9 Summer Sociology Programs for Middle School Students in California
- Stephen Turban
- 2 hours ago
- 6 min read
Middle schoolers in California curious about the science of human societies can participate in summer programs. As you study and develop an understanding of human societies, you not only expand your knowledge but also build relevant skills. These programs engage you with a challenging curriculum and extracurricular activities.
You also meet and connect with industry professionals as well as like-minded peers. They become part of your network as you build a career in sociology. Here are some programs in California that you can opt for.
9 Summer Sociology Programs for Middle School Students in California
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Location: VirtualCost: Varies; financial aid available
Dates: 8 weeks, varies by cohort
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 8
Students who wish to conduct original sociology research can consider Lumiere’s Junior Explorer Program. Here, you are paired with PhD mentors from various prestigious universities, like Harvard, Oxford, MIT, and Princeton, who are experts in sociology and other related subjects. Conducting hands-on research allows you to gain specialized knowledge in psychology. Along the way, as you conduct research, 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. Feedback and writing coaching sessions help you build scientific communication skills. Students who wish to publish their research in academic journals can opt for the Junior Research and Publication Program.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Location: San Jose, CA
Cost: Ranges from $740 – $870 depending on the course and session
Dates: June 22 – July 2 (session 1), July 6 – 17 (session 2), or July 20 – 31
Application Deadline: First-come, first-served basis
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 and 7 who are NYC residents
Harker’s summer program allows middle schoolers to get a taste of a range of subjects, including sociology. You can opt for the Introduction to Psychology (How the Brain Works) track, which teaches you psychology as well as sociology. You study brain anatomy, abnormal psychology, cognitive psychology, and social psychology. You also conduct original research on a topic of your interest. For the final presentation, you compile your research to inform and educate the public about your chosen mental health disorder. In addition to academics, you also choose from different sports activities.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Location: Virtual
Cost: 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
Students interested in an interdisciplinary program that teaches you sociology as well as technology can choose Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers program. The program begins by teaching you the basics of AI and machine learning. This foundational knowledge covers diverse topics such as Python, data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. You then complete a practical project based on what you have learned so far. This project must solve a real-world sociology problem using technology. 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: Online
Cost: $464
Dates: To be announced
Application Deadline: To be announced
Eligibility: Students in grades 7 – 11 who meet CTY-level verbal scores
Students interested in sociology related to healthcare can consider this program by Johns Hopkins CTY. Hearing from healthcare professionals, you learn about the physical, mental, and social aspects of healthcare. You also learn about the key components of healthcare, such as providers, hospitals, medications, devices, and insurance, and how they function. After learning about contemporary sustainable innovation by studying culture, systems, and healthcare, you apply the topics to a practical project. You propose a solution for a systemic and social healthcare challenge. The course introduces you to approaches to 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: 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
This program by Northwestern CTD blends sociology with business. You study contemporary social challenges and learn how entrepreneurs innovate to solve them. You analyze case studies and learn about entrepreneurs in the field. You also work on a group project where you build a business idea that solves a real-world social challenge. At the end of the program, you pitch the plan to the class. In addition, you receive support with preparing for high school and college academics.
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
This program by Georgetown University teaches you to apply the study of social behavior for business growth. You learn about the marketing mix and how traditional and digital marketing techniques influence consumer behavior. By studying the target audience and using data-driven insights, you build a consumer persona. For the final project, you study a brand of your choice, locate the target audience, and develop a marketing and content strategy. You also discover career pathways as a copywriter, digital analyst, communications specialist, digital content creator, and more.
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
Students looking for a sociology program by Stanford can opt for the Sociology of Inequality track. Here, you encounter human society in terms of racial and socioeconomic inequalities. Through an examination of legal reforms, you uncover the complexity of social structures and their impact. The program introduces you to how redlining and mass incarceration have resulted in racial inequality and how the corporate veil led to significant economic growth at the expense of those at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder. You participate in interactive lectures, discussions, and field observations. Thus, you gain a holistic view of inequality in sociology as you learn to think critically and conduct research.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Location: Online
Cost: $200
Dates: July 13 – 17
Application Deadline: First-come, first-served basis
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8
Sally Ride Academy offers week-long virtual programs for middle schoolers. This program on urban planning blends architecture with a study of urban social life. You study sustainability and modern as well as ancient cities. You also research population dynamics and case studies to understand urban planning. Over the course of the program, you build a city plan for a modern social life through sketches and free software.
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 by the University of Notre Dame introduces you to psychology from a social influences perspective. With a focus on social psychology, you delve into the concept of the ‘self’, its components, functions, and development process. You study how different social factors affect human psychology and our understanding of society. The course teaches you about different social influences, including compliance, obedience, and persuasion. For the final project, you analyze your social media use and how it affects your sense of well-being. Furthermore, the course introduces you to careers as a psychologist, human resources professional, political strategist, PR specialist, and much more.
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.