15 Social Sciences Summer Schools for 15 Year Olds

TL;DR

On this page, you’ll find social sciences summer schools that accept 15-year-olds, from economics courses at UCLA and Georgetown to paid museum internships and archaeology field schools. Several options are free or even pay you, while others charge tuition and offer university-style classes, residential stays, or college credit. The Smithsonian’s NMNH Summer High School Internship, for example, paid a $5,600 stipend in 2026 for eight weeks of museum work. Immerse Education’s Academic Insights pathway offers Economics for students your age.

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Participating in a social science program can be an excellent way to understand how people, societies, and the world around you work. It is a diverse subject that can lead you to careers in various fields, including economics, anthropology, archaeology, history, journalism, civics, political science, psychology, and more. 

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Given that universities host many social science summer schools, attending a program gives you exposure to the discipline at a college level. It gives you a taste of being an undergrad by immersing you in university-level lectures and seminars, research projects with university professors and students, activities where you use campus resources, field trips, and more. This experience can help you adapt to a college’s environment and workload when you become a degree-seeking student there.

What can you gain from attending a social sciences summer school at 15?

By participating in a social science summer school at 15, you will have the chance to start developing an advanced skill set without having to rush. Based on the program you attend, you could be analyzing economic data, researching and writing historical papers, producing news articles, examining archaeological artifacts, or doing something else that gives you an idea of working in the social sciences. 

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Starting early gives you plenty of time to explore your interests in a discipline like social science. It provides you the opportunity to decide for yourself if you actually enjoy studying or working in the field before you have to make any big decisions regarding your subjects, university, or future career. Besides, you will meet students your age who share your interest in social science and discuss how the concepts you learn connect to everyday life.

15 Social Sciences Summer Schools for 15 Year Olds

1. Immerse Education's Economics Summer School

Location: Cambridge, London, and Oxford

Cost/Stipend: Varies; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; an average of 7 participants per class

Dates: 2 weeks during the summer

Application Deadline: Multiple cohorts with rolling admissions

Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school; open to international students

Immerse Education's Academic Insights pathway in Economics gives you a focused, two-week immersion into economic theory and real-world applications, taught by expert tutors associated with top universities and academic institutions. The program aims to deepen your understanding of fundamental economic principles, global markets, and policy-making. Across lively seminars, workshops, and discussions, you'll explore core concepts such as market behaviour, inflation, trade, inequality, fiscal and monetary policy, and how these forces shape global economies.

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Beyond the classroom, excursions and cultural activities help you connect lessons to the world around you, while living and studying alongside peers from around the globe adds an international perspective. Completion earns you a certificate of achievement and, in some cases, optional UCAS points if you're looking toward UK university applications. You can find more details about the application here.

Why it stands out: It blends concentrated academic development with an immersive international summer experience, helping you deepen your economics knowledge while engaging with peers in diverse cities worldwide.

2. UCLA Economics Summer Precollege Focus Series: Principles of Economics

Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA (commuter only)
Cost: Total estimated fees of $3,186 for high school students (2026); need- and merit-based Summer Scholars Support available for eligible California students
Dates: June 22nd to July 10th, 2026; 2027 dates not yet posted
Application Deadline: June 12th, 2026, with rolling review from February 18th
Eligibility: 9th to 12th graders who are at least 15 by the first day of Summer Sessions and have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher; open to international students, who may need to show English proficiency

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This three-week program helps you expand your knowledge of critical economic issues affecting the United States and the world. You’ll study economic policy issues and principles of financial analysis, with topics such as price ceilings and floors, rent control, costs of taxation, and international trade. 

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You’ll learn through lectures by UCLA faculty, followed by workshops and discussion sessions led by UCLA Economics Peer Learning Facilitators. The program counts as Economics 1, worth 4 units, and you’ll receive a letter grade on completion. Along the way, you’ll build data analysis skills and learn to think like an economist.

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Why it stands out: Each week, you’ll work in a small team to prepare PowerPoint presentations based on case studies from your coursework.

3. Lumiere Research Scholar Program

Location: Remote, you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.

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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 Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! 

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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 check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.

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Why it stands out: You get 1-1 mentorship with a Ph.D. mentor and produce an independent research project by the end.

4. Georgetown University Economics Policy Academy

Location: Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
Cost: $7,085 (commuter) or $9,085 (residential, including meals) for 2026
Dates: June 28th to July 17th, 2026; 2027 dates not yet posted
Application Deadline: Summer 2027 offerings and applications open November 16th, 2026
Eligibility: High school students; open to international students

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Georgetown’s Economics Policy Academy explores how states and other governing bodies interact with markets, through the lens of both economics and political science. You’ll study topics such as globalization, poverty and inequality, the welfare state, development economics, behavioural economics, foreign aid, and the economics of conflict. 

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You’ll apply these theories to problems in the US and abroad, assessing situations and evaluating policy solutions. Weekdays combine lectures, guest speakers, visits to local economic policy organisations, and discussion sections. You’ll also create a research-based poster tied to a program theme and receive a Certificate of Participation.

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Why it stands out: You will leave the program with knowledge of the impact that economic policies have on some of the important aspects of people’s lives, like price interventions and regulations.

5. NMNH Summer High School Internship

Location: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC
Stipend: 5,600(700 a week), plus lunch and a SmarTrip card if needed
Dates: June 23rd to August 14th, 2026, Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Application Deadline: Applications ran from February 16th to March 20th, 2026; 2027 dates not yet posted
Eligibility: Current high school students aged 15 to 18 (grades 9 to 12) who write and speak English fluently and are US citizens or permanent residents; not open to international students

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In this internship, you’ll discover what it’s like to work at a museum, with placements across departments at the National Museum of Natural History. Many interns explore both science and non-science museum work, with projects listed on the NMNH program website as they’re confirmed. 

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You’ll spend some days on your project with your supervisor and others on enrichment activities. Along the way, you’ll learn how to engage public audiences on museum work and meet other high school students who share your interests. Your application includes short statements of interest, a recommendation letter, and a résumé.

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Why it stands out: The internship engages you in additional enrichment activities, such as field trips, behind-the-scenes tours, career readiness skill development sessions, and more.

6. Denver Museum of Nature & Science Teen Science Scholars: Anthropology and Conservation

Location: Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver, CO
Stipend: $1,803 (2026), plus daily lunch vouchers
Dates: June 2nd to 26th, 2026 (Session 1)
Application Deadline: The 2026 application has closed; interviews ran from mid-March to early April
Eligibility: High school sophomores or juniors aged 14 to 17 during the internship; out-of-state students may apply but must be in Denver for the program, and no housing is provided; the program is intended for students from underserved or underrepresented communities or schools

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Denver Museum of Nature & Science’s Teen Science Scholars program selects about 20 interns each year across several tracks, and the one that best suits your interest in the social sciences is Anthropology and Conservation. During the first week, you’ll get an intensive introduction to museum conservation, practising safe handling, examination, technical photography, and written documentation while completing a group conservation project. 

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You’ll also join a multi-year project to deinstall the museum’s North American Indian Cultures Hall by moving and documenting Indigenous belongings that have been on display for decades. Later, you’ll process and select collections for museum programming and shadow museum educators ahead of the Teen Science Scholar Showcase.

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Why it stands out: You will familiarize yourself with research and education collections and the role they play in educating museum visitors.

7. The New York Historical Student Historian Internship Program

Location: The New York Historical, New York City, NY
Stipend: Stipend offered on successful completion; check the program page for the current amount
Dates: Summer cohort; 2027 dates not yet posted
Application Deadline: Check the program page for the current deadline
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10 to 12 who live in the New York City metro area

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Joining The New York Historical as a student historian, your main duty will be to put together digital projects using the institution’s resources to educate the public. The program introduces you to the museum, library, digital humanities, and history fields so that you have the knowledge required to work on the digital projects. 

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Each year, the program’s theme changes based on the museum’s ongoing work, with a recent example being Our Composite Nation: Frederick Douglass’ America. The program is worth considering if you are thinking of careers in research, writing, journalism, history, and similar fields.

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Why it stands out: Even though you will be working as part of a group, you can expect to do a lot of research and writing during your time in the program while strengthening your historical thinking, communication, and digital media skills.

8. Hoover Institution History Skills Academy

Location: Hoover Institution, Stanford University, Stanford, CA (residential only, in Stanford dorms)
Cost: Listed on The Concord Review’s registration page
Dates: Two weeks in the summer; 2027 details not yet posted
Application Deadline: In 2026, early applications closed December 31st, 2025, and regular applications closed February 28th, 2026
Eligibility: All secondary school students; international eligibility not specified

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By participating in Hoover Institution’s History Skills Academy, you will learn the best methods to design, research, and write a substantive historical research paper using materials from the Hoover Library and Archives. You can propose any history topic that interests you, and the academy suggests browsing the Library and Archives’ online collections and guides for inspiration. 

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The program runs in partnership with The Concord Review, which publishes exceptional historical research papers by high school students, so you can submit your finished paper for possible publication. The Concord Review also provides its own trained teachers and curriculum for the program.

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Why it stands out: Given that this is a residential program with accommodation in Stanford dorms, you will also have access to the Stanford University library for your research needs.

9. American University Summer Civics Institute on American Principles and Debates

Location: American University, Washington, DC
Cost: Free
Dates: June 21st to 28th, 2026
Application Deadline: April 15th, 2026
Eligibility: Current high school students; international eligibility not specified

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American University’s Lincoln Scholars Program and Political Theory Institute host this free, week-long college experience seminar on major debates and texts in the American political tradition. You’ll meet each morning in small, conversation-based seminars with American University faculty, with dedicated study time in the afternoons. 

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Readings include texts such as the Declaration of Independence and Abraham Lincoln’s On the Perpetuation of Our Political Institutions. The program also includes field trips and guest lectures related to Washington, D.C., and American history. As a result, you will become more skilled in analyzing complex texts and get a better idea of what college work is like.

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Why it stands out: With the seminars encouraging discussion among participants with different perspectives, you will develop your confidence in presenting your opinions clearly.

10. Annenberg Youth Academy for Media and Civic Engagement

Location: USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Not listed on the program page
Dates: Three weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: April 19th (2026)
Eligibility: High school students who live and attend school in communities surrounding USC’s University Park and Health Sciences campuses, such as Boyle Heights, Compton, East Los Angeles, Huntington Park, Koreatown, South Gate, and Watts

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This is an intensive three-week program for a cohort of 26 students that places you in courses mirroring first-year college classes in journalism, communication, and civic engagement. As a participant, you will strengthen skills such as writing, critical thinking, public speaking, interviewing, and multimedia production. 

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You’ll also learn how media shapes public conversations and influences communities. The program additionally introduces you to some of the undergraduate degrees and career pathways you can consider with an interest in media and journalism.

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Why it stands out: You will get to network with the university’s academics and industry professionals who are playing a crucial role in the way the fields of communication, journalism, and public relations are evolving.

11. IPF/EIU High School Journalism Camp

Location: Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL
Cost: Free; housing, meals, and tuition are funded by the Illinois Press Foundation and EIU alumni giving
Dates: June 21st to 27th, 2026 (six-day residential camp)
Application Deadline: May 29th, 2026; spots may fill before the deadline
Eligibility: High school students who have completed at least their freshman year, including graduating seniors

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This camp is aimed at students with an interest in journalism, media, and storytelling, giving you an inside look at how modern newsrooms operate. You’ll learn the entire news process, from gathering and verifying information and using multiple sources to writing, editing, designing layouts, and publishing your work. 

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Professional journalists lead most of the instruction, and you’ll complete your first story by the end of the first day. Reporting trips around Charleston, which have included the Ernie Pyle Museum and Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site, help you develop story ideas. By the end of the week, you’ll have written multiple news stories, taken news photographs, and posted content to a news website.

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Why it stands out: The camp prepares you for today’s media industry, with an emphasis on digital journalism, ethical reporting, and news literacy.

12. University of Missouri-St. Louis Geospatial Science Summer Camp

Location: University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
Cost: Free
Dates: June 29th to July 2nd, 2026, 1 to 5 p.m.
Application Deadline: May 29th, 2026
Eligibility: 9th to 12th graders from the Greater St. Louis Area with a minimum current or cumulative GPA of 3.0 who have not attended the camp before

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This camp introduces you to geospatial science, a fast-growing field used in areas such as environmental science, urban planning, national security, and data science. You’ll create your first digital map on day one, then collect GPS and field data with tools such as Survey123 and watch drone demonstrations. 

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You’ll also build an interactive ArcGIS StoryMap and try virtual reality equipment in the lab. On the third day, you and your family can attend an NGA geospatial career pathways event with UMSL faculty and program leaders.

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Why it stands out: You will also gain exposure to the different careers you can choose by pursuing higher education in geospatial science.

13. The College of New Jersey Summer Field School in Archaeology

Location: The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ
Cost: $1,474 to participate without college credit (2026); credit-seeking students register through TCNJ’s summer programs
Dates: July 27th to August 8th, 2026, Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students from high school (rising juniors and seniors) to graduate school; no housing is provided

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This two-week field school introduces you to the basic methods archaeologists use in excavation and recording. You’ll learn surveying, mapping, field walking, photography, and excavation, along with post-excavation analysis and curation of artifacts. 

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The first two days take place in the classroom, covering historical archaeology, ceramics, and artifact analysis. For the rest of the course, you’ll put everything into practice by digging at a real archaeological site on TCNJ’s campus. The 2026 field school is led by Dr. George Leader, president of the Archaeological Society of New Jersey.

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Why it stands out: You will form a better understanding of TCNJ’s William Green Plantation Project and its background.

14. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Public Archaeology Institute

Location: Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Williamsburg, VA
Cost: Free
Dates: June 22nd to 26th, 2026 (Session 1, for students entering grades 9 and 10); Session 2 for students entering grades 11 and 12
Application Deadline: 2026 applications have closed
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9 to 12

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The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation offers high school students like you the opportunity to work alongside archaeologists through its Public Archaeology Institute. You’ll begin with about eight hours of class time on the history of Custis Square and Williamsburg’s Public Hospital, along with artifact types such as ceramics, architectural materials, faunal remains, and small finds. 

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Following this, you’ll practise archaeological field methods, site recording, and interpretation of findings through fieldwork and conversations with visitors. Each session ends with a showcase in which you guide your own archaeological site tour, sharing the site’s history, project objectives, and observations.

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Why it stands out: Through your involvement in the program, you will learn how the links between documentary and archaeological evidence help form a unified representation of history.

15. Missouri University of Science and Technology Mining the Mind Camp

Location: Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO
Cost: 650($ 50 non-refundable)
Dates: June 14th to 18th, 2026
Application Deadline: First come, first served until the 30 places fill
Eligibility: Ages 14 to 18, including graduating seniors

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The Mining the Mind Camp is a five-day residential camp that gives you an inside look at how the mind works. You’ll learn the science behind human behaviour and why people think and feel the way they do. Topics include sensation and perception, psychology and AI, psychology across the lifespan, music and the mind, and people in the workplace. 

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By the end of camp, you’ll conduct a psychology experiment as part of a research team that includes current psychology faculty and undergraduates. The camp also introduces you to the range of careers available in psychology.

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Why it stands out: You will familiarize yourself with the tools psychologists use to study the mind, including observational methods, brain activity measurements, and experimental design.

Frequently asked questions: Social Sciences Summer Schools for 15-Year-Olds

Can 15-year-olds attend college summer programs in the social sciences?

Yes, many university programs accept 15-year-olds, though each sets its own rules. UCLA’s Economics program requires you to be at least 15 by the first day, and the Smithsonian’s NMNH internship accepts students aged 15 to 18. Others are based on grade, such as TCNJ’s archaeology field school for rising juniors and seniors. Immerse Education’s Academic Insights pathway in Economics welcomes students aged 13 to 18, with classes averaging 7 participants in Cambridge, Oxford, and London.

Are there free social sciences summer programs for high school students?

Yes, several strong options are free. American University’s Summer Civics Institute, EIU’s High School Journalism Camp, UMSL’s Geospatial Science Summer Camp, and Colonial Williamsburg’s Public Archaeology Institute all charge no tuition. Some have location limits, such as UMSL’s camp for Greater St. Louis students. Paid internships go a step further: Denver’s Teen Science Scholars paid a $1,803 stipend in 2026. For more paid options at your age, browse these summer internships for 15 year olds.

Which social science subject should you study?

Start with the questions that interest you most, then pick a program that lets you test them. If you’re curious about markets and policy, economics programs at UCLA or Georgetown are a good fit. If you prefer the past, try Hoover’s History Skills Academy or an archaeology field school. Psychology, journalism, and geography each have short camps too, so you can sample a field in under a week. For more options in one field, browse these history summer programs for high school students.

Do social sciences summer programs give college credit?

A few do, but most focus on enrichment instead. UCLA’s Economics program counts as Economics 1, worth 4 units with a letter grade, and TCNJ’s archaeology field school offers college credit through its summer session. Georgetown’s Economics Policy Academy awards a Certificate of Participation instead. With Immerse Education’s Academic Insights pathway, you can opt in to earn 8 UCAS points or 3 US college credits from age 14.

Can international students join these programs?

Some can, but many are limited by citizenship or location. UCLA and Georgetown both accept international students, and UCLA may ask for proof of English proficiency. The Smithsonian’s NMNH internship requires US citizenship or permanent residency, while programs like USC’s Annenberg Youth Academy and UMSL’s camp only accept local students. Denver’s Teen Science Scholars accepts out-of-state applicants, but you must be in Denver for the program, and no housing is provided.

What will you actually do at a social sciences summer program?

Most programs combine classes with practical projects. At Hoover’s History Skills Academy, you design and write a historical research paper using the Hoover Library and Archives, while EIU’s journalism camp has you writing your first news story on day one. Archaeology programs at TCNJ and Colonial Williamsburg put you on an active dig site, and Missouri S&T’s Mining the Mind camp ends with a psychology experiment alongside faculty. If economics is your focus, these economics summer programs for high school students offer more ideas.

Start your social science journey at fifteen

At fifteen, a summer program is a low-pressure way to test whether economics, history, psychology, or archaeology really holds your attention well beyond the classroom.

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Social sciences summer schools for 15-year-olds let you analyse data, dig at real sites, and write research papers long before your university applications even begin.

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Compare costs, locations, and eligibility rules carefully, since several of the free programs only accept local students and many 2026 deadlines fell in the spring.

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When you’re ready to turn that curiosity into a plan, our University Preparation blogs cover subject choices, college majors, and building a strong university application.