15 Middle School Science Courses
If science is already your thing in middle school, why not explore it beyond your regular classes? A course can help you get a sense of what studying science will look like in high school.
You also get more time to explore topics your regular class might only touch on briefly. You could run an experiment, try some basic coding for a science project, or spend more time on subjects like chemistry and biology. Some courses may even introduce you to areas like AI. Rather than moving on to a new topic every few days, you get a chance to slow down and actually figure out how things work.
Why should I consider a science course in middle school?
A science course can give you an early idea of what the subject is like in high school and college. You may work with more challenging concepts, do more independent work, and spend less time simply memorizing for a test. It’s a chance to see what’s ahead while you still have time to explore.
It can also make some parts of high school science feel more familiar. You may come across concepts you’ve already seen, although you’ll still have plenty to learn as the material gets harder.
To help you find the right fit, we've compiled a list of 15 middle school science courses! If you want to go beyond these options, our blog on programs for middle school students has more ideas.
15 Middle School Science Courses
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies | Financial aid available
Application deadline: Varies based on cohort
Program dates: Eight weeks | Timing varies by cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 8
Lumiere’s Junior Explorers Program is a selective online research experience for middle school students, designed to build advanced academic writing and research skills. You begin by selecting a subject area, such as STEM, humanities, or social sciences, and are matched with a PhD-level mentor from a top university. Over the course of the program, you receive a structured introduction to your chosen field, then design and carry out an independent research project focused on a real-world question. To strengthen your writing and analytical abilities, you conclude the program by producing a formal research paper that presents your findings.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Application deadline: Rolling deadlines. You can apply to the program here.
Program dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks (on weekends) during the spring cohort and 25 hours over 2 weeks (on weekdays) during the summer cohort.
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8
The AI Trailblazers program by Veritas AI is a virtual program that teaches middle school students the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Over 25 hours, you will learn the basics of Python as well as topics like data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. Students learn through lectures and group sessions with a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio. Previous student projects have included building a machine-learning model to classify music genres and creating a machine-learning algorithm to provide a custom list of educational resources based on selected specifications.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Location: Virtual
Cost: Audit for free; $249 with certificate
Dates: Any time (next session starts June 15, for 10 weeks)
Application Deadline: NA; you can enroll any time
Eligibility: Middle school students are eligible
Harvard University's Energy and Thermodynamics Course on the EdX platform is a self-paced asynchronous introductory course that focuses on the concept and principles of energy. In this interdisciplinary course, you will learn the basics of energy, atoms and molecular structure, and thermodynamics. You will gain an understanding of the diverse types of energy, such as thermal energy, electromagnetic energy, kinetic energy, and more. Other components include thermochemistry, Newton’s Second Law of Thermodynamics, atomic mass, sustainable energy, and more. You will learn to use lab equipment such as the Joule apparatus, complete readings, analyze case studies, and more.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,365 (Summer); $1,420 (Fall) (check registration fee and financial aid details here)
Dates: Vary, with summer and fall cohorts (check schedule here)
Application Deadline: Varies, based on summer/fall sessions (check registration deadlines here)
Eligibility: Grades 5 – 6
Middle school students in grade 6 can pursue this online course led by an educator of the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (JHU-CTY). Over six weeks, you will explore how scientific principles are applied to various forms of art to make something creative. You will learn, for example, the integration of sound waves and music visualization, the physics of light and color theory for artistic effects, and more. You will design and conduct experiments, applying what you have learned to an original artwork or multimedia project. By the end of the course, you will have gained an understanding of how scientific methods can be applied to artistic expressions.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,365 (Summer); $1,420 (Fall) (check registration fee and financial aid details here)
Dates: Vary, with summer and fall cohorts (check schedule here)
Application Deadline: Varies, based on summer/fall sessions (check registration deadlines here)
Eligibility: Grades 7 – 11
Through this online course, you can explore the underlying role of physics in sports phenomena through this science course for middle and high schoolers. You will attend academic lectures and participate in simulation activities to gain an understanding of concepts such as momentum, energy, kinematics, and more. You will learn how to develop a model of Newtonian mechanics from a sport with the application of relevant concepts of physics. You will analyze experimental data and use simulations to make an evaluation of how physical principles impact an athlete's performance. You will work on fine-tuning your findings to arrive at a conclusive result.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 18 – 20
Location: Roger Williams University, Bristol, RI/Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Varies based on campus location, starts at $6,717 (check costs, fees, and financial aid details here)
Dates: Vary, based on campus location (check dates here)
Application Deadline: Varies, based on campus location and session (check deadlines here)
Eligibility: Grades 7 – 11
This course of the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (JHU-CTY) provides middle school students with an enriching learning experience of zoology concepts, with lab and fieldwork components. You will explore concepts such as animal cells, taxonomy, and more. Through lab dissections, you will learn animal anatomy and physiology, such as the circulatory, digestive, and other systems. You will participate in discussions with peers on how human activities and environmental changes impact the life of various species, which result in their extinction. You will develop key research skills in formulating research questions, analyzing data, and interpreting findings. You will also learn how to maintain a lab notebook of your observations and experiments.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Location: University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA
Cost: $967 registration fee; limited number of need-based scholarships available
Dates: June/July with dates based on course
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: K – 12 students (courses based on age group)
University of California Irvine (UCI) Chemistry Academy's Summer STEM Summit provides K – 12 students with opportunities to explore a subject of interest through theme-based sessions. You will have an immersive learning experience through supervised lab work and build skills in analytical techniques. In the Chemistry of Food course (ages 8 – 12), you will gain exposure to how chemistry processes are applied in diverse fields such as nutrition, agriculture, healthcare, and more. In the Forensic Science course (ages 13 – 17), you will learn how various scientific analytical methods of DNA analysis, handwriting, ballistics, and more are useful in investigating a crime. In the Cosmetic Chemistry course (ages 13 – 17), you will gain an understanding of the ingredients that are in a soap, perfume, skin lotion, and other types of cosmetic products.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Location: Wangenheim Middle School, San Diego, CA
Cost: $500; scholarships available
Dates: July 6 – 10
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Grades 6 – 8
UC San Diego's Sally Ride Science Academy hosts summer STEAM workshops for middle school students. In this course, you will explore computer science engineering through the basics of Python scripts. You will learn to use the Raspberry Pi Model B motherboard and build an app with computer accessories and electronic components. You will work on a simple hands-on project, learning about LEDs, potentiometers, and other circuit components to build an app such as a visual game, an intruder alarm, and more. By the end of the course, you will have gained an understanding of basic app designs.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Location: Duke University, Durham, NC
Cost: $6,050 (residential); $3,950 (commuter); partial or full scholarships offered through collaboration with local and state scholarship organizations
Dates: June 28 – July 9
Application Deadline: Till spots fill (typically half full by March 1)
Eligibility: Currently in grades 6 – 8; must have a 3.0+ GPA (check all requirements here)
If you are keen to explore a middle school science course which focuses on animal behaviour, you could consider the Animal Cognition Course, a Duke University pre-college program for middle school students. You will dive into case studies of birds, insects, dolphins, and other species to understand how they learn and deal with challenges, communicate, and more. You will participate in simple experimental sessions and activities to investigate their social behaviour. You will also participate in discussions on animal research and conservation. You will build skills in observation, scientific analysis, and ethical research. You will wrap up the course with a capstone project on the behaviour of a specific animal species through your research and supported by scientific evidence.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Location: Duke University, Durham, NC
Cost: $6,050 (residential); $3,950 (commuter); partial or full scholarships offered through collaboration with local and state scholarship organizations
Dates: June 13 – 24 (Session 1); July 13 – 24 (Session 3)
Application Deadline: Till spots fill (typically half full by March 1)
Eligibility: Currently in grades 6 – 8; must have a 3.0+ GPA (check all requirements here)
Middle school students keen to explore science with real-world STEM applications on a university campus could consider the Forensic Science course at Duke University. You will gain insight into the role of interdisciplinary sciences in the investigation of a crime scene. For example, you will learn how to analyze DNA from saliva/blood, test a chemical-based piece of evidence, investigate the trajectory of something thrown, and the like. By the end of the course, you will have gained an understanding of the applications of biology, chemistry, and physics to a crime scene. You will apply your knowledge and skills to a capstone project in which you will work on a simulated crime scene and present your findings, explaining the scientific methods underlying the results.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Maximum 18
Location: William & Mary School of Education, Williamsburg, VA
Cost: $269 registration fee
Dates: July 1 – 3
Application Deadline: June 21
Eligibility: Current rising 7 – 9 graders who are academically talented; must have a recommendation letter from a teacher/other academic professional (check eligibility criteria in the handbook)
The Life Science Lab Camp, hosted by the William & Mary School of Education, gives middle and high school students a chance to explore medical microbiology, zoology, and chemistry through hands-on activities. Across the three-day camp, you will study a different subject each day, starting with how microscopic organisms affect health, followed by animal behavior and ecological relationships, and ending with the molecular science of food. Depending on the course, you will work through case studies, experiments, and simulations that connect the science to real-world examples. You will also practise scientific reasoning, critical thinking, and problem-solving while working through the activities.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 10:1 student-to-teacher ratio
Location: Stonehill College, Easton, MA
Cost: $1,200 (day program); $1,500 (day and extended program)
Dates: July 6 – 24 (Session 1); July 27 – August 14 (Session 2)
Application Deadline: Rolling, till spots fill
Eligibility: Students currently in grades K – 8, ages 6 – 15
College Gate's College Academy provides K – 8 students with opportunities to explore a diverse range of STEM courses. During the three-week learning experience, you will participate in hands-on lab activities in pairs or in a small group of peers. As a middle schooler, you can pursue a course in physics to learn about the principles of physics, such as motion, gravity, energy, and more, which underlie structures such as a bridge or a Ferris wheel. A marine biology course provides insight into marine ecosystems with lab work including dissections of marine specimens. Other science course options include chemistry and forensic science. Explore all options for middle school students here.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Location: Virtual
Cost: $6,380 (expenses for books, course materials, etc are not included); need-based financial aid offered to U.S. and international students for tuition and required books
Dates: August – June
Application Deadline: Rolling; typically applications are in the fall/winter before the desired academic year of entry
Eligibility: High-achieving middle school students in grades 7 and 8 (typically you should apply when in grade 6 or ages 11 – 12); inquiry-based Physics (JP001) or placement is a prerequisite
Stanford Online High School’s Foundations in Science: Energy and Matter course explores energy and matter through physics, chemistry, and biology. You will attend online seminar-style sessions and carry out simple experiments at home while learning how these three fields connect. The course also teaches you how to develop a research question and build a research idea using scientific reasoning. You will examine common misconceptions in science and use them to practise critical thinking. The course awards 5 credits per semester.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Location: Virtual
Cost: $6,380 (expenses for books, course materials, etc are not included); need-based financial aid offered to U.S. and international students for tuition and required books
Dates: August – June
Application Deadline: Rolling; typically applications are in the fall/winter before the desired academic year of entry
Eligibility: High-achieving middle school students in grades 7 and 8 (typically you should apply when in grade 6 or ages 11 – 12); enrollment in Prealgebra (JM007) is a prerequisite
Stanford Online High School’s Inquiry-based Physics course introduces middle school students to the fundamentals of physics through discussions, experiments, and problem-solving. You will study topics such as Newtonian dynamics, energy, and momentum while learning how to interpret graphs and carry out basic laboratory work. The course also uses interactive discussions to help you connect physics concepts with the problems you are studying. Along the way, you will work on communicating your ideas clearly and analysing physical situations using basic physics principles.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Location: Multiple locations across MA
Cost: Starts at $699 for tuition and $699 residential fee (one-week courses)
Dates: Vary based on course (check dates here)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising 6 – 8 graders
Boston Leadership Institute's STEM programs give high school and pre-high school students opportunities to explore subjects beyond standard curricula, with residential and commuter options. You will participate in hands-on activities and work with peers on projects. In the Chemistry of Cooking course, you will learn basic chemistry principles and apply them to practical cooking skills. If physics interests you, you could take up the Hands-on Physics course, in which you will work with a diverse range of objects such as eggs, prisms, paper, and more, to learn the concepts of energy, light, motion, and the like. Another option is the Marine Biology course, in which you will learn scientific methods to study marine ecosystems.