15 Summer Courses for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 1 day ago
- 9 min read
Enrolling in an online course is a great way to explore your interests and deepen your knowledge about specific subjects. If you’re a middle school student, you can consider opting for an introductory online course to learn the fundamentals of a certain field or subject.
Participation in such courses is your application for high school programs and advanced courses in the same field. Moreover, it also enables you to start work on independent research, startup projects and explore careers in your chosen field at an early age.Â
While plenty of online courses are available, courses offered by established universities and institutions play a vital role in helping you build a first-rate portfolio! Based on your area of interest, you can consider picking from the following list of 15 summer courses offered by reputed institutions.
Cost: Free ($219 to earn a certificate)
Eligibility: Everyone is eligible to apply for this course.
Course Dates: Self-paced (Approx. 6-18 hours per week for 12 weeks)
Application Deadline: Rolling basis.
The Introduction to Computer Science course by Harvard is an entry-level course that will teach you how to use algorithmic thinking to resolve problems. The curriculum includes foundational concepts like abstraction, data structures, security, web development, and others. The course relies on standard programming languages like C, Python, Javascript, and HTML to introduce students to the art of programming.Â
Based on video tutorials, you will be tasked with solving problem sets related to real-world fields like biology, gaming, or cryptocurrency. To earn a certificate, you will have to earn a satisfactory score in at least 9 of the allotted problem sets.Â
Cost: Free ($299 to earn a certificate)
Eligibility: Everyone is eligible to apply for this course.
Course Dates: Self-paced (Approx. 3-5 hours per week for 5 weeks)
Application Deadline: Rolling basis.
The Foundations of Finance course taught by faculty at the University of Cambridge helps students understand important concepts in finance. While the course generally caters to professionals working in finance, it is designed in a way to also benefit beginners, including students.Â
In the course, you will develop a basic understanding of subjects like money & capital, cash flow, interest & return, financial reporting, and risk management. The course also involves the study of existing case studies and interviews to understand the practical applications of the above concepts.Â
Cost: Free ($249 to earn a certificate)
Eligibility: Everyone is eligible to apply for this course.
Course Dates: Self-paced (Approx. 4-6 hours per week for 6 weeks)
Application Deadline: Rolling basis.
The Computer Science 101 course by Stanford is another established introductory course to help beginners understand the basics of computer science. The lessons help you explore a variety of topics, including computer codes, digital images, computer hardware, computer software, internet, computer security, structured data, and more!
The course doesn’t require you to pre-install any software, since most of the teaching is conducted through the web browser. By efficiently simplifying complex concepts for a zero-prior-experience audience, the course makes the world of computer science feel less daunting.Â
Cost: Free (Rs. 2480 to earn a certificate)
Eligibility: Everyone is eligible to apply for this course.
Course Dates: Self-paced.
Application Deadline: Rolling basis.
Yale’s Introduction to Psychology course is a beginner’s course that deals with basic concepts in psychology.Â
The readings and lectures develop your knowledge of subjects like the human brain, history of psychology, psychoanalysis, behaviorism, mental health, and other fundamental concepts. Students who take the course and do the associated readings develop a solid background in psychology.Â
Cost: $1,795
Eligibility: Students aged 13 and above
Application Deadline: Varies as per cohort, more details here.Â
Becoming An Entrepreneur hosted by Georgetown University caters to students aged 13 and above who aspire to become entrepreneurs. In a span of 20-30 hours, the course will guide you through the essentials of building both an idea and a business. You can expect to learn more about identifying the needs of the market, targeting customers, curating a business pitch, creating a business plan, and fluently communicating your product stories.Â
In addition to gaining theoretical knowledge, you will also explore networking opportunities and learn the skills to build an efficient support team. Finally, completing the course will also set the ground for you to pursue high school programs and college majors in the field of entrepreneurship.
Cost: Free ($299 to earn a certificate)
Eligibility: Everyone is eligible to apply for this course.
Course Dates: Self-paced. (Approx. 10-30 hours per week for 7 weeks)
Application Deadline: Rolling basis.
Harvard’s Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with Python offers an introduction to foundational concepts of artificial intelligence. Through hands-on projects and exposure to theoretical concepts, students deepen conceptual understanding about graph search algorithms, probability theory, neural networks, Markov models, and more!
The course is self-paced, but requires a reasonable investment of time. On an average, the amount of time ranges from 10-30 hours each week for a period of 7 weeks. While no previous exposure to Artificial Intelligence is required to complete the course, prior experience in Python is a prerequisite to attend the course.Â
Cost: Free ($225 to earn a certificate)
Eligibility: Everyone is eligible to apply for this course.
Course Dates: Self-paced. (Approx. 3-4 hours per week for 4 weeks)
Application Deadline: Rolling basis.
Columbia’s Introduction to Corporate Finance is an online course that introduces students to key subjects like the time value of money, cost of capital, capital budgeting, and more. If enrolled, you will be encouraged to use your understanding of the subjects to value firms, bonds, and stocks.Â
Students attending the course will be expected to be aware of basic Accounting concepts and skills in managing spreadsheets. While the course is usually taken up by graduate students looking to pursue a master's in the field, the nature of the course remains introductory and, thus, open to ambitious middle school students.Â
Cost: Free ($29 to earn a certificate)
Eligibility: Everyone is eligible to apply for this course.
Course Dates: Self-paced. (Approx. 38 hours)
Application Deadline: Rolling basis.Â
The Introduction to Mathematical Thinking Course by Stanford is an online course that you can enroll in and learn at your own pace. Through 9 modules, you will explore mathematical concepts like logical combinators, equivalence, implication, quantifiers, reading formulas, and more!
While some intermediate experience is recommended before taking the course, the initial module takes care of the problem through background and introductory reading assignments. After taking the video lectures in each module, you will be expected to complete assignments, problem sets, and test flight problems related to the subjects. The course also requires you to score passing grades in the problem sets and test flight problems to be eligible to earn a certificate.
Cost: $799
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-12
Course Dates: Summer I: June 9 - July 6Summer II: July 14 - Aug 10
Application Deadline: TBD
The Acting for TV & Film Certificate Program offers 3 online courses for teenage students in grades 6 to 12. If enrolled in the program, you will explore the skills and techniques to excel at acting for TV & Film, auditioning for TV & Film, and navigating the acting business. Each program session lasts for four weeks, during which students interact with the expert faculty members in online video sessions.Â
The program is also self-paced, meaning you can view recorded video lectures at your convenience. You will also work on projects, which, once completed, can serve as a strong addition to your portfolio. As a participant under the age of 18, you will also receive a high school arts credit upon completion of the program. Â
Cost: $799
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-12
Course Dates: Summer I: June 9 - July 6Summer II: July 14 - Aug 10
Application Deadline: TBD
The Short Fiction Writing Certificate Program by Interlochen Arts is made up of 3 online courses, conducted in a span of 4 weeks. The first course serves as an introduction to writing well-crafted fiction. In the next two courses, you will focus on improving your writing structure and making your stories more vivid.Â
If enrolled, you will be in constant interaction with your faculty through hour-long video sessions, engaging in discussions and feedback. The projects curated in the 4-week period are known to enhance your writing portfolio. As a teenage participant below the age of 18, you will receive a high school arts credit on completing the program.Â
Cost: Different rates depending on the time period to complete the course, details here. (Option to audit the course for free available)
Eligibility: Everyone is eligible to apply for this course.
Course Dates: Self-paced. (Approx. 26 hours)
Application Deadline: Rolling basis.Â
Python Basics by the University of Michigan is an online course to introduce beginners to programming in Python. The course serves as the introduction to the Python 3 Programming Specialization, a 5-course series. Through four modules, you will learn about data structures, conditional statements, and loops. In particular, the module content will delve into sequences & iteration, booleans & conditionals, and sequence mutation & accumulation patterns.Â
By the end of the course, you will have upgraded your programming and gained exposure in creating drawings and debugging. The learnings will also set the ground for you to proceed to the next course of the 5-course series. Â
Cost: Free ($49 to earn a certificate)
Eligibility: Everyone is eligible to apply for this course.
Course Dates: Self-paced. (Approx. 33 hours)
Application Deadline: Rolling basis.Â
Yale’s Financial Markets is an online course designed to cater to beginners eager to learn the fundamentals of financial markets. The course is divided into 7 modules, which may be completed in approximately 33 hours.Â
If enrolled, you will explore subjects like behavioral finance, forecasting, pricing, debt, history of financial markets, recession, regulation, and more! Upon the completion of the course, interested students can consider taking up intermediate courses in the field with future opportunities and majors in mind.
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Students aged 13 and above.
Course Dates: Self-paced.
Application Deadline: Rolling basis.
Yale’s Foundations of Modern Social Theory, a part of the Open Yale Courses initiative, is an online course that introduces students to influential works of social thought between the start of the modern era and the 1920s. The works of Karl Marx, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Max Weber, Adam Smith, and other influential thinkers are analysed, while keeping in mind the social and political context of their times.Â
The course is divided into 25 recorded video lectures and an array of reading assignments. However, Open Yale Courses, including the present course, do not allow students to earn course credits or interact with the faculty.Â
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Students aged 13 and above.
Course Dates: Self-paced.
Application Deadline: Rolling basis.
Introduction to Theory of Literature by Yale is an online course that offers a review of major developments in literary theory in the twentieth century. Taught by distinguished academician Prof. Paul H. Fry, the course is divided into 26 recorded video lectures and requires participants to engage in intense reading sessions.Â
By attending the course, you can expect to gain a better understanding of the meaning, purpose, and interpretation of literature through a study of social and philosophical perspectives. However, the course will not help you earn any course credits and thus, only serves as a means to increase your knowledge base.Â
Cost: Free ($59 to earn a certificate)
Eligibility: Everyone is eligible to apply for this course.
Course Dates: Self-paced. (Approx. 3-5 hours for 6 weeks)
Application Deadline: Rolling basis.Â
Instructed by a faculty member of Berklee College of Music, the Introduction to Music Theory course caters to beginners and experienced musicians alike. If enrolled, you will be introduced to key concepts in music theory through six lessons. These lessons will teach you to construct major and minor scales, create chord progressions, identify tonal centers and intervals, and other foundational concepts.
While experience of playing an instrument aids your learning, it is not a compulsory requirement to take the course. Finally, you will also have the opportunity to network with the students of Berklee College of Music and gain advice about future studies and opportunities.Â
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. 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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