10 Summer Sociology Programs for Middle School Students in Boston
- Stephen Turban
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
Studying sociology is a way for you to understand human societies and social behavior. If you are a middle schooler in Boston curious about this subject, you can participate in a summer program. Combining rigorous academics with hands-on activities, you deepen your knowledge of the subject. You can also use this opportunity to build field-specific skills.
You can also build your network as you meet with industry professionals who introduce you to different career pathways. Working with other students on projects strengthens your collaborative and communication skills. If these benefits intrigue you, here are some summer programs you can choose from.
10 Summer Sociology Programs for Middle School Students in Boston
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Dates: 8 weeks, varies by cohort
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 8
Students looking to learn about sociology through hands-on research can opt for Lumiere’s Junior Explorer Program. The program pairs you with PhD mentors from prestigious universities, like Harvard, Oxford, MIT, and Princeton, who are experts in sociology and related subjects. Conducting original research enables you to gain specialized knowledge in sociology. Over the course of the program, you learn to read and interpret academic literature, build research questions, and create outputs such as a high school-level research paper or case study, which enables you to build crucial skills as you work on your research. The program helps you build scientific communication skills through feedback and writing coaching sessions. Students who wish to publish their research in academic journals can opt for the Junior Research and Publication Program.
2. EXPLO 360°
Acceptance Rate: Not specified
Location: Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA
Cost: $6,295 (overnight) or $4,045 (day); financial aid may be available
Dates: Session 1: June 28 – July 11 (overnight) or June 29 – 10 (day)Session 2: July 12 – 25 (overnight) or July 13 – 24 (day)
Application Deadline: To be announced
Eligibility: Rising 7th – 9th graders
EXPLO 360° offers various courses related to the social sciences. In this program, you pick 2 workshops and 2 electives of your choice that you study throughout the program. While workshops are collaborative and involve completing projects, electives allow you to develop practical field-specific skills. Students interested in sociology can opt for the Social Psychology track. In this elective, you learn how society, social interaction, and social norms influence human thinking. The course introduces you to the social factors that drive discrimination, prejudice, and bias by analyzing famous experiments. You discover different personality types and how social norms influence society as a whole.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Location: VirtualCost: Varies; financial aid available
Dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks (on weekends) during the spring cohort and 25 hours over 2 weeks (on weekdays) during the summer cohort.
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8
Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers program is an interdisciplinary program where you can learn sociology and technology. You begin by gaining foundational knowledge of AI and machine learning. In the theoretical component, you learn topics such as Python, data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. You then apply your knowledge to the practical component. This project must solve a real-world sociology problem using technology. In the past, students have built a machine-learning model to classify music genres and a machine-learning algorithm to provide a custom list of educational resources based on selected specifications.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: July 20 – 24
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Students in grades 5 – 12
Students interested in learning sociology alongside STEAM subjects can opt for the Dinah Whipple STEAM Academy. You study different science topics and sociology concepts through explorative hands-on activities. Past projects have involved exploring the world around us and studying how people and communities make choices using limited time and money. This sociological component informs how design and engineering solutions are built for everyday life. You learn to develop real-world solutions that balance cost, efficiency, and sustainability. By the end of the program, you will have completed a community project and provided a scientific explanation for it. The program also teaches you about the Black experience in the US, the origins of African empires, and prominent Black figures in American history.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: Online
Cost: $464
Dates: To be announced
Application Deadline: To be announced
Eligibility: Students in grades 7 – 11 who meet CTY-level verbal scores
This course by Johns Hopkins CTY examines healthcare from a systems and social perspective. You study the physical, mental, and social aspects of health as well as key parts of the healthcare system to understand their functioning. You learn about the sustainable innovation happening today through examples from culture and healthcare. As part of the practical component, you examine a current problem and devise a solution using systems and social studies. You discover approaches that encourage the adoption of positive health behaviors, promote the utilization of available services, and facilitate the use of remote patient monitoring systems.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Location: Deerfield, MA
Cost: $7,000 (boarding program) or $6,000 (day program)
Dates: July 8 – 26
Application Deadline: On a rolling basis
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8
This program by Deerfield Academy offers project-based learning opportunities for middle schoolers. You explore courses in various subjects, including sociology and social studies. Students interested in this subject can opt for the Hidden Mysteries in American History or Future Cities: Designing for People & Planet. Both tracks invite you to explore human life and society. In Future Cities, you study urban communities and society, learning to design a city that is accessible and welcoming to a diverse population. Both tracks involve hands-on research and data-led thinking. The program fosters your skills in collaboration, communication, and creativity.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Location: Online
Cost: $1,795; scholarships are available
Dates: Various sessions of different lengths are available
Application Deadline: Varies according to session
Eligibility: Students aged 13 and older
This program blends your understanding of psychology with sociology. You examine the social factors that influence human psychology and your understanding of our social world. The program focuses on social psychology and the concept of the ‘self:’ its components, functions, and developmental process. You examine each kind of social influence, including compliance, obedience, and persuasion. For the final project, you examine your use of social media and how it affects your sense of well-being. Furthermore, the course introduces you to careers such as psychologist, human resources professional, political strategist, PR specialist, and much more.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: Online
Cost: $700
Dates: To be announced
Application Deadline: One week before the program
Eligibility: Students in grades 7 – 11 who meet the Emerald-tier eligibility criteria
Students who want to make a difference in society through entrepreneurship can opt for this program. You study urgent social problems as well as how they are addressed through innovation and capital. You examine case studies, hear from entrepreneurs, and work in a group to create a social enterprise. At the end of the program, you present your business plan for a social problem that inspires you to act. In addition to academics, you prepare for high school and college life.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Location: Online
Cost: $1,895 (enrichment course fees) or $3,995 (college credit course fees)
Dates: Multi-length courses available throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies according to session
Eligibility: Students aged 13 years and older
Although a course on marketing, this course allows you to explore human behavior and decision-making. You gain an understanding of consumer insights based on data and learn to build a customer persona. You learn to use traditional and digital marketing to influence consumer behavior and drive brand loyalty. You learn to use data and marketing strategies. Professionals introduce you to careers as a copywriter, digital analyst, communications specialist, digital content creator, and more. In the final project, you study a brand of your choice, identify the target audience, and develop a strategy to reach them.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: Online
Cost: $3,200; need-based financial aid is available
Dates: June 15 – 26 (Session 1)
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Students in grades 8 – 11
Ambitious students can choose from a range of rigorous programs offered by Stanford. The Sociology of Inequality course may be relevant for students looking to study sociology and social inequalities. You discover legal reforms and their impact on society alongside a deep understanding of complex social structures. You also study how redlining and mass incarceration have led to existing racial inequality and the role of the corporate veil in economic growth at the expense of the disadvantaged. These topics covered through lectures, discussions, and field observations strengthen your research skills. You also create a presentation on a kind of social inequality that interests you.
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 where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.