Sociology & Anthropology Courses
Location: Brown University, Rhode Island
Program Dates: May 17 – August 4
Cost: ~$5,000–$9,000
Eligibility: High school students
Deadline: Spring (varies by course)
Choose from 50+ courses, including Ethnographic Research and Dynamics of Race and Oppression. In Ethnographic Research, students conduct fieldwork in Providence communities, studying topics like immigrant narratives or youth subcultures. Courses blend lectures with hands--on activities, such as designing surveys or analyzing census data.
Participants can earn college credit and access Brown’s libraries and research databases. Evening panels feature sociology faculty discussing career paths in academia, policy, or nonprofit work.
3. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes – Sociology of Inequality
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: Two-week sessions in June/July
Cost: $3,050
Eligibility: Grades 8–11
Deadline: March 29
This intensive course examines social movements, racism, and gentrification through interactive seminars. Students analyze case studies like Chicago’s redlining history or the #MeToo movement, using sociological theories to unpack power dynamics. Workshops teach skills like coding qualitative data or visualizing inequality with GIS tools.
For final projects, participants create advocacy campaigns or research proposals addressing contemporary issues. Guest speakers include activists and policymakers, offering insights into real-world applications of sociological research.
4. Harvard Secondary School Program – Sociology Track
Location: Harvard University, Massachusetts (online/on-campus)
Program Dates: July (4- or 7-week sessions)
Cost: $4,050–$14,950
Eligibility: Ages 16–18
Deadline: January–April (rolling)
Courses like Introduction to Sociology and Popular Culture and Social Theory explore societal dynamics through film analysis, demographic studies, and debates on globalization. On-campus students attend guest lectures by Harvard researchers and visit Boston-based NGOs focused on education equity or criminal justice reform. The program includes college prep workshops on writing personal statements and navigating sociology majors. Participants leave with a portfolio of academic work to showcase in college applications.
5. Columbia University Pre-College Summer Program
Location: Columbia University, New York
Program Dates: July 2 – August 6
Cost: ~$3,150–$4,200
Eligibility: Rising seniors
Deadline: May 31
Offers Introduction to Sociology and interdisciplinary courses like Art Worlds: Anthropological Perspectives. Students in the sociology course dissect topics like urban poverty and digital activism through case studies from Harlem and Brooklyn. The program includes field trips to museums and community organizations, such as the Tenement Museum or the ACLU. Participants earn 3 college credits and receive guidance on publishing high school research in journals like The Concord Review.
6. UC Santa Barbara Research Mentorship Program
Location: UC Santa Barbara, California
Program Dates: June 16 – August 1
Cost: $11,874 (residential)
Eligibility: Grades 10–11 (GPA ≥3.8)
Deadline: March 17
Students conduct sociology research under faculty mentorship, tackling projects like “Gentrification in Coastal Communities” or “Social Media and Youth Identity.” The program includes training in NVivo software for qualitative analysis and workshops on drafting peer-reviewed papers. Participants present their findings at a symposium attended by UCSB professors and local policymakers. Past students have used their research to win accolades at science fairs or secure internships with think tanks.
7. NYU Precollege Program – Humanities & Social Sciences
Location: NYU, New York
Program Dates: July 2 – August 13
Cost: Varies by credits
Eligibility: Juniors/seniors
Deadline: June 16
Courses like Sociology of Education and Global Urbanism blend theory with case studies from NYC’s diverse neighborhoods. In Global Urbanism, students visit sites like the Lower East Side to study immigrant entrepreneurship or attend city council meetings on housing policy. The program offers access to NYU’s Bobst Library and networking mixers with alumni working in urban planning or social work. Participants can audit graduate-level seminars with permission from instructors.
8. Syracuse University Summer College – Sociology Track
Location: Syracuse University, New York
Program Dates: July 22 – August 2
Cost: $4,695 (residential)
Eligibility: Rising juniors/seniors
Deadline: May 1
This program focuses on social inequality through class, race, and gender. Students analyze datasets from the U.S. Census Bureau and conduct interviews with local community leaders. The program includes a workshop on using SPSS for statistical analysis and a field trip to the Onondaga Nation to study Indigenous sovereignty movements. Final presentations are judged by Syracuse faculty, with top projects featured in the university’s undergraduate research journal.
9. University of Pennsylvania Pre-College Program
Location: UPenn, Pennsylvania
Program Dates: May 29 – July 28 (multiple sessions)
Cost: Unspecified (est. $5,000–$10,000)
Eligibility: Rising seniors or college freshmen (ages 16+)
Deadline: Spring
Offers courses in social sciences, including sociology. In Urban Studies and Policy, students collaborate on proposals to address Philly’s opioid crisis or school funding disparities. The program includes tours of city agencies and roundtables with local activists.
Participants receive feedback from Penn’s Urban Studies faculty and leave with a policy brief suitable for submitting to youth advocacy competitions.These programs provide platforms to explore societal issues, conduct research, and build skills for future academic pursuits. Whether through virtual mentorship or on-campus immersion, each opportunity equips students to critically analyze and address complex social challenges.
If you are a high school student pushing yourself to stand out in college applications, RISE Global Education offers a unique opportunity to work one-on-one with mentors from top universities around the world.
Through personalized guidance and independent research projects that can lead to prestigious publications, RISE helps you build a standout academic profile and develop skills that set you apart. With flexible program dates and global accessibility, ambitious students can apply year-round. To learn more about eligibility, costs, and how to get started, visit RISE Global’s official website and take your college preparation to the next level!