14 Ethics Summer Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 38 minutes ago
- 9 min read
Summer programs can be a practical option for high school students who want exposure to college-level academics and structured learning outside the classroom. These programs help you build analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills through interactions with faculty, professionals, and peers. If you are particularly interested in questions of morality, leadership, and responsibility, an ethics-focused program can provide the structure and space to examine these ideas more deeply.
What are the benefits of an ethics program?
By ethics programs, we mean initiatives that introduce students to ethical decision-making, moral philosophy, and the examination of societal values through case studies, debates, and guided discussions. You can analyze dilemmas related to public policy, leadership, social justice, law, and global affairs, thereby strengthening your ability to think critically and responsibly. These experiences can help you understand how ethical frameworks guide individual and institutional choices across different fields.
To help you identify opportunities, we’ve curated a list of 14 ethics summer programs for high school students.
If you’re looking for free online research opportunities, check out our blog here.
14 Ethics Summer Programs for High School Students
Location: Washington, D.C.
Cost: Free (includes travel, lodging, meals, and activities)
Dates: Session 1: June 7–13 | Session 2: June 21–27
Application Deadline: January 16
Eligibility: Open to current 10th and 11th-grade students residing in the U.S., D.C., or Puerto Rico | Preference given to students with financial need
The NextGen Latino Leadership Program brings high school sophomores and juniors to Washington, D.C. for a one-week civic leadership experience. You’ll study how laws are made and examine ethical questions around representation, power, and public responsibility. The program focuses on issues affecting Latino communities and asks how leaders make decisions that impact real people. You’ll meet Members of Congress, policy staff, and CHCI alumni to see how values shape political action. Workshops focus on leadership, civic engagement, and speaking up in public systems. You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of how ethical leadership operates inside government and advocacy spaces.
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies depending on program type | Full financial aid available
Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring | Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
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. The program pairs high school students with PhD mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper. You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here and review students' experiences with the program here and here.
Location: McCombs School of Business, Austin, TX
Cost: No cost
Dates: June 14–18
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: High school juniors
Subiendo Academy is a five-day leadership program for Texas high school juniors focused on ethical problem-solving in public life. You will examine real policy challenges in healthcare, education, and the environment through structured case discussions. You will work in teams to analyze issues and propose solutions grounded in public impact. You’ll interact directly with business, political, and education leaders to understand how ethical choices shape outcomes. The program also introduces college life and leadership pathways through mentoring and guided reflection.
Location: FBI Academy, Quantico, VA
Cost: No cost
Dates: July 9–17
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors | Must be within the ages of 14–16 as of the program start date
The FBI National Academy Associates Youth Leadership Program is an eight-day leadership experience for high-achieving high school sophomores and juniors. You’ll study ethical leadership, values, decision-making, and responsibility through courses and discussions. The program analyses case studies to examine good leadership, poor leadership, and choices under pressure. You will apply these ideas through supervised exercises and real-world scenarios led by law enforcement professionals. The curriculum also covers integrity, honesty, and calm decision-making in the middle of conflict or crisis.
Location: Tufts College, Medford/Somerville, MA
Cost: $5,750
Dates: July 5–17
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th-grade students | 15 years or older at the start of the program
The Leadership for Social Change is a residential summer course designed for high school students interested in civic engagement, policy analysis, and social equity. You will attend lectures, engage in community fieldwork, and visit local nonprofit organizations to explore social issues, including educational inequality and community health disparities. You will develop an individual action plan to address real issues in your community, culminating in a final research presentation to showcase your work at the closing ceremony.
Location: Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
Cost: $9,085 (residential tuition) | $7,085 (commuter tuition)
Dates: June 28–July 17
Application Deadline: January 31 (early bird) | April 15 (final)
Eligibility: Students across grades 8–12 | Must be at least 15 years old by the start of the program | Must have a minimum GPA of 2.0
The Bridges to Social Justice Academy is a three-week program that introduces you to ethical leadership and decision-making in social justice work. Grounded in the Social Change Model of Leadership Development, the program uses case discussions and real-world examples to examine public service, policy, activism, and community engagement. You will study how values, power, and responsibility shape responses to injustice and structural harm. You will meet with organizations and stakeholders in Washington, DC, who are actively working for civil, economic, and human rights. You practice ethical reasoning through guided projects, discussions, and reflection on your own values. The experience concludes with a capstone project that applies ethical reasoning to social change initiatives.
Location: Multiple locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and Newark, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Free | Students receive a $450 stipend
Dates: July 6–August 13
Application Deadline: Rolling applications until March 13
Eligibility: High school students identifying as young women or gender-expansive, residing in NYC or Newark
The Sadie Nash Summer Institute is a six-week leadership program for young women and gender-expansive youth. You will examine identity, values, and ethical responsibility through structured discussions and workshops. You’ll analyze social justice issues and moral dilemmas tied to power, education, gender, and community change. You’ll also study topics like art and activism, education and liberation, and the social construction of gender. You’ll learn from women and gender-expansive leaders across public service, business, and the arts. You’ll build a close peer community while practising ethical leadership, critical thinking, and accountability.
Location: Washington, D.C.
Cost/Stipend: $17,990 (covers tuition, room, and board) + $320 (for personal expenses) + $315 (for textbooks and travel) | Financial aid available
Dates: June 28–August 9
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors | International students can apply | Limited to only 25 students in each cohort
The SEGL Summer Institute in Washington, DC, is a six-week ethics and leadership program for rising high school juniors and seniors. You’ll study ethical decision-making through SEGL’s core Ethics and Leadership curriculum. You will debate real policy dilemmas and examine how values shape leadership in government, business, and public life. You’ll also apply moral reasoning by writing an ethical credo, a collaborative policy memo, and a social venture plan. You’ll learn directly from policymakers and leaders while living steps from the Supreme Court and Capitol, and leave with an ethical framework for leadership and public responsibility.
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $6,700 for the 2-week Summer Academy
Dates: July 11–25
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines
Eligibility: Current 9th–11th grade students who are residents of Philadelphia and attend a School District of Philadelphia public or charter high school with a minimum 3.5 GPA | Open to international students with a valid tourist or B-2 visa
The Social Change and Social Justice Academy brings together high school students to examine how societies pursue justice and make ethical choices. You’ll explore real social dilemmas through guided dialogue and ask what responsible change looks like in practice. The program structure includes examining case studies, engaging with guest speakers, and analysing media to examine power and moral responsibility across different fields. Field trips and small-group conversations ground ethical questions in real communities and lived experience. By the end, you will develop clearer ethical reasoning about how individuals and institutions can drive social change.
Location: American University, Washington, D.C.
Cost: $2,700 (includes lodging, food, experiential learning activities, and social events) | Financial aid and travel stipends are offered to qualifying students who need assistance
Dates: Session 1: July 13–19 | Session 2: July 20–26 | Session 3: July 27–August 2
Application Deadline: March 3 (early decision) | April 14 (applications submitted on or after April 15 will be reviewed on a rolling basis)
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores to graduating seniors across the ages of 15–18
The ACLU National Advocacy Institute is a one-week program in Washington, D.C., for high school students interested in civil rights and ethical advocacy. You will study civil liberties, social justice, and ethical decision-making through case discussions and policy analysis. You’ll learn how lawyers, organizers, and advocates make moral and strategic choices in real political contexts. You will practice evaluating trade-offs in advocacy, law, and public policy. The program includes discussions of current ethical dilemmas affecting rights and equality. You will leave with concrete frameworks for ethical action in your own communities.
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $9,300 | Need-based financial aid is available
Dates: June 15–July 2
Application Deadline: February 11 (priority deadline) | March 12 (regular deadline)
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9–11
The Human Rights: Foundational Concepts, Global Challenges course is a three-week immersion that introduces you to the core idea of human rights and how societies decide what people are owed. You will study how modern human rights were framed, including major treaties and global institutions. The course uses concrete case studies to examine debates around speech, education, gender equality, and protection from violence. Discussions focus on how governments, courts, and social movements defend or violate these rights in practice. You’ll practice ethical reasoning by weighing competing values, limits, and consequences in real situations.
Location: UCLA Department of Political Science
Cost: $2660 | Financial aid is available
Dates: June 22– July 10
Application Deadline: June 12
Eligibility: Open to California high school students in grades 9 to 12 who are at least 15 years old by June 22 | Have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher | International students can apply
The Political Science Summer Session at UCLA is a three-week political science program that introduces you to American politics through the lens of collective decision-making and responsibility. You’ll study how institutions form, how power operates, and why political choices produce real consequences for different groups. Coursework draws from UCLA’s undergraduate curriculum and uses current and historical examples to examine participation, representation, and governance. Career panels help connect political theory to pathways in public service, law, policy, and research. Throughout the program, you’ll practice ethical reasoning by analyzing how political decisions balance competing interests and values. You’ll receive college credit and a clearer sense of how political systems shape society and individual lives.
Location: Online
Cost: $750
Dates: January 12–February 6 | April 13–May 8 | June 8–July 3 | July 27–August 21
Application Deadline: January 7 | April 9 | June 4 | July 23
Eligibility: Open to high school students, university students, and other youth interested in global affairs
The United Nations Young Leaders Training Programme is a four-week online program that introduces you to how the United Nations approaches global decision-making and international cooperation. You’ll study the UN system, conference diplomacy, and the Sustainable Development Goals through structured modules and guided discussions. The program emphasizes ethical leadership by examining how global institutions balance national interests, shared responsibility, and human rights. Live webinars and workshops focus on negotiation, communication, and leadership in multilateral settings. You’ll engage with UN experts and peers to analyze real policy challenges and global dilemmas. By the end, you’ll understand how ethical reasoning operates inside international governance and where young people can meaningfully participate.
Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles
Cost: $8130 (commuter) | $11,570 (residential)
Dates: June 22–July 17
Application Deadline: Domestic Student: May 8 | International Student: March 13
Eligibility: High school students who have completed at least 9th grade and are pursuing a rigorous curriculum
The International Relations summer program introduces you to how states, institutions, and leaders make decisions during conflict and cooperation. You’ll study major international relations theories and apply them to real cases involving war, peace negotiations, and global crises. Through simulations and negotiation exercises, you’ll practice weighing competing interests, values, and consequences. The course examines human rights, civilian protection, and moral responsibility in the midst of conflict. You will also develop a focused case study and propose realistic steps for the resolution of the conflict in your chosen area. The course aims to prepare you for how ethical judgment shapes diplomacy, security, and global policy choices.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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