13 Criminology Research Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 54 minutes ago
- 10 min read
Programs are a great way for high school students to gain exposure to college-level academics, professional work and career paths, practical skills, and valuable connections. Participating in a research program can be a strong resume addition and prepare you for undergraduate study. Students interested in criminology can deepen their knowledge of the field through research programs across psychology, law, philosophy, and forensic science.
Why should I participate in a criminology research program in high school?
Participating in a criminology research program can help you determine whether you want to pursue it further, while also giving you first-hand exposure and technical skills in the field. As research programs in criminology are rare in comparison to more traditional academic disciplines, completing research in the field shows admissions officers that you are dedicated to studying criminology.
Since criminology is an unconventional field to pursue in high school, it can be challenging to identify strong opportunities in criminology research. To guide your search, we’ve reviewed 13 top criminology research programs for high school students. This blog highlights selective and prestigious programs that provide networking opportunities and exposure to criminology in both academic and professional settings.
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost / Stipend: $5,600
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Very selective; 4 high school students and 18 undergraduates
Program dates: June 15 – August 7
Application deadline: January 12
Eligibility: Chicago-area high school students and undergraduates
The DSI Summer Lab is a funded program for high schoolers and undergraduates to work on quantitative research on topics across STEM and social sciences. You’ll complete a data science project under the guidance of a UChicago professor, with opportunities for criminology research in disciplines such as psychology or public policy. You’ll analyze data from crime statistics to psychological studies. You’ll learn applied statistics and programming, research ethics, and responsible collection and usage of data. You’ll prepare for college through learning about undergraduate programs and research opportunities at UChicago, networking with professors, attending guest lectures from data scientists across disciplines, and collaborating with undergraduate and graduate students. You’ll present your work to the entire DSI cohort at the end of the program.
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas — including Criminology — that you can explore as a high schooler. The program will pair you with a Ph.D. mentor specializing in criminology to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Multiple judicial offices in NYC
Cost / Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Very selective; <15% acceptance rate
Program dates: July - August
Application deadline: January 9
Eligibility: Rising 12th-grade students residing and attending schools in one of the 5 New York City boroughs. You must obtain a Student General Employment Certificate from your school.
The High School Division of The Sonia & Celina Sotomayor Judicial Internship Program is a selective summer program for high schoolers from New York City. You’ll learn about criminology through direct exposure to the criminal justice system, seeing how case research is applied in trials and hearings. You’ll be assigned to work under a New York State or Federal judge, where you’ll conduct legal research on cases, summarize evidence, review case files, and more. You’ll gain strong networking opportunities through mentorship from a high-ranking judge and by meeting with other court professionals. You’ll also receive guidance on college preparation, including academic workshops on legal topics, career planning discussions, and personalized advising on college applications.
Location: Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Boston
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts; rolling admissions.
Program Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school
The Academic Insights Program lets high school students experience university life firsthand. You will live on campus and study in small groups of 7-10, and learn from tutors from eminent top universities like Oxford and Cambridge.
Participants can explore a wide range of subjects, spanning over 20 options, including Criminology. The courses are experiential and focus on hands-on learning. You may find yourself conducting dissections in medicine, designing a robotic arm in engineering, participating in a moot court for law, or building creative writing portfolios and business case studies. By the end of the program, you’ll complete a personal project, receive written feedback, and receive a certificate of completion! You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, Brooklyn, NY
Cost / Stipend: $150/week
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Selective
Program dates: July 6 – 31
Application deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors living or attending high school in Brooklyn
The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office offers three-week high school internships, introducing you to operations in the criminal justice system. You’ll specialize in one of the Office’s department areas, including Crime Strategies, Investigations, and the Special Victims Unit, where you’ll provide support to criminal cases and investigations. You’ll gain criminology research experience through drafting legal documents, analyzing financial data, conducting legal research, and more. The internship provides rigorous professional development guidance, including educational workshops on topics like forensic science and criminal justice, presentations by legal and law enforcement professionals, and networking opportunities with employees across the DA’s office.
Location: Multiple law firms, nonprofits, and government organizations in New York City
Cost / Stipend: $17-$22/hour; some employers may provide a higher wage
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Very selective; ~7-10% acceptance rate
Program dates: 6-8 weeks over the summer; 3 days of orientation training are held in April. Opening and Closing Ceremonies are held on June 24 and August 27, respectively
Application deadline: January 12
Eligibility: NYC public high school students aged 16+ by internship start date
The NYC Bar Association’s Thurgood Marshall Summer Law Internship provides high schoolers with paid professional work experience and first-hand exposure to the operations of NYC’s criminal justice system. You’ll be matched with a governmental agency, law firm, or nonprofit employer, where you’ll take on legal work under the mentorship of attorneys, legal experts, or government employees. You’ll gain exposure to criminology through work experience like conducting legal research for criminal cases, helping to overturn wrongful convictions, or working at a District Attorney’s Office. You’ll also attend a preliminary internship training program, where you’ll learn skills like professional communication, interviewing techniques, and writing effective resumes. You’ll receive guidance on planning for your next educational steps and pursuing a legal career from NYC Bar Association professionals.
Location: Placements offered in Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA
Cost / Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Highly competitive
Program dates: Varies by internship
Application deadline: Varies by internship
Eligibility: Full-time high school upperclassmen, undergraduates, and graduate students aged 16+. Many positions require U.S. citizenship. Minimum 3.0 GPA
Sandia National Laboratories’ Student Internship program provides paid professional experience in crime prevention research at a national level. You’ll conduct national security research in either the Global Security, National Security Programs, or Nuclear Weapons program area. You’ll contribute to federal research initiatives, including surveillance, counterterrorism, homeland security, and proliferation assessments, with a focus on engineering and technology. You’ll access rigorous professional support- mentorship from a long-term Sandia employee, networking events, an intern career fair, making connections with specialists in your other interest areas, and more. Sandia recruits heavily from its intern pool, so you’ll participate in performance reviews, academic assessments, and discussions on long-term internship participation.
Location: University of Iowa Belin-Blank Center, Iowa City, IA
Cost / Stipend: $7,500; substantial financial aid and scholarships are offered
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Very selective; <10% acceptance rate
Program dates: June 17 - July 24
Application deadline: February 16
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10-11
SSTP is a prestigious summer program for high school students, offering multi-disciplinary mentored research opportunities. You can pursue criminology research from a psychological approach through placements in Neurology, Neuroscience & Pharmacology, Psychiatry, or Psychological & Brain Sciences. Alternatively, you can study criminology from a cultural angle in an Anthropology placement. In this program, you’ll be matched with a faculty member sharing your research interests; you’ll develop and execute an advanced research project while receiving academic guidance from your mentor. Outside of your project, you’ll attend educational and research seminars to broaden your academic knowledge and research skill set, complete assigned readings from your mentor, and more. You’ll design a research poster and present your work in the Student Symposium at the end of the program.
Location: American University, Washington, D.C.
Cost / Stipend: $3,500; financial aid offered
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Selective
Program dates: July 20 - 29
Application deadline: Early Decision: March 2 | Regular Decision: April 13 | Late applications are considered on a rolling basis if space remains.
Eligibility: High school students aged 15-18
The ACLU’s National Advocacy Institute is a 10-day program for high school students passionate about civil liberties with a particular interest in political advocacy. You’ll work with attorneys, lobbyists, activists, and other policy professionals to learn about the ACLU’s work in civil rights-focused policy advocacy. You’ll study topics in criminology through ACLU’s advocacy areas- Capital Punishment, Criminal Law Reform, Prisoners’ Rights, and more. You’ll attend daily discussion sessions with peers and ACLU staff to discuss policy issues and ways to address social injustices. Your experience will culminate in the Day of Action, where you’ll take on a real-world advocacy initiative like speaking with members of Congress or organizing a rally. While not a formal research project, you’ll conduct an in-depth analysis of criminology-focused topics to develop a strategic policy campaign. You’ll gain additional professional development experience through connecting with prominent ACLU and public figures at Keynote seminars, networking events, and opportunities to meet federal policymakers.
Location: Remote or Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cost / Stipend: $4,180–$15,735 (varies by course) and a $75 application fee. Financial aid offered
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Selective. Class enrollment limits vary.
Program dates: 7-week courses: June 20–August 8 | 4-week courses: July 12 - August 8
Application deadline: Early: January 7 | Regular: February 11 | Late: April 1
Eligibility: Current 10th-12th grade students who will be aged 16-18 throughout the program
Harvard’s Secondary School Program invites high school students to join current Harvard undergraduates in summer courses taught by Harvard professors or visiting faculty. Multiple course options provide academic and research experience in criminology from perspectives across philosophy, law, history, and more. In Introduction to the Philosophy of Law, you’ll examine complex issues in criminal justice and legal ethics, such as the purpose and effects of punishment, the validity of unjust laws, and the concept of justice. The course Facing Evil and Suffering in the Modern World discusses philosophical, literary, and religious approaches to the concept of evil, including the examination of major criminal cases. Power and Privilege in the Criminal Justice System offers a critical perspective on criminology, where you’ll research complex topics like hate crimes, coerced confessions, and risk factors for criminal behavior. In these and other criminology-focused courses, you’ll participate in rigorous class discussions, apply theoretical frameworks to real-world situations, complete undergraduate-level research assignments, and earn transferable college credits for your work.
Location: Remote (Synchronous)
Cost / Stipend: $3,200
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Selective
Program dates: June 15 - 26
Application deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Current 9th-11th grade students. Must be aged 14-18 throughout the program
Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institute’s The Nature of Evil course offers a philosophical look at criminology through a two-week remote experience. You’ll explore the concept of the term “evil” and its applications to individuals, bureaucratic systems, and inanimate phenomena. You’ll draw from the disciplines of history, philosophy, and psychology to examine the evolution of the concept over time, historical instances of evil, and ethical theories. You’ll read psychological case studies, reports, and academic articles to interrogate the concept of evil from multidisciplinary angles, which you’ll analyze in seminar discussions and written reflections. You’ll complete a final group research project, creating a comparative analysis of case studies from a theoretical approach that you’ll present at the end of the program.
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost / Stipend: $6,700; full scholarships for Philadelphia public and charter high school students
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Selective
Program dates: July 11 - 25
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Current 10th-11th grade students with a minimum 3.5 GPA. Must have completed at least one year of a lab-based science course. Non-native English speakers must meet language proficiency requirements; see testing details here.
University of Pennsylvania’s Forensic Science Academy offers a criminology research experience for high schoolers interested in scientific approaches to the field. You’ll learn forensic science research methods in molecular biology, genetics, and chemistry, then apply your skills to laboratory experiments in DNA analysis, fingerprinting, toxicology, and more. You’ll study how scientific crime scene analysis is used in legal investigations, including which evidence and research outcomes are viewed as most credible in court. You’ll analyze case studies, complete mock crime scene investigations, and learn to communicate scientific evidence analysis in academic, legal, and public-facing contexts. You’ll hear from guest researchers in anthropology, criminology, ballistics, and forensic chemistry, learning about their specialized work in the field and career paths across criminology.
Location: Brown University, Providence, RI
Cost / Stipend: Residential: $5,936 | Commuter: $4,632 | Financial aid offered
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Somewhat selective
Program dates: June 22 - July 2
Application deadline: Rolling admissions, January 14 - May 22
Eligibility: Current 9th-12th grade students aged 14-18 by June 14. Students should have completed Algebra I and have some academic and lab experience in biology/chemistry
The Forensic Science - CSI Providence is a Summer@Brown Pre-College program for high school students offering hands-on criminology research and coursework. You’ll learn about core principles in forensic science, merging math, biology, and chemistry to explore how evidence is processed in crime scene investigations. You’ll apply forensic science techniques in both lab and virtual research, including fingerprinting, footwear analysis, and bloodstain pattern analysis. Through this program, you’ll prepare for more advanced criminology research across the fields of chemistry and biology, forensic science, and criminal justice.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program in which students work one-on-one with a mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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